Dunblane Cathedral

Went with the HG to check out a route from Dunblane to Bridge of Allan, the Darn Road. The weather was glorious, but with a warning of heavy thundery showers throughout the day. When we were well into the walk, about halfway to Bridge of Allan, the heavens opened, and we got a good soaking; luckily our wet gear is pretty effective. Had our packed lunches on a bench at Bridge of Allan and then walked back by a circular route. It is a lovely walk, not too far, about five and a half miles in all.

Had some refreshments in the super little cafe in Dunblane, and then headed up to the cathedral to pay our respects. Actually only I did that, the HG went to the Dunblane Museum, which is very interesting, and I met him there.

While I was in the cathedral I noticed the memorial to the children of the Tragedy of Dunblane, when in 1996 a gunman (I will not honour his name by giving it) entered the local primary school and indiscriminately shot 15 children and a teacher, and then shot himself. The monument is a Clashach stone two metres high on a Caithness flagstone. One of the inscriptions on it is

'if there is anything that will endure
The eye of God, because it is pure,
It is the spirit of a little child

It is beautiful.

Andy Murray of tennis fame was one of the children in the school at the time and escaped by hiding in the room of the headmistress, I am told.

Who knows what talents the lost children had, I am sure they would be many.