Dunblane

On March 13,1996,Thomas Hamilton aged 43 a disgruntled former scout leader,ejected by The Scout Association over twenty years

previously,sixteen young children and their teacher,Gwen Mayor,in Dunbalnes primary svhools gymnasium.He used his legally

licensed weapons and gun before killing himself by firing a 357 revolver in his mouth because he caused carnage in a class of five and

six year olds. There is a memorial to the seventeen victims in the local cemetery and a remembrance in the cathedral. The funds

raised in the aftermath have been used to build a new community centre for the town. Following the incident,the goverment passed

banned ownership of all handguns in Great Britain.The killer sprayed shots at random around school gym,it lasted just 3 minutes.

Thomas Hamilton seen by his neighbour scraping ice off a white van outside his home at 7 Kent rd. The Queen sent a message of

sympathy to the people of Dunblane. The old prime minister,John Major,spoke of his disbelief at what he called "a sick and evil act."

One of the pupils said,"We heard those gunshots from the gym and then he came out through a fire exit and started firing at our huts

and we were all petrified."

Parents and carers began arriving  at the school,news of the tragedy quikly spread across the town.

This is a picture of the class and their teacher-

The most seriously injured child was a little boy called Coll,he was shot on the foot,on his arm and twice on his back.Coll slipped into a coma.His injuries were,two bullets in his back,one had caused two collapsed lungs and broken ribs and the other went through his head breaking his jaw and fracturing his cheekbone,it just missed his brain but unfortunately Coll lost his sight and is now deaf in one ear.The doctors told Colls parents there was a slim chance that he would survive but Coll woke from the come three days later.

A local musician Ted Christopher wrote a new verse for Bob Dylans knocking on heavens door,it goes like this.

                                                                                            Lord these guns have caused too much pain

                                                                                            This town will never be the same again

                                                                                             So,for the bairns of Dunblane

                                                                                             We ask,please,never again

Gwens injuries were also very severe.Her most serious injury was a bullet in her right eye.It shattered her skull and caused severe brain damage.A second shot entered the back of her left shoulder,tore through her lungs and chest,out of her armpit and up into her right arm.The third hit her in the chest and came out of the side of her neck.The fourth entered her neck,and went up into her mouth.Her fifth shot her right arm before entering her wrist.The sixth shot near the collar bone.