Scots teacher murdered in Dunblane massacre to be honoured with Elizabeth Emblem
A heroic teacher who was murdered almost 30 years ago while trying to protect her pupils during the Dunblane massacre has been recognised with a new honour.
Gwen Mayor is one of eight Scots to be posthumously awarded the Elizabeth Emblem, which was introduced last year for public servants killed in the line of duty.
Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, said he was "particularly pleased" to see the honour go to Mrs Mayor, who died when gunman Thomas Hamilton burst into Dunblane Primary School on March 13 1996, killing the teacher and 16 children.
Firefighter Ewan Williamson, who died while responding to a pub fire in Edinburgh in July 2009, is also recognised, as is Rod Moore, a retired paramedic from Falkirk who returned to work with the Scottish Ambulance Service during Covid and then contracted the virus, dying in November 2020.
William Oliver, a worker with the Glasgow Salvage Corps who died in the Cheapside Street disaster in 1960, is also included in what is only the second list of Elizabeth Emblem recipients.
He was killed as a blaze ripped through a warehouse that contained more than one million gallons of whisky and 30,000 gallons of rum – with the temperature causing casks to rupture, leading to a huge boiling liquid vapour explosion which claimed his life and that of 18 others.
Speaking as a list of 106 people across the UK being honoured was published, Labour minister Pat McFadden said Britain owes 'an enduring debt to the public servants who give their lives to protect others'.
He said: 'The Elizabeth Emblem is a reminder not just of the ultimate price their loved ones have paid in service of our communities, it is a lasting symbol of our national gratitude for their incredible sacrifice.'
Murray paid tribute to the Scots being recognised, saying: 'Every one of these brave public servants gave their life to protect others.
'They are people who stepped forward when most of us would step back, and they paid the ultimate price.
'I am particularly pleased that Dunblane teacher Gwen Mayor has been recognised. No-one will ever forget the horror of the shooting at Dunblane Primary School in 1996, when Mrs Mayor was killed trying to protect her pupils.
'I hope that the families of all those recognised will take some comfort in knowing that their loved ones, and their service, has not been forgotten.'
The Elizabeth Emblem was established last year as a national form of recognition, with the award given to the next of kin of public servants who have lost their lives as a result of their duty.
The honour is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.
Also being recognised is firefighter Roderick Nicolson, who died in December 1995 after becoming trapped in five tonnes of sodium carbonate ash while attempting to rescue two workmen from a silo of chemical dust at Perth Harbour.
Two Scottish police officers killed in the line of duty are also being recognised.
PC Paul North, known as Richard, of Tayside Police died when the police car he was in was involved in a collision with another vehicle whose driver was under the influence of drink and drugs in Perth in March 1987.
PC Joseph Stewart Drake, of Stirling and Clackmannan Constabulary, was killed when a stolen lorry being pursued by officers intentionally struck his car as he tried to intercept it at Dennyloanhead near Falkirk in August 1967.
The Elizabeth Emblem is also being given to the family of Alastair Soutar, who worked for HM Customs & Excise and was crushed between a customs boat and a smugglers' vessel while taking part in an operation to catch drug smugglers off the Caithness coast in July 1996.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Fury as Royal Navy has NO attack submarines at sea to defend its surface fleet in ‘ridiculous shambles'
One former senior officer called it embarrassing SUB STANDARD Fury as Royal Navy has NO attack submarines at sea to defend its surface fleet in 'ridiculous shambles' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Royal Navy has no submarines at sea to defend its surface fleet. HMS Anson arrived back at its Scottish base on Friday, leaving no attack subs currently on patrol. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up It means the UK's warships have no homegrown underwater protection against potential threats. One former senior officer called it embarrassing and a shambles, brought on by years of poor planning. The five Astute-class nuclear powered attack subs are meant to play a key role defending the Carrier Strike Group, currently in the Indo-Pacific, off Australia. But it is understood the US Navy is providing submarine protection for our aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. Two other Astute-class subs have not put to sea for more than two years, and another is being refitted in Plymouth, where a fifth is also in dry dock. A sixth sub, which is under construction, is unlikely to be operational for at least 18 months. Britain's four Vanguard-class subs, armed with long-range nukes, are not designed to attack other submarines or surface ships. One is permanently at sea to provide a nuke deterrent. Falklands veteran Rear Admiral Chris Parry said: 'The whole nuclear enterprise is a shambles. 'It's ridiculous we can't send an attack sub on deployment. Incredible moment a Royal Navy warship destroys a supersonic missile off Scots coast 'These submarines are the one thing the Russians and Chinese really fear.' The Navy said its subs 'continue to deploy globally on operations, protecting national interests and keeping us safe'.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
State pension age rises target the north of the UK disproportionately
Increases in the pension age target the north of the UK disproportionately as Westminster closed down our industrial sector, resulting in higher levels of poverty and deprivation, meaning fewer people will live to receive their state pension. READ MORE: Labour launch review into raising retirement age When will Scots learn, and stop voting for these [[Westminster]] parties? Just because they have Scottish in their title doesn't mean they are working for Scotland. Scots need to wake up and vote for independence. SNP, you have all the political and economic ammunition to make the case, why don't you? A Wilson Stirlingshire
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
He's a three-point plan that can actually bring about independence
Having read your plan, I have to say, you could do a lot better. I know you're busy running the country and so on, so I've drafted it for you: 1. Make Holyrood 26 an independence election. Put country before party for [[Holyrood]] '26. SNP step forward and the rest walk alongside. Use the list vote as the count of votes for independence (where every pro-indy party declares a vote for them is a vote for independence). Use the constituency vote to deliver the pro-indy majority needed in parliament (with only the [[SNP]] standing, by agreement with the movement). READ MORE: John Swinney: Why I'm launching a renewed strategy for independence In this way, we demonstrate a democratic vote for independence to be the will of the majority of the people. 2. Upon winning that vote, Holyrood, led by an SNP majority pro-independence government, declares that the sovereign people of Scotland have instructed the Scottish Parliament to deliver our independence. [[Holyrood]] declares Westminster no longer has power over Scotland, from the day of the result until our 'official' independence day, some 12-18 months later – a period to allow for discussion of practical matters (fixed date). This period will also include discussion with international bodies, initiating an associate agreement with the EU, reinstating our own currency/using the euro, starting a Citizen's Convention to shape the future of Scotland, working with a wellbeing economy as our foundation, and the introduction of a draft interim constitution for iScotland. Act like an independent country and pave the way for a better future. READ MORE: Mike Small: I pored over John Swinney's strategy – here's what we must do now 3. No wavering, no ceding, no backpedaling. The sovereign people have spoken and Scotland will leave the Union within 12-18 months. The only permission needed is from the people of Scotland. We will seek a friendly and cooperative future across the British Isles, and across the world. We will not cede our rights, our resources, our land or international sea territories, nor will we pay our neighbour's debts. Evicting the abomination at Faslane will be non-negotiable. Our country, our future, our choices. I could go on, of course, but as I said, you're a busy man. But if you want to chat about it further John, I know a wee cafe that makes a pleasant pot of Earl Grey tea and a lovely slice of lemon meringue pie … but be aware, the tea won't stay hot for long and it is much, much later than you think. Ruth Ritchie Lockerbie THERE has been much informed, passionate debate in The National in recent weeks on how we might achieve Scottish independence. Several elements – the broken Treaty of Union, the sovereignty of the Scottish people and the connection of these to the United Nations – offer real prospects of leverage against [[Westminster]]. I was disappointed then, especially as an SNP member and activist, to read Friday's 'Three-point plan for independence' from John Swinney. The criticisms by Robin McAlpine, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp and especially Lesley Riddoch are correct. This is essentially the same pitch used by the SNP in the last several elections with diminishing success. READ MORE: Independence campaigners react to new John Swinney referendum plan I believe John Swinney is doing an excellent job as First Minister – within the constraints of devolution. I do not believe he has adequately contested those constraints. Where was his press conference when the UK Labour government decided to save an English oil refinery after Grangemouth was allowed to close? 'Our' media may be biased against independence, but that does not mean we cannot use it. John Swinney wants to make the case for 'why independence', and we must never stop doing that. However, leaving the 'how?' to the usual 'we will build pressure that Westminster cannot ignore' is seriously inadequate. The 'how' is inextricably linked to the 'why'. Recent [[SNP]] election strategy has been poor, barely mentioning independence and losing seats with a widening gap between Yes and [[SNP]] public support. I call for [[John Swinney]] to re-establish the position of Minister for Independence (MP or MSP) with specific responsibility to engage the wider independence movement, to join, and lead, that debate, to build the 'why' and the 'how'. In 2012, Alex Salmond recognised he could not govern Scotland and lead an independence campaign. It is time [[John Swinney]] should do the same. Make no mistake. The United Kingdom will be seriously diminished by Scottish independence – economically, militarily and politically. Its place in the G7 and its permanent seat on the UN Security Council would be open to challenge. Its defence policy with reliance on nuclear weapons of mass destruction would be jeopardised. Westminster and Whitehall will never concede to a second independence referendum without external leverage. Building that leverage will increase support for independence, help unite the movement and ... deliver more SNP seats in 2026! Dr Ron Dickinson Glasgow I FEEL that I have to reiterate my point from a previous letter to The National. I wrote then that the UK Government will work towards raising the retiral age to 75. Those without a full insurance contribution will not qualify until they have this. Thus reducing average life expectancy, ergo the pension bill. READ MORE: Labour launch review into raising retirement age I would like to suggest that The National starts a campaign to have all Unionist newspapers printed on a much softer paper, so that they may be put to a more appropriate use. Special soaps are available for removing newsprint from sensitive nether regions. M Ross Aviemore
