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Scotland
Stories of families affected by the Lockerbie disaster, when a huge plane was brought down by a bomb on the night of 21st December 1988, have been well documented. Whilst my own family did not suffer directly that night, as we happily prepared for Christmas, we were very involved in the community response. Recently appointed as the local Women’s Royal Voluntary Service co-ordinator, I had an immediate role and my husband was one of the first to arrive at Sherwood Crescent where the fuselage of “Maid of the Seas” Flight Pan Am 103 to New York crashed. The scenes of devastation will remain with him and all those involved forever; so will the grief and suffering witnessed by our close-knit small community in the aftermath of the event, as families from both sides of the Atlantic tried to come to terms with their loss. Amazing individual stories of caring, compassion and sensitivity emerged over time, helping to balance the ongoing publicity as the long drawn-out hunt for the perpetrators was brought to a conclusion with their eventual trial.
It was inevitable that questions were raised many times such as:
Where was God that night?
How could God permit an act of such
unspeakable and calculated evil?
But on reflection, it was obvious that God was most certainly there. His hand was evident in even the smallest acts of kindness, as the people of Lockerbie and the surrounding communities supplied shelter, food, love and support not only for the victims and their loved ones but also for the emergency services as they set about their grim task.
And some good did come out of the atrocity. Lasting friendships were forged between local people and the bereaved families; a youth club – which continues to this day – was formed in Lockerbie to help the young people of the town, many of whom were traumatised by the disaster. Scholarships were set up by various families, colleges and universities. One such scholarship, in memory of 35 students of Syracuse University lost as they returned home from London for Christmas, annually provides for two students from Lockerbie to study in Syracuse. For the young people involved, including one of my own daughters, it is an unforgettable experience and helps to keep alive the memory of those who died.
It is often something simple that puts things into perspective. Visiting Sherwood Crescent before the crater was filled in, I noticed under a charred tree the most beautiful, perfect snowdrops I had ever seen… “A Blessed Assurance” of fresh hope and triumph over the evil that men do.
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