Balloon release marks deaths of Graham Mathie and Jane Gilbert

THEY must not have died in vain sums up the feelings of all touched by last week’s loss of two young people in a fatal car smash in Lesmahagow.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Jul 2013, 18:00 BST
Balloons in memory of Graeme and JaneBalloons in memory of Graeme and Jane
Balloons in memory of Graeme and Jane

The initial shock at the deaths of 21-year-old Graham Mathie, of Coalburn, and his 16-year-old Lanark girlfriend Jane Gilbert have given way to emotional tributes to the couple and demands that something must be done to prevent a repeat of the tragedy at the accident blackspot where they died ten days ago.

Among several acts of remembrance was the mass release of balloons on Sunday near the scene of the accident on a tight corner on the B7078, a blackspot it is claimed had previously taken at least two lives in the past decade.

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That tribute saw friends and supporters stage a tribute ‘cruise’ on the nearby old A74 before parking up and walking, with Graeme’s grieving mum and dad, to the fatal spot.

It was originally intended that Chinese lanterns be released in memory of the young couple but, on police safety advice, helium balloons were sent skywards instead.

One of the organisers, Roxanne Brown, told the Gazette that it was organised out of a mixture of grief, respect and anger.