Dunblane teacher honoured with new Elizabeth Emblem

A PRIMARY school teacher killed while trying to protect her class in the Dunblane shooting almost three decades ago has been recognised with a new honour.

- Katrine Bussey

Gwen Mayor is one of eight Scots being honoured with the Elizabeth Emblem, which was introduced last year for public servants who died in the line of duty.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said he is "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.

'It is a symbol of our gratitude'

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.