School's tribute to Dunblane student

Mar 13 2006 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

A MIDLAND school will fall silent today in memory of a former pupil who died in the Dunblane massacre in Scotland ten years ago.

Little Charlotte Dunn will be remembered in prayers during a special assembly at her former school, Cradley C of E primary, at Cradley.

Charlotte was just five when she was among 16 innocent children gunned down by Thomas Hamilton at Dunblane Primary School on March 13, 1996. Hamilton turned the gun on himself after the carnage.

Charlotte had only moved to Scotland with her parents Martyn and Barbara six months before the tragedy.

The family had been living in Apperley Way, Cradley, until Martyn moved to Scotland to work.

The family returned regularly to the Black Country to visit relatives in Cradley and Tipton.

Marcia Harris, deputy head at Cradley C of E primary, in Church Road, said she fondly remembered the "beautiful" girl who used to be in her class.

"We want to keep Charlotte's memory alive and will be saying special prayers for her on Monday," she said. "We spoke to her parents and decided to have a quiet day in memory of her on the tenth anniversary of the tragedy."

A playhouse was built at the school shortly after the tragedy in memory of Charlotte and inscribed with the words "you will always have a place in our hearts."

The playhouse is to be spruced up and repainted. Charlotte's younger brother Alex, now aged 13, cut the ribbon to unveil the playhouse in 1997.

* Have your say on this story at www.icbirmingham.co.uk/mail/news/yoursay