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http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/thenighttheseacaughtfirerememberingpiperalpha11433754

Thenighttheseacaughtfire:RememberingPiperAlpha
Itis20yearssince167menlosttheirlivesinthePiperAlphadisaster,anightthose
caughtupinthetragedywillneverforget.Here,someofthesurvivorsandthe
bereavedrevisitthatterribleeventanditsaftermath.
IT'SasummernightintheNorthSea,110milesnortheastofAberdeen.Theskyabovetheoilplatformis
deepblue,thewaterarounditssteellegscalm.There'sadivercarryingoutmaintenancework50feet
belowthesurface,butbythishour,mostofthe226oilworkersareintheirquarters,anumberofthem
listeningtotheteno'clocknews.Nomantunedtohisradiocouldpossiblyimaginethatbytheendofthe
bulletintherewillbethefirstvaguereportofanexplosioninthisveryplace.Formostpeopleondryland,
theirlightandheatandcarsandtelevisionspoweredbyoilandgasfromtheNorthSea,itisthefirsttime
theyhaveheardthenamePiperAlpha.Butthedisasterabouttotakeplacewillbesoterriblethat,20years
on,thosetwowordsremainsearedintoScotland'scollectivememory.
Fornow,though,itisJuly6,1988,andonthemightyrig,167unknowingmenfathers,brothers,sonsand
loversareinthelastmomentsoftheirlives.
ThePiperAlphastorycanbetoldinflatstatisticsandlosenoneofitscapacitytohorrify.Thefirstexplosion
tookplaceataround10pm,whenacloudofgascondensate,leakingfromapumpthatwasmissinga
safetyvalve,ignited.Therewerethreefurtherhugeexplosionsat10.20pm,10.50pmand11.20pm,
causedbyrupturesofthepipelinesconnectingPiperAlphatootherplatforms.Thefirereachedover700C,
hotenoughtomelthardhatsontotheheadsofthemenwearingthem,anddebriswasthrown800metres
intotheair.Therewereonly59survivors.Athirdofthesemadetheirescapefromtheplatformwithin20
minutesofthefirstexplosionhalfanhourafterthat,twothirdswereoff.Fivemenjumpedfromthe
helideck,175feetabovethesea.Threediedonimpact,theirribcagesfracturinganddamagingtheirlungs,
heartandliver.Thirtybodieshaveneverbeenrecovered.
PiperAlphaproducedmoreoilthananyotherplatformintheNorthSea,hundredsofthousandsofbarrels
eachday.Hardenedroustaboutsspokeofitnervously.Therehadbeenanumberoffatalitiesandnear
missespriortothedisaster."Piperwassynonymouswithaccidents,"recallsJakeMolloy,headofthe
offshoretradeunionOILC."Peoplewouldsay,'Piper?Oh,youdon'twanttogothere.Thatplaceisreadyto
go.'"
Yet,intheirworstnightmares,noonecouldhaveimaginedthescaleofthedisaster.Therewasan
ignoranceofjusthowdestructiveoilandgascouldbe.Inthosedaystheoffshoreindustrywasan
environmentinwhichafrontiersmanattitudeflourished,onethatisnowgone."Piperbroughthometo
everybodyjustwhatyouweresittingon,"saysMolloy."Ifsomebodyhadsaidtomethataplatformcouldfall
intothesea,I'dhavelaughedatthem.Buttherealityisyou'resittingonabomb."
Onthedayoftheaccident,GeoffBollands,theproductionoperator,wasoneofthefirstonPiperAlphato
realisesomethingwaswrong.A40yearoldfromthenortheastofEngland,hehadworkedoffshorefora
decade.At10pmhewasinthecontrolroom,workingthelastshiftofafortnightstintandlookingforwardto
gettinghome.Buthehadaseriousproblemtodealwithfirst.Oneofthecondensatepumpshadswitched
off,andhewasintheprocessoftryingtogetitstartedagainwhengasalarmsbeganlightinguponhis
instrumentpanel."Thentheexplosioncameandknockedmeabout20feet,"herecalls,sittingathisdeskin
thefinancialadvicebusinesshenowrunsinMiddlesbrough.
Bollandshurthisrighthipwhenhewasthrownacrosstheroom,andgashedhisleftthumbsobadlythatit

startedspoutingblood."Iwasdazedandamazedbythemagnitudeofwhathadhappened,"Bollandssays.
"Oneminutewehaveaproblemwhichisgettingmoreandmoresevere,andthenextminutetheplaceis
fullofsmoke,I'minjured,thefirepanelandallofthatendofthebulkheadhavebeensmashedopen,and
thePAsystemisn'tworking."
Hewasfrustratedthathecouldn'tgetamessagetothemenoffshiftintheaccommodationarea,and
concernedthattheplatformalerthadn'tgoneoff,evenafterhesmashedtheglassonthefirealarm.Thefire
pumpshadn'tstartedeither,havingbeenswitchedfromautomatictomanual,sotheflameswerenotbeing
delugedwithwaterastheyoughttohavebeen.Theonlythingtodowasstartthepumpsbyhand,butthick
blacksmokecutofftheroutetothestartpanel.Bollands'damagedhippreventedhimfromtryingtoget
through,buthiscolleaguesBobVernonandRobbieCarrollmadeanattempt.Theywerebothkilled.
Trappedinonecorneroftheplatform,chokingsmokecuttingoffhisescaperouteinonedirection,flames
preventinghimfromfleeinginanother,Bollandsknewhewasn'tgoingtobeabletoreachhisdesignated
lifeboat.HemanagedtoescapePiperAlphabyclimbingdownaropetiedtoahandrailfromthe84foot
levelitwasn'teasy,whatwithhisinjuredhandandalifejacketthatkeptsnaggingontherope,buthemade
it.HewaspickedupbyasmallrescueboatandtakentotheSilverPit,a50yearoldconvertedtrawlerthat
wasthemainsupportvesselfortheplatform.
BollandswasairliftedfromtheSilverPitataround8am,butinthemeantimehesawPiperAlphaburn."It
waslikewatchingadisastermovie,"herecalls."Therewereladsfallingoffropes,ladsjumpingoverthe
side,therewereladsonfire.Iremembersomeonebouncingoffthebumpertostoptheboatshittingthe
platform."
JohnSabourn,masteroftheSilverPit,isnow71,retiredandlivinginWesternAustralia.HerecallsJuly6,
1988asoneofthelowestmomentsofhislife.Thirtysevenofthe59survivorswerepulledfromthewater
bythetrawleranditsfastrescuecraft.Sabournrememberskeepinghisvesselclosetotheplatform,
lookingforsurvivorsinthewater.
"Piecesofburningdebriswereshootingofflikemeteors,"hesays."Onepieceshotstraighttowardsthe
wheelhousewindowsandIwassureitwasmeantforme.Irememberthinking,'God,ifIcomeoutofthis
aliveIwillnevereverbefrightenedofdyingagain.'Itmissedusbyfeet."
Sabourn'sotherlastingmemoryofthatnightisseeingEricBrianchon,aFrenchtechnicianwhowasthe
mostbadlyburnedofallthePiperAlphainjured.TheSilverPit'sfastrescuecrafthaddiscoveredBrianchon
clingingtoapieceofwreckage.HewasairliftedbutlaterdiedinAberdeenRoyalInfirmary."Whenhewas
beingsentuptothehelicopter,hehadtopasswithintwofeetofme,"saysSabourn."Hisfaceis
indescribabletheagony,theshock.Ihadacameraonthebridge,andifIhadthetimeorinitiativetotake
aphotoitwouldsurelyhavebeenatruepictureofthatnight."
ProfessorDavidAlexanderisdirectoroftheAberdeenCentreforTraumaResearchatRobertGordon
University.HeledthepsychiatricteamthatfirstrespondedtothePiperAlphadisaster,andspentagreat
dealoftimecaringforsurvivorsintheburnsunitoftheRoyalInfirmary."Itwasagreatadvantagehaving
thementogetherinthesameward,"hesays."Theysupportedeachother.Blackhumourwasacceptable,
andtheyknewwhatwasfunnyandnotfunny.Itwasaprotectiveenvironmentbecauseeveryonewasinthe
sameposition,roughly.WhatIpersonallydidn'tthinkenoughaboutwaswhatitwouldbelikewhentheygot
out.Forsomeitwasveryhardindeed.Societyisnotverytolerant,sometimes,ofdisfiguredpeople.I
remembersomeonesaidtooneofmypatients,'Youshouldn'tbeoutlookinglikethat.It'sawful.'"
Aswellasworkingintheburnsunit,ProfessorAlexanderarrangedforsurvivorstoattendhistraumaclinic.
Theyweresufferinginavarietyofways."Thefirstthingisshockanddenial.Thendepressionwas
common.Thiswaseffectivelyafamilyoffshore.Thesemenspentalmostasmuchtimewitheachotheras
withtheirownwivesandchildren.Somefeltveryguiltybecausetheyhadchangedtheirshift.Guyswere

referredtomewhohadn'tbeenonPiperAlphabutshouldhavebeeniftheyhadn'tswappedwithsomeone
else.Theotherthingwasflashbacks,ghastlyreenactmentsinwhichtheysaw,heardandsometimeseven
smelledtheawfulthingstheyhadexperienced.
"Anotherverycommondifficultywasproblemsathome.Theoffshoreworkerhasaveryunusuallife,
workingafortnightonandafortnightoff,towhichcouplesadjust.Suddenlyyou'vegotthemanathomeall
thetime,andhe'snolongerquitethesamemanastheladymarried.Hemaybebadlyinjuredor
emotionallydamaged.Severalmarriagesbrokeup.
"Oneotherthingwesawwashyperarousal.Ifyouweretodropyourpenbehindahyperarousedperson,
theywouldjustgointoorbit.Theyareinastateofalertallthetime.Irememberonegentlemanwhowas
particularlyhyperarousedjustsittingwithhimmadeyoufeeltensebecausehecouldn'tcalmdown.It's
nature'swayofmakingsureyouarereadyforthenextdisaster.Somesurvivorsusedalcoholprincipallyto
dampenthat."
Twentyyearson,it'shardtosayhowmanyofthe59survivorsarestillaliveandwhatkindofmentalshape
theyarein.Therehasbeenatleastonesuicide.DickCommon,anadministratorforthedivers,tookhis
ownlifein1994.Asingleman,hefeltguiltythathehadsurvivedwhileaclosecolleaguewithawifeand
childrenhadperished."IknowwithoutanydoubtthathediedbecauseofPiperAlpha,"afriend,Doreen
Jennings,saidofCommon."Itneverlefthismind.Itwaslikeanightmarethatwentonandon."
Findingsurvivorsisdifficult.ThereseemstohavebeenakindofPiperAlphadiaspora,peopleregarding
theneardeathexperienceandthefinancialcompensation(Occidental,theoperatoroftheplatform,paid
out110milliontosurvivorsandthefamiliesofvictims)ascatalystsforchangingtheirlivesandmoving
abroad.Justastheburningwreckageoftherigwasscatteredbytheexplosions,sotheviolentenergyof
PiperAlphahasthrustitssurvivorsoverhugedistances.Manyofthoseinvolvedstillfindittoopainfultotalk
abouttheirexperiences.Forthesurvivorswhoagreedtobeinterviewedforthisarticle,PiperAlpharemains
anemotionalsubject,butonetheyareabletodiscuss.Theyregardthemselvesashavingsustainedno
lastingpsychologicaldamage.Inthistheyarefortunate.
Beginningin1998,onemonthafterthetenthanniversary,Alexandercarriedoutastudyintothelongterm
psychologicaleffectsofPiperAlpha.Thirtysixsurvivorsagreedtogiveinterviewsorcomplete
questionnaires.Ofthisgroup,almostallreportedpsychologicalproblems.Twentyeightsaidtheyhad
difficultyinfindingemploymentfollowingthedisasteronereasonseemstobethatsomeoffshore
employersregardedPiperAlphasurvivorsasJonahsbringersofbadluckwhowouldnotbewelcomeon
otherrigsandplatforms.Morethan70%ofthoseinterviewedsaidtheyhadfeelingsofacuteguiltmanyfelt
theyshouldnothavesurvivedwhenequallyormoredeservingworkmatesperished.Someofthesepeople
wentontoplaywhatAlexanderdescribesas"Russianroulette"withtheirlivesdrivingfastandrecklessly,
takingupdangerousjobsorsports."Unconsciously,theymaybelookingforwaystobepunishedforthe
factthattheycamethroughrelativelyunharmedwhiletheirlovedonesdied."
ItwouldbecomfortingtothinkthatinthedecadesinceAlexander'sstudy,timehashealedtheseemotional
wounds.However,researchshowsthatifproblemspersistforanumberofyears,furtherprogressis
unlikelyinpatientswithmarkedposttraumaticconditions.Thekeyistolearntolivewithyournightmares
andheartachesratherthanhopingforacure.
"Alotoftheladswouldsay,'Iwanttogobacktonormal.IwanttogobacktothewayIwas,'"Alexander
recalls."Iusedtotakeatoughlineandsay,'Youwillnotgobacktowhatyouwere,butitdoesn'tmeanyou
willnotcomethrough.'SomeoftheseladsarestrongerthanbeforePiper.They'velearnedthingsabout
themselves,changedtheirvalues,somerelationshipsbecamestronger.Peoplerealisedtheyhave
strengthstheydidn'tknowtheyhad.Therewasalotofheroismtookplace."
IANGillanders,a50yearoldpipefitterfromNairn,hadbeenworkinglateandwastakingashoweratthe

timeofthefirstexplosionwhentheceilingfellin.Hemadehiswaybacktothecabinhesharedwithtwo
Glaswegianelectricians,BobBallantyneandCharlieMacLaughlin.
Ofthethreeroommates,Ballantyne,45atthetime,wouldbetheonlyonetosurvivethenight.He
eventuallydiedfromcancerin2004,buthisaccountofPiperAlphaformspartofAberdeenUniversity's
'LivesintheOilIndustry'archiveofrecordedinterviews.Ballantyneissaidbythosewhoknewhimtohave
beenawarm,funnyandgentleman,andit'spossibletohearthatpersonalityinhisvoiceashetalks,even
whenthesubjectisthenightonwhichhelostsomanyfriends.
Followingtheinitialexplosion,BallantynewenttothecabinandfoundGillandersorganisingsocksand
underwear,puttingcleanitemsbackintoadrawer.Thismundanechorewasclearlyaresponsetothe
shockofwhathadhappened.Ballantynetoldhimtostop,pickeduphisowncopyofVoltaire'sCandide,a
satireonoptimismwhichwouldneverseemsoapt,andalongwithMacLaughlintheylefttheroom.
BallantyneknewitshouldtaketherescuehelicopteronlysevenminutestoflyfromthenearbyTharosfire
fightingplatform,andasthatamountoftimehadalreadypassed,hefigureditwasn'tcoming.Themen
decided,therefore,nottomusterinthecanteen,orgalley,asprotocoldictatedtheyshould,andinstead
strikeoutontheirown.
MostofthosewhodiedonPiperAlphadidsointhegalley,waitingforhelicoptersthatwerepreventedfrom
landingbyflamesandthicksmoke.Around100mengatheredthereamidgrowingpanicandchaos.After
15minutes,theemergencylightingwentoffandtheroomwasdarkexceptfortheglowfromfireslickingthe
windows.Onesurvivordescribedthegalleyasbeing"likeapotsittingontopofagasstove".Itwassohot
thatpeoplecooledthemselveswithwaterfromthefishtanksorsqueezedtomatoesovertheirskin.
Whensmokebegantosmothertheroom,menwereforcedtocrawlalongthefloor,seekinganinchortwo
ofclearair,wettowelswrappedaroundtheirfacesasprotectivemasks.Inlate1988,afterthispartofPiper
Alphawasrecoveredfromtheseabed,thebodiesof87menwerefoundinside.
Ballantyneandhisworkmates,lookingfortheirownescaperoute,weredrivendowntotheproductionlevel
byfireballscomingat"thespeedoflightning".Gillandersandothermenheadedforthewestsideofthe
platform,wheretheTharoswas,butBallantynechosenottofollow.Hecouldseethemetalblowout
preventerslargevalvesthatencaseanoilwellatthesurfacewereactuallyliquefying."Iwasabsolutely
terrified.Itwaslikeasurrealistpainting.LikeSalvadorDali'smeltingwatch."
Hedecidedtogoeastinstead.Itwasasifhewaswatchinghimselfinadreamandknewtherightthingto
do.Usingarope,hegotdowntothecellardecklevel,20feetabovethesea.Downthere,hespotted
MacLaughlinandGillandersattheotherendoftheplatform.Justthen,ahugeexplosionrockedthe
platformandwasfeltuptoamileaway.ThiswastheruptureofthepipelinebetweenPiperAlphaandthe
Frigggasfield.Theswellingflamesblewdowntotheseaandengulfedthefastrescuecraftthathadbeen
launchedbythestandbyvesselSandhaven,killingtwoofthethreecrew,andallsixmenwhohadbeen
recoveredfromthewater.
"OnesecondIwasspeakingtothecoxswainintherescuecraft,thenextsecondallIcouldseewasasolid
massofflamethatcoveredtheboat,"recallsCaptainSeanEnnis,whowasmasteroftheSandhavenand
nowcaptainsanemergencyrescuevehicleintheNorthSea."Itlookedlikeoneofthosenapalmexplosions
youseeinthemovies,butforreal,shockingandterrible.TheheatwassointenseIhadtomovemyvessel
50metresaway.Ispentthenext20minutesjustcallingtherescuecraftontheVHF,hopingforareplybut
knowinginmyheartandsoulthatIwasnotgoingtogetone."
IanGillandersandCharlieMacLaughlinalsodiedintheexplosion.Ballantynesawithappenbeforequickly
climbingdownintothewater,wherehewaseventuallypickedupbyaboat."Ididn'thaveanyremorse
whenIsawmymatesgettingblownupandkilled,"herecalled."Igetquiteupsetaboutthat.Thethingthat

wentthroughmyheadwas,'ThankgoodnessIdidn'tmakeittothem.'Iwastoldthatit'sasurvivalinstinct
thatkicksin.Youdon'tfeelloveandconcern.It'sashockingfeeling.Terrible."
GillandershadactuallyhelpedbuildPiperAlpha,workingonthe143,000tonnesteeljacket,designedto
withstand95footwavesand117mphwinds,attheArdersieryardofJRayMcDermott,nearhishome.He
wasagreatfamilyman.Hehadason,Evan,anddaughter,Yvonne,whoatthetimeofhisdeathwerein
theirearlytwenties,bothstudents.GillandersandhiswifeAnnhadbeentalkingabouthimpackinginthe
offshorelifetheywerethinkingaboutstartingabusinesstogether.Theideawashe'dbeabletospend
moretimeathome.Thenonedayhedidn'tcomehomeatall.
AnnGillanders,now63,stilllivesinthatsamehouse,amodernbungalowonaquietstreetinNairn.She
remembersverywellthemorningofJuly7,1988herradioalarmwakingherwithdreadfulnews."Iwasjust
sittingthereonthebedandYvonnecamethroughandsaid,'Whatrig'sdadon,Mum?'Isaid,'It'sthePiper.
ButIwanttobesure.'"
Shemanagedtogetthroughtoherhusband'semployer,theWoodGroup,whoconfirmedhewasonPiper
AlphaandgaveheranemergencynumberforOccidental.Onequirkoftheoffshorecultureatthattimewas
thatmanywivesofoilworkershadnoideaonwhichplatformtheirhusbandswerebased,sothousandsof
womenweretryingtogetthroughonthephone.IttookAnntwohours,onlytobetoldtherewasnonews.
ItbecameaquestionofgettingthroughthedayandwatchingeveryTVreportshefoundshewasableto
extracttheinformationshewantedfromthenews,filteringoutthecrudehorroroftheplatform'sblackand
smoulderingstump.Ataround6pmapoliceofficerconfirmedthatIanwasmissing,presumeddead.Ann
stillfeltincontrol.Onsomelevelshewasindenial.Evendayslater,wheneverthephonerang,partofher
thoughthemighthavebeenpickedupbyafishingboat.Butshewasalwaysawarethatthiswaswishful
thinking.
"ThenIrememberthephoneranganditwasBobBallantyne.IwassogladhehadgotoffOK,andI
appreciatedsomuchthathecalled.Itcouldn'thavebeeneasy.Whensomeonehaslosttheirhusbandand
thereyouarestillalive,somepeoplemightresentthefact.I'veseenthathappen."
BallantynewasabletotellAnnwhatheknewofIan'send.Shewasdesperateforinformation,particularly
asherhusband'sbodyhadnotbeenfound.Sadly,itisstillmissing,oneof30menneverrecovered."It's
veryhardtoexplainwhatthat'slike,butitmakesadifference,"shesays."Withanormaldeathyouare
eitherwiththemwhentheygooryoucanseetheremains.Youhaveaservice,yougotothegrave,oryou
crematethemandspreadtheirashes.Butformeitseemsunfinishedsomehow."
Whatmadeitparticularlyhardwasthat,asIanhadworkedoffshore,Annwasusedtohimbeingabsent,so
thereweremomentswhenherbrainfooleditselfthateverythingwasnormalandhewassimplyawayathis
work.Then,suddenly,thepainwouldreturninahugewave.Shewashelpedagreatdeal,however,bya
ceremonymarkingthefirstanniversaryofthedisaster.TheSSSunnivarferrycarriedthefamiliesofthe
missingtothewreckbuoymarkingthespotwherePiperAlphahadstood."Itwasveryemotional,"says
Ann,"butIfeltthatbitclosertoIan.Therewasthisgapwherehehadbeensnatchedaway,andithelpedto
bewherehehadbeeninhislastmoments,andwherehisremainshadtheirlastrestingplace."
ShealsoattendedLordCullen'spublicinquiryintothedisaster,atAberdeenExhibitionandConference
Centre.Itwasn'teasylisteningtothepainfultestimonyofsurvivors,andAnnwasangeredbyalotofwhat
sheheardaboutsafetylapses,includingtherevelationthattheClaymoreandTartanplatformsdidnot
immediatelyshutdownproductionwhenitbecameapparenttherewasafireonPiperAlphatheycontinued
topumpoilintotheburningplatform,fuellingtheflames.LordCullen'sreport,publishedinNovember1990,
made106recommendationsthathavechangedthesafetycultureoftheoilindustry.Hewasalsoextremely
criticalofOccidentalhowever,nocriminalproceedingswereeverbroughtagainstmanagement.

AnnGillanderscameawayfromtheCullenInquirywithsomuchangeratthecorporatesystemthatshefelt
shemightbeconsumed.Instead,sheputallthatenergyintoherwork,becomingafoundermemberofthe
PiperAlphaSurvivorsandFamiliesAssociation.
OneofthethingstheAssociationdidwasraisefundsforamemorialtothedeadmen,commissioninga
sculpturefromtheartistSueJaneTaylor,whohadvisitedPiperAlphatheyearbeforethedisasterandmet
someofthosewholaterdied.ThebronzememorialinAberdeen'sHazleheadParkshowsthreeoilworkers,
largerthanlifesize,standingonapinkgraniteplinthengravedwiththenamesofthedead.Thefigure
facingnorthandpointingtowardsthegroundwasmodelledonBillBarron,aforemanpainter,53atthetime
ofthedisaster,whoescapedPiperAlphabyclimbingdownaropefromthe68footlevelandintothewater
remarkably,hesurviveddespitebeingunabletoswim.
OnJuly6,1991,beforealargecrowdofsurvivorsandbereavedfamilies,theQueenMotherunveiledthe
memorial.Seventeenyearslater,onablazinglyhotdayinJune,itoffersaquiet,stillsanctuaryfromrush
hourAberdeen.Theonlynoiseistheseashoreshushofdistanttrafficandthelaughterofchildrencarrying
fromaplaypark.Bythebottomoftheplinthonthesouthside,nexttowheretheashesofanunidentified
victimareinterred,someonehasleftasmallbunchofpinkcarnations.
There'snooneherenow,though.Thispartoftheparkisdeserted.BobBallantyneusedtovisitandkneel
atthebaseofthememorial,gazingupatthefigures,readingthegoldennamesofthelost.IanGillanders.
CharlesMacLaughlin.RobertVernon.RobertCarroll.ThepoorburnedFrenchman,EricBrianchon.Their
agesatdeatharegiventoo.TheyoungestmantodiewasMarkAshton,a19yearoldtraineetechnician.
Theeldest,DavidWiser,was65,oldenoughtobeAshton'sgrandfather.
AnnGillandersstillcomesherequiteoften,andregardsitasagravestoneforahusbandwithoutagrave.
Thankstoherworkwiththeassociation,theangerisgonenow,burnedofflikeflaredgas,butthesadness
remainsattimes,shecanfeelitinherstomach.Still,almost20yearshavepassed,andlikemostother
peoplewhoseliveshavebeenscorchedbyPiperAlpha,shehasmanagedtogetthroughthem.
"Somehoworotheryoudofindthestrength,"shesays."Butyoudon'tforget.WhathappenedonPiperis
emblazonedonmymind."r
At2pmonJuly6therewillbeaserviceofremembranceintheKirkofStNicholasUniting,UnionStreet,
Aberdeen