Repost from 2018
July 1981. On my way north with family for the annual holiday. After a
late afternoon break in the long journey in Swaledale, we crossed the
Scottish border at 6pm. As we headed north up the A74, an all enveloping
horror made me lie down on the back seat. I cannot explain what it was
about, or why. But after I had given in to my emotion, I looked up again
and asked where we were. "Lockerbie", came the answer, and I saw the
sign for the A709 turn-off to Lockerbie and Lochmaben flash by.
The same sign that can be seen in the footage from December 1988. The
location where parts of the plane came down. Don't ask me to explain the
coincidence. I can't.
In 1988, I was a student in Holland, and given to watch rubbish on the
television. That evening, the Lockerbie images flashed by - and that
road sign. A74 Glasgow, the North - A709 Lockerbie, Lochmaben.
The documentaries that were shown these past few days were traumatic to
watch. The eye witnesses that spoke were moved to tears, even after all
those years. I'm no better.
May the innocent victims of Lockerbie, from the plane, or on the ground,
all rest in peace.
