As the 40th Anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster approaches I feel this is our chance to remember those 66 souls who never came home and let their families know we still care and not just once a year on 2nd January each year.
I have started the Margaret Ferguson Memorial Fund in the name of the only female to die that terrible day. The fund will see the restoration of a memorial vase at her grave and a new stone added along with a memorial bench close to where her grave is at Muiravonside Cemetery, a memorial vase at the grave of the brothers Richard & John McLeay from Slamannan and a memorial bench in Old Ailse Cemetery for the 4 lads from Kirkintilloch who died in the disaster. Robert Carrigan aged 13, James Rae aged 19, John Semple aged 18 and Thomas Stirling aged 16.
A quote from Margaret Ferguson's niece:
"My name is Annette and l have been asked by my mum Mary Gibb who is the big sister of Margaret Ferguson to thank everyone for their donations. My mum said that everyone remembers each year the Ibrox Disaster but to our family and we would guess all the other victims families every day is Ibrox Disaster day as there is not a day goes by we do not think of our loved ones who were so tragically taken from us 40yrs ago. I was 5yrs old when my aunty Margaret died and l will always have that memory of growing up with a feeling of sadness that echoed through our home and l am sorry to say still does.
"This Memorial Fund which has now been set up to erect a memorial bench at her grave is a wonderful gesture and once again the family of the late Margaret Ferguson who died so tragically at the Ibrox Disaster on the 2nd January 1971 would like to say a sincere thank you to everyone for their kind donations. Annette."
And from the McLeay family
"My family are really delighted,it is a really nice gesture and on behalf of myself and my family i would like to thank you and the rest of the supporters worldwide for this lovely thought,thank you again from josephine mcleay and family."
Anyone who wishes to donate to the memorial fund can do so at http://tinyurl.com/32bdlyy
Absent Friends Memorial Grove
Also I have started an Absent Friends Memorial Grove at www.Treesforlife.org.uk which is a Scottish Charity that is aiming to restore the Caledonian Forest!
This can be found at http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/groves/grovepage.php?id=1246 . This effort will see trees planted from the fund for the 66 victims and those from the 1961 and 1902 tragedies at Ibrox. The idea is similar to the brick panels at Ibrox and trees can be dedicated for any occasion or person in your life or even your favourite Ranger!
£5 buys a tree and dedication message.
Many thanks for your time and We ARE The People.
COLIN SHEARER