The unfolding horrific events in the town of Whitehaven and the surrounding countryside seem inconceivable.
The town must still have been reeling from the recent crash involving a school bus, for the mourners to have found themselves caught up in this is a double tragedy.
Whitehaven’s name will probably become inextricably linked to today’s events. But here is Whitehaven, as we found it; a small isolated town, a community, one with a long history of coping with adversity and tragedy, by being just that; a community.
June 2, 2010 at 4:59 pm
It is an awful situation. I think this is only the tip of the information coming through at the moment. It will surely unfold into individual tradgies as well as a collective one over the coming days.
Our thoughts are with everyone there.
June 2, 2010 at 5:33 pm
It’s just awful. My brother lived there for a while, years back, and it was such a friendly wee place.
Another name joins Hungerford and Dunblane as famous for all the wrong reasons.
Thinking of the victims, their families, and the support services looking after them.
June 2, 2010 at 6:25 pm
It is impossible to understand what inner demons make a person do something like this. My heart aches for the people of Whitehaven.
June 2, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Dreadful events that no-one ever expected to see again.
Everyone in that community will be touched by this – I hope that their strong community spirit will be a strength for them in these terrible days.
Your post is very timely.
June 2, 2010 at 6:41 pm
We too have been to Whitehaven.
Such horrific events do seem beyond comprehension, as your title says, and even if the subsequent investigation goes some way to affording an explanation, that will not be of much comfort to those whose lives have been so suddenly shattered.
June 2, 2010 at 9:03 pm
It is a tragedy which seems to have become horrifically common lately. I read an article not long ago which pointed out how sad it is that we all know what to do, that there has been a procedure that is followed- that the memorials begin to pile up unbidden at the site within a short period of time, flowers, notes, stuffed animals, etc, in remembrance of those who perish. I have not heard much here about it, except that it had happened, and that they believe it was a taxi driver.
My thoughts are there.
June 3, 2010 at 7:01 pm
This one felt a bit close to home … there’s nowhere rural enough and peaceful enough that one can escape the horrors.
Living up here, it’s taken me a while, but I finally now think of Lockerbie as ‘the place to get a train to Edinburgh from’ rather than its more notorious aspect.
June 3, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Just too difficult to comprehend.
Among those killed an innocent retired couple minding their own business.
Words seem inadequate.
June 5, 2010 at 9:03 pm
It just doesn’t make any sense, does it.
June 6, 2010 at 2:28 am
Oh dear, how awful. One crazy person can do so much harm.