Family pay tribute to ‘beloved boy’ Bailey Gwynne

Parents who arrived at Cults Academy yesterday found a heavy police presence and were not let into the school as officers began enquiries into the tragedy. Picture: Derek Ironside/Newsline Media

Bailey Gwynne, 16, was stabbed during an incident at Cults Academy during lunch break on Wednesday and died in hospital a short time later.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the death and is expected to appear at the city’s sheriff court today. In a statement released through Police Scotland, Bailey’s family said: ”There are no words. Bailey is our beloved boy and our heart. Our hearts have gone with him.

“A special son, brother, grandson and friend – he never failed to make us smile (most of the time). He will always be our boy. We don’t know what we will do without our junior ‘man about the house’. We need time now to look after each other and send our love to all those who care for Bailey.”

Hundreds of friends and pupils turned out for an informal vigil at Church of Scotland Cults Parish last night.

Police yesterday described the school investigation as a “contained incident” and said no-one else was being sought.

School staff are said to have battled to save Bailey’s life, fighting to stem the flow of blood before paramedics arrived.

In a blog to staff, Aberdeen City Council’s chief executive, Angela Scott, praised what she called “individual acts of heroism” at the school.

She said: “I know that there were individual acts of heroism at the school yesterday and I fully appreciate that there were sights and experiences for many that you simply do not expect to have to face.”

Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Adrian Watson told a press conference in Aberdeen: “In nigh-on 30 years in the police service as a senior investigating officer and for the past six years as commander for Aberdeen, you think that you have seen it all until you learn of yesterday’s tragic events.”

Sending his condolences to the boy’s family and friends, he added: “I know full well this will be deeply felt not only in the Cults area but across Aberdeen, and of course further afield.”

He went on: “I can confirm we have charged a 16-year-old male in connection with the incident and he will be appearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court tomorrow.

“I need to stress all the evidence gathered to date suggests this is a contained incident and we are not looking for anyone else.” He added: “I can’t go into the detail but we had several people who witnessed it in part, there’s a lot of evidence still to work through and gather.”

Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing told the press conference: “When you send your children to school you expect them to be in a place of safety and in a place where they will be equipped for their life ahead. That opportunity has been denied to Bailey.”

She said the loss of life “represents a unique set of circumstances and is extremely rare, if not unheard of, in our city and its schools”.

Ms Laing added: “For this tragedy to take place in one of the safest cities in Scotland is, of course, a terrible irony and means that we feel the pain of Bailey’s family as one big extended community.

“We will not allow this tragedy to deflect us from supporting our young people as they make their way in the world.”

Dozens of floral tributes have been left at the school gates. One handwritten message left among the flowers read: “Bailey, forever in our hearts. My thoughts are with your family at this tragic time and with my fellow students who have shock and despair at you leaving us.”

One friend told how Bailey enjoyed going to the gym and said he thought he had plans to join the Marines. On Wednesday, headteacher Anna Muirhead described Bailey as “gentle and caring”, and told of the shock within the school community following his death.

Pupils arrive at the vigil for Bailey Gwynne, right, last night as tributes pile up outside Cults Academy, above. Below, headteacher Anna Muirhead described Bailey as ‘gentle and caring’