from every single one of us at the GSA we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you’ve said, and everything you’ve done. Consider yourselves family.
To everyone who
considers themselves part of the family that is The Glasgow School of Art, the fire
that raged through our cherished Mackintosh building on the afternoon of Friday
23rd May broke our hearts and scoured our souls. Given what the building and
its contents mean to us all, and that it was packed with precious,
irreplaceable work by our graduating students, then that reaction is one that
would be expected.
considers themselves part of the family that is The Glasgow School of Art, the fire
that raged through our cherished Mackintosh building on the afternoon of Friday
23rd May broke our hearts and scoured our souls. Given what the building and
its contents mean to us all, and that it was packed with precious,
irreplaceable work by our graduating students, then that reaction is one that
would be expected.
What wasn’t
anticipated was that the city would start to arrive, not as rubber necking
tourists, but as our fellow citizens as much in love with ‘The Mack’ as we are,
who’d come in their hundreds to express their own anguish, and to do whatever
they could to comfort students, staff and each other. And when the flames had
been brought under control and the crowd took their sorrow home, the kindness
didn’t stop.
anticipated was that the city would start to arrive, not as rubber necking
tourists, but as our fellow citizens as much in love with ‘The Mack’ as we are,
who’d come in their hundreds to express their own anguish, and to do whatever
they could to comfort students, staff and each other. And when the flames had
been brought under control and the crowd took their sorrow home, the kindness
didn’t stop.
From offers of help
and support from around the globe, to strangers in the street trying to press
money into the hands of distressed GSA representatives, even to the staff in
the local bakery giving out free sausage rolls, we have been overwhelmed by the
variety, depth and sincerity of public reaction. Everyone, it seems, has a
story about what the GSA means to them, and all wanted to find ways to express
their horror at watching it suffer.
and support from around the globe, to strangers in the street trying to press
money into the hands of distressed GSA representatives, even to the staff in
the local bakery giving out free sausage rolls, we have been overwhelmed by the
variety, depth and sincerity of public reaction. Everyone, it seems, has a
story about what the GSA means to them, and all wanted to find ways to express
their horror at watching it suffer.
Our friends in
government, the education sector, and all the agencies we work with to preserve
and improve our school, have also been absolute pillars of support and we will
never forget their kindness and understanding.
government, the education sector, and all the agencies we work with to preserve
and improve our school, have also been absolute pillars of support and we will
never forget their kindness and understanding.
We have been
struggling to find the words, beyond the daily yelled ‘ we love you’ from
everyone passing, to thank the incredible firefighters who battled
courageously, tirelessly and brilliantly day and night to save what they could.
Despite their palpable exhaustion, they continued to treat our students, and
all with whom they came into contact, with the utmost respect and sensitivity.
struggling to find the words, beyond the daily yelled ‘ we love you’ from
everyone passing, to thank the incredible firefighters who battled
courageously, tirelessly and brilliantly day and night to save what they could.
Despite their palpable exhaustion, they continued to treat our students, and
all with whom they came into contact, with the utmost respect and sensitivity.
We think, and hope, they’ve got the message by now that when we shout ‘We love
you!’ we really do mean it. It has most certainly provided everyone, and those most immediately affected,
with the strength they need to carry on in this next stage of our history.
But now we find
ourselves equally lost for words to thank all our new extended GSA friends, you
the public, who have reminded us that you belong too.
ourselves equally lost for words to thank all our new extended GSA friends, you
the public, who have reminded us that you belong too.
Your kindness,
support, the outpouring of affection and respect that you have all shown to us,
and to all the emergency services battling the fire and protecting the site,
has touched us deeply.
support, the outpouring of affection and respect that you have all shown to us,
and to all the emergency services battling the fire and protecting the site,
has touched us deeply.
Once we have helped
our students through this, as they are our absolute first priority, then rest
assured we will do everything we can to bring back The Mack, and we’ll do it
together.
our students through this, as they are our absolute first priority, then rest
assured we will do everything we can to bring back The Mack, and we’ll do it
together.
So, from every single
one of us at the GSA we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything
you’ve said and everything you’ve done. Consider yourselves family.
Muriel Gray, Chair
Sir Muir Russell,
Alison
Lefroy Brooks, Kerry Aylin, Douglas Brown, Dr. Janet Brown, Prof. Linda Drew, Simon
Groom, Daniel Ibbotson, Prof. Tom Inns, Douglas Kinnaird, Linda McTavish CBE, Dr
Ken Nei, Nicholas Oddy, Christa Reekie, Ken Ross, Sam de Santis, Lesley
Thomson, Prof. Alison Yarrington
Lefroy Brooks, Kerry Aylin, Douglas Brown, Dr. Janet Brown, Prof. Linda Drew, Simon
Groom, Daniel Ibbotson, Prof. Tom Inns, Douglas Kinnaird, Linda McTavish CBE, Dr
Ken Nei, Nicholas Oddy, Christa Reekie, Ken Ross, Sam de Santis, Lesley
Thomson, Prof. Alison Yarrington