Thousands of pounds raised in memory of a popular Dumfries teacher will be used to help save people in the community where he helped to “change lives for the better”.
Five defibrillators have been installed at various locations using some of the £22,000 raised by teachers, pupils and parents of North West Community Campus where James Hannay taught PE.
The school community was devastated when James, also known as Jimmy, died while out running in March 2021.
Tributes were paid to the 43-year-old dad from many of the sports clubs across the region he had ties with.
As well as stints as both a player and a coach at Dalbeattie Star, Jimmy also played for Annan Athletic and had links with Queen of the South, Greystone Rovers and Dumfries Saints.
He was posthumously honoured by Scottish Rugby with a special award for his work with the North West Community Campus and Dumfries Saints.
The club said he helped “change peoples’ lives for the better” and provided many once in a lifetime opportunities for pupils.
Jimmy’s friend and colleague Paul Cook, also a PE teacher at NWCC, helped to organise various events to raise money in his memory.
Paul, 40, said: “We managed to raise £22,000. The main intention was to buy a defibrillator for the north west area of Dumfries as there are not many there.
“We ended up buying five which will eventually be installed at the entrance to the school, Scotmid on Lochside Road, Lochside Community Centre, Garroch Industrial Estate and Greystone Rovers.
“We are also giving cheques to various different groups that James had close links to including Dumfries Swimming Club, Dumfries Saints Rugby Club, Young Carers Project and The Dumfries and Galloway Befrienders Project.
“We have also got a pot of money that will be given to youngsters who might need a contribution to something that may help them progress with something in the future, a bursary type thing.”
The defibrillators were purchased from charity Lucky2bhere which established in 2007 by Ross Cowie whose life was saved by an ambulance crew that was nearby at the time he collapsed.
Paul said: “As a school, we are looking to put on a training event using Lucky2behere to make sure pupils know the importance of defibrillators, how to use them and where they are.”
As well as being a PE teacher, Jimmy also provided pupil support and is dearly missed by all.
Paul added: “He was my mentor to begin with and then became my best friend.
“He was a massive loss to so many people.
“He had no idea just how much he meant to us all.”
