Kara's legacy lives on

Jul 10 2009 by Lisa Boyle

IT’S a fitting tribute to a beautiful little girl whose life was cut tragically short.

Kara’s buddy bench has pride of place in the playground at Monkton primary.

And it is full of touching symbols representing Kara McPate, who committed suicide in September 2007.

The youngster was found in her bedroom by her dad.

Although she died in such tragic circumstances, Kara’s memory will live on.

She was a prize-winning diver, a keen curler and enjoyed playing the flute.

Kara loved the environment and had hopes to become a vet when she grew up.

The buddy bench will be a permanent fixture at her former school.

Her dad Kieran explained: “Everyone remembers Kara picking up the kids who had fallen over and always making sure everyone was ok.

“So the idea is that if you see someone sitting on the bench, they are feeling a bit lonely, so you have to go and sit with them – just as Kara would have done.”

The bench is thanks to the community of Monkton, Strathclyde Police, Monkton Gala Committee, the school, Kelley’s colleagues from Sport and Leisure in Glasgow and Kieran’s colleagues at South Ayrshire Council.

Everyone rallied round to support Kieran, Kara’s mum Kelley and sister Erika when she died.

The shell-shocked villagers raised hundreds of pounds in the weeks after her death.

And Kara’s buddy bench is the fruit of their labour.

Youngsters at Monkton primary have been involved with the process since the beginning. They were asked to come up with things that represented the things Kara loved about life.

It was then the job of Dumfries Pater Bowsher to bring the intricate creation to life.

Kieran continued: “The dolphin represents Kara’s diving, the sunshine represents her smile, the teddy reflects her age, the squirrel is for her love of nature and the swan signifies Kara’s grace.”

Nursery pupils who are now coming up into primary one will be the guardian’s of Kara’s bench for the next seven years.