The Scout Association, February/March 2005

Father's brave story of a young hero

Hey, Mr Big! is a book celebrating the life of Jamie Gasking, who was an active and enthusiastic member of his local Scout Troop in Aviemore. Tragically, 11-year-old Jamie was killed in an accident at the Falls of Bruar in Perthshire on 11 July 2003. Twice participant in the Inverness Area Gang Show (2001 and 2003), Scouting was one of Jamie's great passions.

Written by his father David, Hey Mr Big!,/i> is being published with the help of grants from a Local Enterprise Company and the European Union. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to The Jamie Fund, which has been set up to help improve facilities for young people in and around Jamie's home village of Carr-Bridge in the Central Highlands of Scotland. Over £5000 has already been collected through donations and fund-raising events.

Alexander McCall Smith, the well-known author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, has reviewed an advance copy of the book: 'David Gasking has written a memoir which is both moving and positive. It is moving in that it speaks of a father's love for his son - a love that is beautifully described and which comes from the very deepest chambers of the heart. It is positive in that it shows us how to make something glowing and inspiring out of the darkest, bleakest loss.'

(The above article was also previewed in December 2004 on the Scout Association website at www.scouts.org.uk) Back to top