Helen Gillanders was headteacher at Dunbar Primary School from 2008 until 2023. During her time as headteacher she worked tirelessly and ensured that the children were always her priority. The ethos of the school Helen led was built around being a warm, welcoming and inclusive place where the children could learn, grow and reach their full potential. As headteacher she also built strong links and ties with the local community.

The wishes of Helen’s family are to create a lasting memorial to her at DPS, a place that meant so much to her. They have suggested three ideas with a view to supporting local companies or craftspeople. The first is to plant the four trees of Sanctuary, following the Applecross tradition, a place very special to Helen. The second is to provide an upholstered chair for the libraries because helping children learn to read was a passion of Helen’s. Lastly, to create an outdoor reading bench, where children and staff can spend time sharing stories.

On Saturday 20th September, current and former staff and friends of DPS are planning to walk part of The John Muir Way from North Berwick to Dunbar. We feel this is a fitting way to attempt to raise money as Helen walked this route whilst training for the Moonwalk, as well as John Muir’s connection to Dunbar. Any contributions towards our efforts will be greatly appreciated and any additional money raised above what Helen’s memorial requires will be donated to a charity of her family’s choosing.

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