Funerals For Rally Crash Victims

The funerals of two people killed when a rally car ploughed into a group of spectators have taken place.

Iain Provan, 64, and his 63-year-old partner Elizabeth Allan, known as Betty, were among three people killed when the car came off the road at the Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders on May 31.

Around 60 people attended Mr Provan's funeral at Woodside Crematorium in Paisley today.

His partner's funeral took place at Craigton Crematorium in Glasgow, conducted by civil celebrant Tony Welsh.

The order of service featured the poem It Was A Sudden Parting and the songs Sailing and This Old Heart Of Mine by Rod Stewart, and Miss You Nights by Cliff Richard.

A message on the back of the order of service said: "The family would like to thank you for all your kind expressions of sympathy and support shown to them at this sad time.''

The funeral of the third victim, Len Stern, 71, took place at Clydebank Crematorium yesterday.

The accident happened at about 4pm at Little Swinton, near Coldstream, two hours after another rally car left the road and hit five people - four men and a woman - at the same event.

About 250 competitors had been taking part in the rally, one of the largest in the UK.

The rally is named after Scottish Formula One driver Jim Clark, who grew up in the area and was killed in a motor-racing accident in Hockenheim, Germany, in 1968.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the fatal crash, and the earlier one near Eccles, to contact them.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced last week that police will carry out a review of safety at public events in Scotland in the wake of the deaths.

The Scottish Government will also commission a review of motorsport event safety in light of the tragedy.

This review will include Police Scotland, event organisers, Borders Council, the Motor Sports Association and others, and will look at the training and deployment of stewards as well as all other safety controls, Mr MacAskill told MSPs.

The service for Mr Provan was conducted by civil celebrant Tommy McShane.