ROCK musician Mark Knopfler took centre stage last night in a special concert dedicated to the people of Dunblane.
Parents of children killed in the massacre were joined by members of the emergency services, hospital staff and Dunblane Primary School teachers at the charity concert in Stirling's Albert Hall.
The concert was organised by Dunblane singer Ted Christopher, who took the Bob Dylan song Knockin' on Heaven's Door to number one before Christmas, to boost the anti-gun message.
The ex-Dire Straits leader, who recorded guitar parts for the charity single, agreed to play for free as a tribute to the Dunblane community.
Together with his new group the Notting Hillbillies, Knopfler entertained a 900-strong audience, packed with people affected by the tragedy on March 13 last year.
Among the parents were Dr Mick North, Mr Les Morton, Ms Lynn McMaster and Mr John Crozier, whose children Sophie, Emily, Victoria and Emma were shot by Thomas Hamilton.
Mr Rodney Mayor, the husband of Primary One teacher Gwen, and Ms Eileen Harold, who was shot four times in the school gym, also attended the concert.
Mr Christopher, 45, who wrote new lyrics for the Bob Dylan song after the Dunblane tragedy and recorded it with children from Dunblane, said the concert was a fitting tribute to the community.
He said Knopfler offered his services after helping record the single at Abbey Road studios in London last year.
He said last night: ''Mark just wanted to do something for Dunblane and show he cared.
''He is doing it all for free. The money will go to the No Guns Fund, which has helped charities like Save the Children, Childline and the Children's Hospice Association.
''This evening is all about appreciation. The people want to say thanks to Mark, and he wants to show he cares and is speaking for a lot of people.''
Mr John Crozier, who first supported Mr Christopher's idea for the song, believing it would be an effective way of spreading the anti-gun message, was delighted with the concert last night.
He praised Knopfler for lending his talent to a good cause, and said: ''These are the best musicians that Stirling has ever seen. I am thoroughly enjoying it. It is also for a wonderful cause.''
He added that he hoped around #3500 would be raised for children's charities through the event.
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