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On the evening of December 21, 1988, Anne and Ross Campbell were already prepared with their emergency gear as they followed news coverage unfolding across the UK. The couple, residents of Ayrshire, were active members of the Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network (Raynet), a volunteer-run communications group established after the 1953 North Sea flood to provide vital radio support during crises and major events.
When the devastating news reached them that an airplane had crashed in Lockerbie, a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Anne and Ross received an urgent message from their local Raynet controller: “You’re on standby for Lockerbie.” Alongside their friends Tom Stewart and William Jamieson, who were also enthusiastic radio operators in their 20s and 30s, the group formed part of Ayrshire’s Raynet chapter ready to respond.
The tragic event involved Pan Am flight 103, en route from Heathrow to New York, which was destroyed by a bomb midair, killing all 259 people on board and 11 residents on the ground. Marked as the deadliest terrorist attack on British soil, the disaster mobilized hundreds of volunteers, including many from Raynet, whose specialized communication skills and equipment were crucial during the rescue operations. Ross noted the challenge with the emergency response: “Every police service had their own [radio frequency], as did ambulance services, so they couldn’t communicate with one another.”
In their roles on the ground, each search team was paired with a Raynet operator who relayed vital information back to the disaster control center at Lockerbie Academy. Anne and Ross were assigned to Tundergarth, near the plane’s nose cone wreckage, where they witnessed intense media scrutiny which left Anne feeling protective of the victims’ dignity. Tom, with a decade of fire service experience, dealt mainly with search and rescue dog teams tasked with locating bodies and gathering evidence. William recalled a moment when his team discovered signs of an explosion on a baggage container. Concerned about the presence of the press, he altered the message they broadcast to prevent premature media coverage.
In early 2023, William revisited Lockerbie for the first time since the tragedy, reflecting on the memories that the event stirred. He shared, “I was 22 at the time… finding a passenger still in their seat… it was certainly upsetting.” Tom, who returned alongside the others, admitted that the experience still profoundly affected him: “I can still remember seeing people’s letters and personal belongings and thinking that was someone’s son, someone’s daughter.” Anne expressed a quiet pride, saying, “I’m proud that I managed to have a wee bit of input. But there were a lot of people who did a lot more than we did.”
All four friends emphasize that the contribution of volunteers during the Lockerbie disaster deserves recognition. The efforts of search and rescue teams with their dogs, the Salvation Army, the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, and local townspeople were integral, yet often unacknowledged. Ross reflected, “They gave their free time willingly at Lockerbie and went back home and yet nobody knows of them.” Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston from Police Scotland acknowledged Raynet’s invaluable support, stating, “The assistance Raynet provided the police and other emergency services in the aftermath… will never be forgotten. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those who lost loved ones in 1988 and who continue to show incredible dignity and strength.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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