Mourners gather to bid farewell to hero Covid nurse James Harrison

Mourners have gathered to pay their respects to a hero nurse who died after his bike was hit by a van on Mount Vernon Road in Liberton, early on Thursday, June 25.

James Harrison died from his injuries two days later.

The 36-year-old father and husband was the lead research nurse in cardiology with NHS Lothian, and had recently volunteered in an intensive care unit to support the Covid-19 response.

At 8:45am this morning, dozens of people met at the crossroads of Gilmerton Road and Mount Vernon - the spot of James’ accident - to hold a minute’s silence.

Council officials overrode the traffic lights at the junction, stopping traffic temporarily to allow mourners to gather in the road safely.

“Going to miss you every day”

Before the silence began, mourners laid flowers and left messages in James’ memory.

One read: “Going to miss you every day. 20 years of friendship should have been much longer.”

“Absolutely devastating,” another read, “a devoted dad and a dedicated nurse and a lovely friend. RIP James.”

Ewan Maclean, who helped organise the minute’s silence, called James “a very loved member of the community”, and thanked all those who attended the vigil.

“We’re very grateful to all the people who came, we know it’s difficult for social distancing reasons.

“This was very much for James and his friends and family,” he added.

“A lot of sadness and a lot of anger”

Describing the atmosphere at the gathering, Ewan said there was “a lot of sadness and a lot of anger too.

“As a community of people who choose bikes as a means of transport, as mums and dads who take our children out on bikes, people are really quite angry.”

SNP councillor for Liberton, Lesley Macinnes, described the occasion as “exceptionally moving” and said it was “a clear expression of the need for increased safety and improved driving behaviour.

The Transport and Environment convener added: “Our roads are for everyone, including vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists.”

“We need a Dutch-style revolution for the city”

Green councillor Gavin Corbett told the Evening News: "It was a sombre occasion, of course, to mark someone who died far too young, leaving a young family behind, and all for doing something as normal as cycling or walking through our city.

"It's happened far too often. Most of us have experienced it or know of someone who has been killed, injured or scared off by a car or van or truck competing for space, impatient, careless or reckless.

“It's staggering that in the 21st century people who are walking and cycling in Edinburgh have to face this.

"In small patches across the city that is starting to change. Footways are being widened and cycle lanes are being protected.

“But, frustratingly, every inch is being contested. And it is far too little. We need a Dutch-style revolution for the city, which puts people on foot, bike, wheelchair or buggy first and makes for a more pleasant, safer and more economically vibrant city into the bargain."

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