A MEMORIAL to 71 children who perished in one of the worst cinema disasters in Britain will be unveiled this week.

There has never been a town centre memorial to the victims of Paisley's Glen Cinema disaster but a statue situated at Dunn Square will mark the tragedy across the road from the former picture hall in Dyer's Wynd.

Artists Kerry Stewart and Rachel Lowther were commissioned to work with the local community on a suitable memorial as part of the 90th anniversary of the tragedy.

A smoking film canister caused a panic during a packed matinee performance on December 31, 1929 and children rushed towards the exit to escape. Metal gates had been pulled shut which stopped it from opening. Seventy-one children died in a crush with another 30 sustaining injuries.

Provost of Renfrewshire Lorraine Cameron will lead a small ceremony to unveil the memorial entitled "Rattle/ Little Mother".

The memorial was designed with input from the two remaining survivors and their families.

Community activist Tony Lawler – one of the organisers of the annual ceremony to mark the tragedy which takes place every Hogmanay – was a member of the working group.

He said: “It’s important the town centre has a memorial – as it’s about more than remembering the 71 who died, it’s for the survivors and their families too.

“For a long time, people didn’t really talk about the Glen Cinema – the survivors were sent away to convalesce and didn’t get the support they would have if it happened now.

“The existing memorial at Hawkhead isn’t accessible for everyone, so having one in the town centre is important as it will give people a place to go to reflect.

Artists Kerry Stewart and Rachel Lowther said: “Having met with survivors Emily Brown and Robert Pope and processed, through research and community engagement, what happened on that terrible day, we wanted to produce something that spoke to and of the children.

“We have tried to create a sculpture that is playful yet serious, that hovers between a nostalgic lost object - a portal to the children of Paisley, 1929 - and a sacred or devotional object, carrying the story of the children as their own protectors.”

Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “The Glen Cinema remains printed in Paisley’s collective memory as perhaps the darkest day in the history of the town.

“It is important the events of that horrific day should never be forgotten and that’s why this permanent