About

Our Mission

The Tundergarth Kirks Trust was established in January 2020, as a Scottish Charity Incorporated Organisation (SC049899) after the Church of Scotland placed 85 kirks for sale throughout Scotland. 

A small group of lifelong parishioners, church stewards, and supporters of the 1900 Tundergarth Church, raised from personal hard-earned money, the £35,000 funds required to buy the church- that was in various stages of disrepair. Simultaneously, we had been helping Dumfries and Galloway Council with the upkeep of the Memorial Room which was opened in June 1990.

Our mission is to continue to maintain and preserve these beloved iconic sites for community worship, as well as a place of pilgrimage and healing for all those affected by the 21st December 1988 Lockerbie air disaster. This includes the families of our 11 Lockerbie residents killed, the hundreds of town survivors who experienced tremendous personal loss and devastation and the thousands of first responders and public servants, who were left to help us pick up the pieces, rebuild and move forward. We also promise to perpetually honour and pay tribute to our 52 United Kingdom victims who were killed along with all the 270 victims of this heinous terrorist act who were from 21 nations across the world.

Our Trustees

Lori Carnochan, Interim-Chair

Lori Carnochan was born and raised in Carsethorn on the Solway Coast. She studied Broadcast Journalism at Edinburgh Napier University, before beginning her career with STV and BBC. She joined ITV Border in 2012, where she worked a reporter, producer and presenter for 11 years. Lori began work as a freelance journalist in early 2023 and has been working with the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation as Lockerbie-UK Project Manager since April 2023.

As a partner of the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation, Lori began working with the Tundergarth Kirks Trust and was delighted to join the board as a Trustee. Lori is enjoying helping the Trust to build their website, engage with the local community and help facilitate the development of the 1771 Kirk Ruins.

Mrs Kirsty Boardman, Trustee

Kirsty was born and brought up in Kirbymoorside, North Yorkshire before moving to Lockerbie in 2001. She attended Tundergarth Primary school then Lockerbie Academy and was selected as a Syracuse scholar in 2008-2009 (20th anniversary year of the bombing). Kirsty’s sister was also a scholar in 2011-2012. Kirsty went on to study a BSc Environmental Geoscience and MSc Ecosystem Services at Edinburgh University. She worked as a field studies instructor and team leader at PGL on the Isle of Wight for two years. In August 2018, Kirsty Married at Tundergarth Church, and following completion of her teaching qualifications, she began teaching in 2018. On graduating, Kirsty ticked a box to say that she was happy to be placed in any school in Scotland for her probation year- and she was chose to spend her year at Lockerbie Academy. 

Kirsty states, “I really believe that things happen for a reason and being given the opportunity to teach geography at LCKA is a chance for me to give back to the communities (both Lockerbie and Syracuse) that afforded me so much. The Church building itself means a huge amount having been married there, the connection with the air disaster, and it’s close proximity to my childhood home. It’s a great privilege to now be in a position to contribute to the new project and the upkeep of the church, both from an educational and personal standpoint”.

Mr David John Lee, Trustee

David was born in Blackburn and following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the fire service after training to become an engineer. He was in the brigade for 25 years and he was forced to retire through injury. David took on a variety of roles before joining the NHS and working in HSDU where he was team leader and acting Manager- then retired in 2012. 

David found the cottage for him and his wife Drene, and he said it was the only single-decision he has ever made during his married life. In his spare time, David enjoys riding and collecting motor bikes. He also enjoys attending the TT races, reading, history, DIY and exploring Scotland in the caravan. 

He joined the church when the couple moved to Tundergarth, in order to continue his worship and enjoyment of the church. David enjoys being an active member of the community and hopes to help the church move forward and develop. He became an Elder in 2018 and a Trustee of the Trust, to buy the church. David believes that Tundergarth remains a special place for all manner of people both here and abroad- acting as a place of worship and pilgrimage.

Mrs Drene Constance Lee, Treasurer

Drene was born in a small town called Westhoughton, Greater Manchester. Her daughter married a farmer from Southwaite and Drene visited her often- and began to love the peace and quiet of the country. Alongside her husband David, she started looking at properties in Cumbria, but the prices were at a premium due to the proximity of the Lake District. So the couple decided to look over the border, which is when they bought their cottage at Tundergarth. 

Drene was a midwife for 30 years before taking on roles at Wigan Council and Preston Magistrates Court- and then retiring in 2012.  The couple have four children and seven grandchildren. They joined Tundergarth Church in 2012 to meet neighbours and continue with their faith and support of the church. Both Drene and David were asked to become Elders in 2018 and Drene also took on the role of Treasurer. 

Drene enjoys knitting, reading, crafts, DIY and gardening. She also loves animals and exploring the local areas. Community is important to both Drene and David and they enjoy helping out and ‘giving back’ to the community that offered them a hand of friendship. 

Mr Ian McLatchie, Trustee

Ian McLatchie has lived and worked in Lockerbie for many years. He began his career as a gas engineer before working in hospitality through hotel management and pub ownership. Ian plays an active role in the local community in his capacity as Chairperson of the Lockerbie Gala and Riding of the Marches, as well as sitting on the board of the Lockerbie Community Council. Ian lived in Tundergarth Parish for many years and has always had a keen interest in the history of the church and its connections to the Lockerbie air disaster. As a pro-active member of the community, Ian has taken a keen interest in the developments at Tundergarth and offered his assistance as a Trustee. 

Mr David Paterson, Trustee

Having farmed at Paddockhole, David’s family were involved in both Tundergarth and Corrie and Hutton communities, and he was keen to continue the traditional local custom. David works as a bus driver at Houston Coaches and his father was an Elder at Tundergarth for 52 years. His mother read him stories from the bible, taught him evening prayers and books of the bible and was a member of the Guild. David was asked to become and Elder at the age of 23 and has been Session Clerk for the past few years- with help and support from the Kirk Session. He is keen to continue his service to God, keeping his word and teachings alives in the area. David enjoys traveling, both at home and abroad, and takes pleasure from dancing to traditional Scottish music. He would like to see Tundergarth Kirk open for members and visitors to use and enjoy in the future- and would like it to be available and accessible to everyone.

Mrs Jessie Richardson, Secretary

Jessie was born in New Cumnock in Ayrshire. Along with her family, she moved to Crawford where she attended the local Primary School, and then onto Biggar High School. She studied at Auchincruive Agricultural college before coming to Lockerbie in 1960 as a milk recorder. There were 20 farms on her circuit, which she visited each month. One of the farms was Courstein- which is where she met George and the couple married in 1971. Jessie helped out on the farm until retiring in 2012 to live in Lockerbie. 

Jessie was a first aider with the British Red Cross for 30 years- attending many public events. She was a night carer at Hillside Care Home for 11 years and has been a member of the SWI for many years. As well as her love for handcrafts, Jessie enjoys walking, gardening and Scottish country dancing. She has been a member of Tundergarth Church for 50 years, being voted onto the Board in 2002 and has spent the last six years as Minutes Clerk.

Mr Mike Thomson, Trustee

Michael Thomson is a Lockerbie man and has lived in the town most of his life. After a short spell as a rail worker, he joined Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in 1987. In the immediate aftermath of the Lockerbie bombing, he, along with many others, worked in Lockerbie recovering bodies and debris from the surrounding countryside and assisting in the mortuaries and property stores that were part of the Police response to the bombing. During his police service, Mike became a Firearms Officer and it was through this specialism that he came to work at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands from 1999 until its conclusion. 

Mike retired from the Police in 2017 and lives in the town with his wife and an indeterminate number of miniature dachshunds. He has always been a keen guitarist and continues to play in a number of local bands most weekends.

The events and aftermath of December 21st 1988 have played a large part in his life and Mike is happy to have become a Trustee to help shape the future of Tundergarth and educate future generations.

Victoria Cummock, Trustee

Victoria Cummock is the widow of John Binning Cummock, a 38-year-old American victim of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am flight 103. She is an American of Scottish, English, Irish, and Peruvian descent. Victoria was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut and worked as an Account Executive for J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency in New York City. In 1980 she married John, who was 100% of Scottish descent. He worked as Director of Product Marketing for Pepsi International, in Purchase, NY.

In 1983 they moved to Coral Gables, Florida when John took a job as Vice President of New Product Marketing for Bacardi Spirits, LTD and Victoria opened Cummock Designs, Inc. an interior/architectural design company. By December 1988 their life was focused on their work and raising their young family, which had grown to include three-year-old Ashley, four-year-old Matthew and six-year-old Christopher.

On Sunday 19th December 1988, John traveled internationally to London on Bacardi business. He was scheduled to return home on 22nd December, but as a last-minute holiday surprise for his wee family, he was the last person to board Pan Am flight 103 a day earlier than planned, on 21st December.

Just minutes later, John was among the 259 men, women, and children on board and 11 Lockerbie residents murdered when the plane was blown out of the sky. He died and was recovered inside the Pan Am 103 Clipper Maid of the Seas nosecone, across the road from Tundergarth Parish Church, just miles from where his Scottish ancestors originated. John is the only American, and one of only three victims,including Helga Mosey,UK and Tomas Van Tienhoven, Argentina, buried in Tundergarth Cemetery.

Victoria has contributed regularly for more than three decades, to the Tundergarth Church of Scotland, to support needed repairs. She was the largest individual funder to help establish the Tundergarth Kirks Trust and to help purchase Tundergarth Kirk, from the Church of Scotland. Her continued financial support is currently being used to mitigate further water intrusion and deterioration of the kirk, while significant and very costly repairs ensue.

As CEO of Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation, Victoria has spearheaded and underwritten efforts to commemorate, advocate and educate about the deadliest terrorist attack on UK soil and 2^nd deadliest terrorist attack against the USA. This has resulted in one of the most expansive digital archives, as well as the most comprehensive collection of victim color photographs and related stories, published to date.

In an effort to preserve the Tundergarth Historic & Sacred Sites and create a perpetual source of income and jobs, plans are underway to develop the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Museum complex, utilizing the 1900 Kirk, the victims Remembrance Room and the ruins of an auld 1771 Celtic Kirk to tell the complete story of the attack and its’ long-term impact.

Former Board Member National Trust for Scotland, USA Former National Disaster Responder & Board of Governor Member for American Red Cross