A Dundee street has been named in memory of a teenager who died while cycling in the city.
Cairn Rankine was 15 when he was hit by a car when cycling on Pitkerro Road in March 2020.
More than two years on, his parents Gary and Shona and sisters Caitlyn, 22, and Erin, 14, are still coming to terms with their loss.
But they were “so touched” to hear a local housebuilder wanted to name a street in memory of their son and brother.
Castle Developments’ commercial director Austin Clark was the man behind the idea.
The new 14-home Castle Developments estate on Longhaugh Road encompasses Cairn Avenue in memory of the teenager.
Family honoured by street tribute to Cairn
Gary Rankine, Cairn’s dad, explained how the housebuilder got in touch to organise the street naming.
He said: “Austin had got in touch with the police to get our details.
“We had goosebumps when we saw them coming to the door, because the last time was when they came to tell us what happened to Cairn.
“We were totally taken aback that a total stranger was thinking about Cairn and his family more than two years down the line.”
He said while the family continues to deal with the grief of losing the Morgan Academy pupil, the street will act as a lasting tribute.
Gary added: “It’s a memory that lives on through his sisters and when they go on to have children.
“The girls are really proud and they can tell the story that it’s named after their brother.
“It’s a small positive out of a horrible situation.”
‘Gestures like this make a real difference’
Gary said the support of the local community – who also raised more than £12,000 through an online fundraiser to support the family following Cairn’s death – has helped massively.
“The support has been absolutely amazing,” he said.
He said Covid restrictions, which came into force just days after Cairn’s funeral, made the situation even more difficult.
“We had Zoom and things but that’s not the same as getting a cuddle,” Gary said.
“That made what was already a horrendous situation more difficult.
“We’re a strong family and we all leaned on each other.
“Having each other has helped.
“It’s been difficult and it still is, but wee gestures like the street sign make a real difference.”
After more than 20 years together, and looking for a brighter end to 2020, Gary proposed to Cairn’s mum Shona, with the couple married in June this year.
“I know he would be really proud,” Gary said of his son.
“I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. We incorporated Cairn throughout the day in various different ways.
“He always spoke about his mum having the same surname as us.
“It was a wee jigsaw piece, although he is not here to see it.”
‘He’d be so proud,’ says Cairn Rankine’s dad
Supporters of Cairn’s beloved Celtic FC paid their own tribute days after his death, while Gary said his son would’ve loved the idea of having a street named after him.
“He would be beaming from ear to ear. He’d be proud as punch.
“You don’t get much better than that in terms of keeping his name alive.
We had thought about benches and things, but naming a street in his memory is quite unique.”
Cairn would’ve celebrated his 18th birthday on August 28 and the family plan to mark the occasion, though not how they had once hoped.
Instead of a party for Cairn, his parents want to pay for a cake for another Dundee teenager who is turning 18 on the same weekend.
“We’re still doing something to mark his 18th birthday, though obviously he isn’t here with us.
“That will help us,” Gary said.
His family also plan a balloon release at Baxter Park to mark his birthday.
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