St Margaret’s High welcome actor David Hayman to film premiere

Jan 6 2010 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge

RENOWNED film and television actor David Hayman lent his support to a film premiere at St Margaret’s High.

The Trial and Retribution star was on hand for the showing of Stabbed, which was made by the Airdrie pupils in conjunction with the Shooters Project from David’s Spirit Aid Charity.

Twenty pupils were involved in the film project and they decided they would like to use the film to raise awareness about knife crime and its consequences - and how young people can avoid being involved with any aspects of knife crime.

The students wrote the script and were involved in every stage of the project, from directing and acting to make-up and sound.

The end product is a polished and absorbing 10-minute film that has attracted acclaim at the school premiere and a special showing at the Glasgow Film Theatre.

David founded Spirit Aid in 2001 to be run, on a completely voluntary basis, to support children and young people around the world towards leading and enjoying a better, healthier and happier life.

The charity was introduced to St Margaret’s by local comedian Patrick Rolink, a former pupil who is a director of Spirit Aid and whose daughter, Marina, is a current pupil at the Airdrie secondary school school.

Spirit Aid’s Shooters team comprises of project and sessional workers.

As a result of the success of the film, several of the feeder primaries for St Margaret’s will now be involved with Spirit Aid in raising funds for Afghanistan, extending the project right into the heart of the community.

Depute head teacher at St Margaret’s, Catriona Sheridan, said: “It has been a wonderful experience.

“The pupils are a remarkable group and we can’t thank them, David Hayman and Patrick Rolink enough for giving us this opportunity.”