I’ve lost the love of my life
Wife tells of her heartache at husband’s death
A dad-of-three has been laid to rest after losing his battle with cancer.
Ayr Rugby Club stalwart Kevin Williamson died at Ayr Hospital on June 18, aged 49.
The co-founder of Ayr firm Ekko Glass had been living with cancer of the oesophagus, which spread to his lung and liver, since 2018.
Kevin’s chemotherapy treatment was stopped at the outbreak of coronavirus and he told the Post that he feared he may not get the chance to say goodbye to some friends and family.
Last Thursday Kevin’s wife Victoria and children Gaby, 19, Findlay, 17, and eight-year-old Poppy held a private ceremony at home as one of his last wishes was to come home. Then he was laid to rest in Symington Cemetery next to his father-in-law.
Friends were encouraged to line the street from the Abbotsford Hotel to the Chestnuts on Corsehill Road to give Kevin the best possible send-off amid Covid funeral arrangements.
A memorial will be held when restrictions are lifted.
His wife of 24 years Victoria, who owns Beau Beau Boutique in the town’s Sandgate, said: “He fought so hard but in the end his body couldn’t fight anymore.
“He wasn’t only a great father, friend, uncle, brother. He was the true love of my life. Not many people are lucky enough to have the love, friendship and companionship we had.
“The day before it happened it was Poppy’s sports day so we were doing a video of her and sending it in to the school and he did the three-legged race with her. We’d had a good day.
“And then all of a sudden he said ‘I feel like I’ve got a lump in my throat. I might make myself sick’, because sometimes that would help clear how he felt.
“The bleeding started and we had to get up to A&E and that was the start of it. He was so weak he just couldn’t pull through.
“The staff up there were amazing. They were fantastic with us as a family.
“But then obviously we were faced with a funeral under Covid conditions.
“If it hadn’t been for Covid he would’ve had such a personal tribute to him. It would’ve been probably in Symington Church, where we were married and where our children were christened.”
Kevin and Victoria met while working together at Simpson’s Oyster Bar, where the Waterfront restaurant now sits along South Harbour Street.
Victoria said: “We were friends for a wee while before we started to go out. I’ve known him a long time. It was our silver wedding anniversary on September 9 and he didn’t quite make it. That’s going to be a difficult day.
“My dad passed away 11 years ago and he was buried at Symington Cemetery and when he died I was really upset, thinking ‘someone is going to go in next to him’, so Kevin bought me a family plot. Kevin being Kevin: always thinking, always caringputting us all first.
“I think it’s really fitting for him.” Ayr Rugby Club said: “Kevin came through Ayr’s mini/midi section and played social rugby for the seniors. Kevin continued to support the club through his illness and took great comfort from his rugby family at Millbrae and beyond. Our thoughts are with the Williamson family at this difficult time.”
The family requested any donations to be made to Ayrshire Cancer Support.
Not many people are lucky enough to have the love we had.”