A church pastor, a hero of the wartime blitz and a top scientist... tragic toll grows
THE pandemic’s victims include a pastor and father-of-five who died less than a week after he was admitted to hospital.
Charles Kayiwa, 59, died on Sunday. His brother Danny, 50, said he was a “normal, fit guy”, adding: “The disease took him so quickly.”
Mr Kayiwa, originally from Uganda, preached in London’s Charlton area.
Prayers were also said for Church of England reverend Philip Carlin, who died in Huddersfield on Monday – six days after he was admitted to intensive care.
In Stockport relatives of Kenneth Bushell, 90, thanked “amazing” NHS staff who let them say goodbye.
Granddaughter Kay Bamford said she was able to visit Mr Bushell for 15 minutes, a few days before he died after Stepping Hill
Hospital gave her protective equipment.
And staff let her and her sister speak to him one last time in a video call.
Miss Bamford said: “The staff were absolutely amazing every day.
“I will be forever grateful to them for doing that for us.”
One of Britain’s most decorated Royal Marines told of losing his Blitz hero grandfather. James Glancy said Alec Somerscales, 91, tested positive in hospital after suffering a fall at his home in Surrey last month.
The pensioner, part of the auxiliary fire service in London during the Second World War, died three days after going to Croydon University Hospital. Former Royal Marines captain Mr Glancy, who won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross in 2013, said: “The worst thing was he had to die alone. We were unable to visit because of the virus, even before he tested positive.”
TV judge Robert Rinder was tearful yesterday as he told how Covid-19 had claimed his 92-year-old grandfather. The star, 41, said he had “survived the Second World War” and was a man “determined to see joy in the world”.
The barrister, who fell ill with the virus last month, told ITV’s This Morning: “Whenever I saw him, it was, ‘What good news is there?’ That’s something that generation reminds us all of. “I remember him in that positive way.” Another virus victim was named as Matthew Amison, 86, of Stoke-onTrent, Staffs.
Son Robert, 58, said: “It’s one of the hardest things to be told your dad is dying and you can’t sit with him and hold his hand.” Professor Michael Wakelam, 64, the director of the world-leading Babraham Institute in Cambridge, has also died of complications from a suspected Covid-19 infection. And Briton John Carter, 75, passed away last month on the stricken Zaandam cruise ship, which is stranded off Florida.