LINE OF DUTY

The Daily Express pays tribute to a dedicated public servant and a nurse who have lost their lives to Covid-19 while bravely going about their work helping others

MERVYN ‘MALLY’ KENNEDY Bus driver Died April 7, 2020, aged 67

A DEDICATED bus driver and family man, Mervyn ‘Mally’ Kennedy looked after his three daughters following his wife’s death from pneumonia in 2004.

He was born and raised in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, moving to London in 1999 following the country’s economic collapse. His daughter, A&E nurse Penny Palmer, 33, says he had his own business working as a mechanic.

“He used to work from home and was well known... both him and my mum,” she says.

Her father moved to Croydon to provide a better life for his young family. He worked as a London bus driver for 16 years. Ms Palmer adds: “He enjoyed his job and never complained.”

Mr Kennedy had no underlying health conditions when he fell ill with coronavirus but his family say there was a lack of PPE to protect him. He was taken to hospital on April 6 but died the following day.

He is survived by his three daughters; Penny, Melanie and Ellen, and seven grandchildren.

LIZ SPOONER Nurse Died May 18, 2020, aged 62

LIZ Spooner gave 41 years of her life to Singleton Hospital in Swansea, South Wales, where she was known as a dedicated nurse.

She worked predominantly in the coronary care unit and was regarded as kind and compassionate in her duty of care to patients.

Jan Worthing, the hospital’s director, paid tribute, saying: “Liz has always given her all, delivering an excellent standard of care.

“She was well known throughout Singleton as a fantastic, caring colleague with a dry sense of humour.

“Liz will be sorely missed by us all and her death leaves a massive hole in the Singleton Hospital family.”

Ms Spooner, who lived in Swansea, is survived by her daughter Zoe, 31.