TRAGEDY Kevin’s brave family will collect his MBE
Tax boss dies of cancer after honour announced Flying the flag in honour of our heroes
The heartbroken family of a brave former East K i l b r i d e man b a t t l i n g cancer told how he died only SIX weeks before he was set to pick up an MBE.
Now Kevin Courtie’s wife and their children have vowed to pick up the gong in his memory.
The tax boss, who worked at HMRC in East Kilbride for 30 years, was both shocked and surprised when he found out he had been given the award and was due to pick up his MBE in Edinburgh on July 5.
Ke v i n l o s t h i s t h r e e - y e a r battle with the disease on May 29 and passed away at his home in Wishaw surrounded by his family at the age of 48 .
H o w e v e r, K e v i n ’ s w i f e Dorothy, together with 16-yearold son Andrew and 12-yearold daughter Laura, will make their way to Holyrood later this summer to accept the award on Kevin’s behalf.
Dorothy said: “Kevin couldn’t believe it when he received the l e t t e r t h r o u g h t h e d o o r. He thought it was a wind-up.
“He was ver y modest about t h e whol e t h i n g b u t h e was determined to keep going and be there as well as seeing Laura f i n i s h h e r y e a r s a t p r i mar y school.
“It’s such a shame he won’t be there but he did say to me that we would have to go to pick it up for him.
“It’s going to be an emotional day for all of us.”
Kevin worked as a customer relationship manager in the High Net Worth Unit at HMRC, and before that the Inland Revenue, for 30 years meeting Dorothy while they were both working there.
Away from work, he was very much a family man and enjoyed s pending t i me wit h hi s wif e and kids going on outings and holidays across the UK.
He was also a keen sports fan and enjoyed attending Rangers matches as well as watching Formula One on television.
After suffering a perforated bowel and undergoing a lifethreatening operation, Kevin next had to undergo a rigorous course of chemotherapy and was given the all-clear before the cancer returned 10 months later.
Dorothy said: “When he had his operation, Kevin was only given a 50/50 chance of survival a n d was t h e n t o l d h e ha d a cancerous tumour.
“He has been battling this for the last three years but, typical Kevin, he just got on with it.
“Daytime TV never appealed to him so he was desperate to get back to work.
“He al so managed t o go t o Disneyland with us in April and even went back to work after that.
“When he passed away, it was lovely and peaceful – just the way he wanted it to be.”
Dorothy and the family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received since Kevin’s death.
She added: “All our f amily, fr iends and neighbours have been fantastic.
“I’d also l i ke t o t hank all of the community nurses as well as the staff at Wishaw General Hospital and over at Monklands Hospital where Kevin received his chemotherapy.
“Kevin had bowel cancer but was below t he screening age for this which is 50. He always encouraged anyone over 50 to use t he kit as early detection greatly improves their chances of survival.” B r i t a i n ’s f i g h t i n g h e r o e s w e r e honoured at a special ceremony held in Hamilton.
A specially- commissioned f l ag was raised outside South Lanarkshire Council’s headquarters ahead of Armed Forces Day.
The moving ceremony was led by Depute Provost Pam Clearie and the Reverend James Gibson of Bothwell Parish Church.
Armed Forces Day is this Saturday, June 25, and the flag has been flying all week to increase public awareness of the vital role that the Armed Forces play in maintaining the security and well-being of the country.
At the event on Saturday morning, Depute Provost Clearie said: “Today we raise this special flag as a mark of re s pect f or our a c t i v e s e r v i c e personnel wherever they are.
“We honour them just as we do on Remembrance Day when we pay our respects to their fallen colleagues who made the ultimate sacrifice in conflicts past.
“By the raising of this flag we signal our respect for everything they do to keep us safe and secure.”
Armed Forces Day, now in its tenth year, is an opportunity to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and also give the nation an opportunity to show their support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community – from serving troops and service families to veterans and cadets.