Disappointment as memorial bricks removed

FAMILIES have been left distraught after it emerged a memorial bearing the names of their loved ones at an Angus health centre has been demolished.

The wall was part of a feature at the entrance to the Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre in Forfar.

When the centre opened in April 2005 on the site of the former Whitehills Hospital, residents were invited to “sponsor” a brick bearing names of people with a connection to the former health facility, which also housed the Whitehills Maternity Unit.

One grandparent, who did not wish to be named, said: “We did this with the name of our first grandchild who was born in the former Whitehills Maternity Unit.

“The bricks were laid to the right of the main entrance and was a pleasing feature but, over time, some of the bricks deteriorated. The place is now slabbed over.

“It would have been nice to give anyone who wanted to have their brick a chance to collect it.”

A spokesman for NHS Tayside said:“Unfortunately the bricks supplied for this project were not of suitable quality and deteriorated rapidly, despite the best efforts of our site management company Robertson Facilities Management.

“The bricks had to be removed as t hey were becoming a trip hazard. The area was relaid with slabs and none of the bricks could be removed intact.”

The spokesman said NHS Tayside was “disappointed” with the outcome and apologised to everyone who sponsored a brick.

She added: “In order to ensure the sponsorship continues to be recognised, we are in discussions with Robertson to produce a graphic representation of all the named bricks which can be framed and displayed at the hospital.”