Two families left with ‘hole in their hearts’
Memories of grandad and former soldier taken by Covid-19
A former Trebor Bassett worker from Maidstone has died after contracting Covid-19. Christopher Phipps fell ill with coronavirus while suffering from a chest infection and he died at Maidstone Hospital. The 61-year-old was described by his step-daughter Vicky Martin as a loving dad, grandfather and brother who will be “forever in our hearts”.
Mr Phipps, who was separated from his wife, had been living in Tovil Green Court assisted living in Maidstone, having suffered a stroke in 2012.
“He fought for as long as he could,” his step-daughter said. “He was a loving dad, brother and grandfather, his passing has left a hole in our hearts but his memories will live on.
“We will never forget the summers when he used to chase us children with the hosepipe, hiding behind the runner beans, or his joy of tinkering with engine parts in the kitchen and helping him when he was fixing cars.
“He was always there when you needed him with support and love, we may not have been blood but he was my dad in every sense and he loved me as his own from when I was a baby. He’s the only dad I’ve ever known, I miss him every day and always will.”
A former Gurkha is also being remembered after he succumbed to Covid-19 after a 10-day illness. Retired Nepalese soldier Karna Bahadur Rai was living with his son, daughter and son-in-law in Maidstone when he contracted the coronavirus.
The 77-year-old was admitted to the intensive care unit at Maidstone Hospital, but died on Saturday, May 9. He had previously lived in Nepal, but had moved to live with his children when he was widowed.
Son Raj Rai said: “Rest in peace dad, no matter where we are, your spirit is beside us.”