Memory of an ‘ebullient lover of life’ is kept alive
AFTER his death from coronavirus, the family notice for John Whitfield described him as an “incurable prankster” and an “ebullient lover of life”.
The former head of modern languages at St Cyres School spoke French and Spanish fluently, taught Latin and Greek, and, as his family say, “improvised flamboyantly with Welsh”.
There should have been hundreds of people at the former Penarth teacher’s funeral – family, former pupils and colleagues, friends from his bowls club, members of the church he had attended his whole life.
Instead, even his eldest daughter couldn’t be there as travel restrictions meant she couldn’t travel from her home in Boston, USA.
“It would never have occurred to me that I wouldn’t be at my own dad’s funeral and that I would be watching via video link from thousands of miles away as just my mum, my two sisters and their families, and my aunt and uncle said goodbye to him,” said Esther. “It’s a really tragic time for families.”
Like many thousands across the UK, John’s devastated family in Wales and America will be observing the national day of reflection tomorrow.
Backed by charity Marie Curie, people are being asked to take part in a minute’s silence and a doorstep vigil to remember those who have died from the virus over the past year.
A number of landmarks, like Cardiff Castle, will be lit up yellow at night.
John’s other daughters, Rachel and Lydia, like their mum, Sandra, will be heading to the seafront in Penarth to see the pier lit up and to remember a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.
Esther and Lydia are former students of Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan and the castle there will also be lit up tomorrow evening.
Lydia said: “It still hasn’t sunk in that we have lost Dad. It was devastating to think that he had to go off to hospital on his own.”
Despite being extremely careful since the start of the pandemic, John tested positive for coronavirus just six days before he died in December.
His condition initially improved at the University Hospital of Wales, but then he had to be put on a ventilator and just days later his family were called in to say their last goodbyes.
Lydia said: “He was 78 but as fit as a fiddle. And he had been so, so careful – not going out, playing Scrabble with Mum and both of them practising their bowls in the garden throughout lockdown.
“Rach and her husband Iwan regularly brought their groceries for them and went up with their boys for socially distanced picnics outside the flat.”
Esther said: “The week before Dad went into hospital, I knew he was feeling a bit poorly, but I’ve still
got his texts telling me that it was just a stomach bug and not to worry. It was a huge shock to find out that he actually had Covid.
“Rachel and Lydia have been looking after Mum really selflessly, so I know she has company and is well cared for. It’s more that this is a time when we should be together.”
Lydia added: “We are planning a big celebration of his life when we are allowed to, and remembering him and others who have died in the past year is important.
“We really want to keep his memory alive.”