Covid-19 claims Broughty victim

Tributes paid to ‘gentle soul’ Sheila French who has died aged 80

A woman from Broughty Ferry has died after contracting coronavirus.

Members of Barnhill St Margaret’s Parish Church have been left in mourning after Sheila French, who was 80, passed away.

The church broke the news “with much sadness” yesterday and said she would be sorely missed by many.

Mrs French, who was a singer in the kirk choir, was described as “such a gentle soul”.

Broughty Ferry councillor Craig Duncan said the death brought the fight against coronavirus “into a sharp perspective”.

“My personal thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of the lady who has died,” he said.

There have been a number of positive cases of Covid-19 in Broughty Ferry since the first case of coronavirus in Scotland was detected on March 1 by NHS Tayside.

Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood announced yesterday that Scottish cancer screening was to be paused to allow the NHS to concentrate resources on the coronavirus fight.

It was also announced that work is progressing to prepare the SEC in Glasgow as a temporary hospital capable of housing up to 1,000 patients.

Tributes have been paid to a woman from Broughty Ferry after she died after contracting coronavirus.

Members of Barnhill St Margaret’s Parish Church have been left in mourning after Sheila French passed away on Friday at the age of 80.

The church broke the news “with much sadness” yesterday and said she would be sorely missed by many.

It said she had died after a “short illness” and told the congregation to keep Mrs French and her family in their prayers.

Members of the church took to social media to pay tribute to Mrs French.

One woman described her as “such a gentle soul”.

Mrs French, who was a widow, was a singer in the kirk choir.

She lived for many years in Kerrington Crescent in Broughty Ferry, before her husband Eric passed away.

Broughty Ferry Liberal Democrat councillor Craig Duncan said the death brought the fight against coronavirus “into a sharp perspective”.

He also pleaded with members of the public to heed advice to protect themselves and others.

He said: “My personal thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of the lady who has died.

“These are very testing times but the Scottish and UK governments are giving out important advice all the time.

“This generation has not been through such a state of emergency before and it can feel a bit abstract until the consequences are felt somewhat closer to home, which brings everything into a sharp perspective.

“Accordingly, I would urge everyone to heed the advice being given by the government to stay indoors and only make essential journeys.”

Mr Duncan said losing a loved one at any time is never easy but will be especially difficult in the present circumstances.

Mrs French was a supporter of the Children’s Hospice Association in Scotland (CHAS) over the years and went as far, in 2007, as having her hair dyed red at Studio Hair Design in Broughty Ferry to raise money for the Kinross-based charity and St Margaret’s New Church Hall fund.

There have been a number of positive cases of Covid-19 in Broughty Ferry since the first case of coronavirus in Scotland was detected on March 1 by NHS Tayside.

Broughty Ferry Health Centre was forced to close earlier this month after a number of positive cases of coronavirus were linked to it.

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These are very testing times but the Scottish and UK governments are giving out important advice all the time. COUNCILLOR CRAIG DUNCAN