Tribute to those who died during pandemic
A memorial bench to honour and remember those who lost their lives during the Covid pandemic is now in place at a peaceful parkland spot in Ayr.
Dedicated nurses and staff from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU) at Ayr Hospital raised funds for the bench at Belleisle Park, to provide a quiet place for friends, family and colleagues to remember those who passed during difficult times.
The hard-working NHS staff went above and beyond the call of duty as they called on local businesses to donate funds for the bench in between their shifts.
And now the bench, which is located near the conservatory, provides loved ones with a peaceful place of remembrance.
A plaque on the bench reads:“In memory of all those lost during Covid.
“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.
“Donated by Ayr Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit.”
Jill Bulloch, staff nurse at University Hospital Ayr who helped organised the fundraiser, said:“The staff at the Ayr ICU and HDU wanted to commemorate those lost during the pandemic and provide some comfort to their loved ones.
“With the support of local businesses we held a raffle to raise funds for a memorial bench.
“The bench has been placed in a beautiful spot within Belleisle Park and we hope that those who have lost someone during the pandemic will be able to take a few minutes when they pass to sit and remember them.
“We would like to thank everyone that helped with the raffle and made it possible for us to pay a lasting tribute to those we’ve lost in Ayrshire and Arran.”