A SMALL Covid remembrance event in the grounds of Ayr Hospital has been organised by a grieving daughter – one year after her dad lost his life to the disease.

On December 23, Melanie Hunter and representatives from two other households will plant a holly tree and hold a candlelit vigil outside the main doors of the hospital in memory of those who have lost their lives or been affected by Covid-19.

Arranged with NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Melanie hopes the event will bring comfort to those who are suffering, as she knows all too well the pain of losing a loved one to the deadly disease.

Although the remembrance event has had to be scaled back due to Covid restrictions, Melanie is hoping to hold another evening in March 23, 2022 to coincide with National Covid Remembrance Day.

Last year, Melanie said goodbye to her beloved dad, John Cowan, 83. The businessman, born and bred in Ayr, was “well known and well regarded” in the town.

Melanie explained: “This is why I’m involved in the event because Dad was my right arm. I miss him so much.

“He was the nucleus of my family and a huge part of my kids’ lives. He was a wonderful father-in-law. To lose him like that was just heartbreaking.

“Both my mum and dad were in hospital with Covid at the same time. I had to tell my mum that her husband of 60 years had died in the room next door.

“I then had to leave my mum behind. I never got to hold my mum’s hand again until Mother’s Day in March - four months later.

“They had been locked down for 12 weeks in a top storey flat with little sunlight at the beginning of it all. They only got out for a cup of tea in July.

They then both entered a nursing home together in August. I couldn’t separate them, they wanted to be together.

“During lockdown again, I went down every day to wave at them and blow them kisses through the window. In October, mum tested positive for Covid then dad did a day later and he got taken into hospital.

“He died nine days later half the man he was. The doctors said, this is what a Covid death looks like, this is how people die from Covid if they’re not incubated. I’ll never forget that.

“He did not deserve to die like that. The hospital did what they could but it was absolutely horrendous.”

She continued: “Local companies donated everything for free including Hayes Garden Land in Symington and Forget Me Nots on the Main Street.

“I’d like it to be turned into a landmark event. So many people lost loved ones under terrible circumstances so they deserve a place to pay their respects.”

Describing his regret that the event cannot take place on the scale originally planned due to Covid public health advice, Allan Dorans, the MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, said: “I regret that we are unable to hold the commemorative event and vigil planned at Ayr Hospital this week for those who died of Covid and their loved ones.

“However, public health and safety and preventing the spread of Covid are absolutely paramount. I look forward to taking part in the rescheduled event.”