Grieving Inverness family say thank you to NHS staff with giant rainbow after grandad dies of Covid-19 coronavirus at Raigmore Hospital
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The family of an army veteran who died from Covid–19 have installed a giant rainbow in their garden to say thank you to the NHS staff who cared for him.
Bill Nicholson, from Drumnadrochit, died after a four-week battle in Ward 3C of Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
He was originally admitted for a scheduled operation to amputate his leg due to diabetes, and was discharged. But he fell ill later the same day and was rushed back to Raigmore, where he was diagnosed with coronavirus.
He died on April 11 and his funeral took place last Wednesday.
His youngest grandson, Matthew Williamson, wanted to pay tribute to the 88-year-old, who served in the Royal Army Service Corps and then the Royal Artillery as a Lance Corporal – as well as show appreciation for the NHS.
Mr Williamson (30) said: “My grandad loved telling stories about his life in the army. He was one of the people who were brought into war zones to help with the clear-up of tanks and other equipment after the fighting was over.
“He and my grandmother Joan were childhood sweethearts, and they were married shortly after he left the army. They were married for 62 years.”
Mrs Nicholson died 11 years ago and the couple had five children, 18 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
The retired long-distance lorry driver, who was originally from Kent, moved to the area 15 years ago to be nearer his two daughters, while his three sons still live down south.
Mr Williamson, his wife Laura (30) and their seven children put a huge rainbow in their garden outside their home in Inverness’s Lilac Grove as a symbol of their gratitude to NHS staff who made Mr Nicholson’s last days of life comfortable.
“It has been a very tough time,” Mrs Williamson said. “You just don’t think it will happen to your family, but it has and it is very sad.
“When he was discharged from hospital after his leg operation he was in good spirits and happy to be home. But that same night he took ill and was then diagnosed with Covid–19 and he was cared for in Raigmore.
“At first he was continuing to keep in touch with us, and the staff were amazing. But he stopped replying to us, and it was then that we knew he was very ill.
“When we phoned the hospital we found out that he had become very weak and unwell. Staff were so kind. It was so difficult not to be able to see him, and hold his hand.”
She continued: “We just wanted in some way to say thank you to the NHS staff who looked after Matthew’s grandad at his passing. They read out messages when he wasn’t able to read them and one nurse held his hand in his last moments and we can’t thank these individuals enough.
“Then I remembered we had this rainbow. We printed out all the letters for a thank you sign for our children to colour in, and we tied it up with a rainbow ribbon.
“Rainbows have a special meaning in our family. I bought this rainbow a few years ago for a secret 60th birthday celebration for my mother-in-law Julie Nicholson. I wanted it to represent my late brother-in-law David Pommerol, who passed away at 38 years old.
“When we see a rainbow we all think of David. And they will now remind us of Matthew’s grandad.”
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