'She was the best': Tributes to Wolverhampton's first Covid victim on anniversary of her death
Tributes have been paid to the first confirmed coronavirus victim at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust – to mark the first anniversary of her death.
Carol Barclay, a mother of two from Wednesfield, died on March 8, 2020, at the age of 73 years old.
She was the fourth person in the UK to die of coronavirus.
Mrs Barclay was admitted to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton on Thursday, March 5, 2020. She was moved to ITU a day later, but died on the Sunday evening.
A born-again Christian who attended a Pentecostal Church in Walsall, Mrs Barclay left behind husband of 53 years Frank, 75, a retired dispatch manager from Chubb Locks, daughters Mandy, 52, and Katherine, 49, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mrs Barclay was a retired catering supervisor at the Wolverhampton trust, having worked for the organisation for 30 years between 1974 and 2004 when she retired. Her daughters also went on to work for the trust.
Her daughter, Katherine Westbury, who is a patient access clerk in the dermatology unit at the trust, said: "She was lovely – she was caring and funny and she idolised her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, and they idolised her in return.
"She was devoted to her family and everything she did was for them.
"She was the best wife, the best mum, the best nan and the best and anyone could wish.
"She is greatly missed by all who knew her."
Professor David Loughton CBE, chief executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, added: "We were deeply saddened at the passing of Carol Barclay, one of our loyal, long-serving former employees and appreciate this remains a difficult time for her family, friends and relatives.
"Our thoughts are with them all on the first anniversary of Carol's passing away."
