THE family of a woman thought to be Glasgow’s first coronavirus victim have pledged to erect a memorial in her honour in her favourite park.
Eileen Honeyman passed away on March 14 last year - understood to be just the second person in Scotland to be killed by the virus - only two days after she first tested positive.
The family hoped to honour the 74-year-old with a large memorial service when restrictions eased but, as they wait for the numbers allowed at gatherings to rise, they have now turned their sights on a more permanent celebration of her life at one of her favourite places: Drumchapel Park.
Eileen’s daughter Agnes said: “We were hoping to get something, although we’re not exactly sure what.
“It has been suggested for a bench or a tree to go up, but we’re hoping to do something a bit different - she was very unique.
Eileen Honeyman
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“It’s to remember her and all the people who’ve passed away from coronavirus because there’s that many around here.”
Eileen first moved the scheme when she was just nine-years-old and raised her family Monymusk Place with her husband William, before moving to Heathcot Place where she remained for around 35 years.
Three years ago, shortly after her husband’s death, she moved to sheltered housing close to the park.
She passed away surrounded by her family - after being treated in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where she was being treated for lung cancer.
“She didn’t want to go into sheltered housing, she kept saying it was for old people,” Agnes said.
“She was just started to get into it when she died. Luckily, we were all there.
“It was before anyone really knew what to do so, we went into isolation after her death to be safe. Then a week later the UK went into lockdown.”
The family are keen to work with local businesses and other Drumchapel residents who’ve lost loved ones to determine how to proceed with the idea.
Eileen Honeyman and daughters Agnes, Marion and Ellen
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Councillor Paul Carey has already given has backing saying it was “important to give families a place to go”.
Glasgow City Council has already erected a bench in the park in honour of Eileen and the others who have died.
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