Grieving daughter in plea to follow Covid guidelines after father dies
A councillor whose father died of Covid-19 has paid tribute and urged others to follow government guidelines to avoid suffering a similar “horrible loss”.
Sarah Stevens, who sits on Bridgnorth Town Council, said her father John Yardley was a “formidable” man who put “100 per cent into everything he did”.
John died aged 76 on February 9 this year after contracting coronavirus.
He was well known in Bridgnorth for his time on the Round Table, acting as one of the group’s most successful fundraisers.
Holding senior roles at the car dealership Charles Clark in Bridgnorth – now The Gym Club – and in Wolverhampton for 18 years, John’s working life saw him move between the two before a promotion took him to Northamptonshire.
He then retired to Burwarton, between Bridgnorth and Ludlow, where he spent his final days gardening and relaxing outdoors.
Councillor Stevens said he had followed every safety measure in place throughout the pandemic, and that it was “frustrating” to see some continue to flout the rules.
“My father was in possibly the most strictly-controlled environment and still managed to catch Covid,” she said.
“If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere. If you meet a friend you shouldn’t, you just don’t know if that one time is the time the virus spreads.
“There are thousands of people following the guidelines but all it needs is one person to break the rules and it can spread to the most vulnerable.”
Tributes have poured in from members of the community in Bridgnorth, Burwarton and Wolverhampton.
Fellow Round Table member Councillor Ron Whittle said: “As you go through life, you meet lots of people.
Inspirational
“Some you know for a long time and you are left with hardly an impression.
“Others you meet for just a few years and they leave you with a lasting effect on your life – John Yardley was definitely one of the latter.”
Councillor Stevens added: “It does worry me greatly that some disregard the guidelines.
“We’ve come so far and it’s been a year; it’s very silly and selfish to start flouting the rules now.
“It’s such a horrible loss to lose someone like this at this time. I hope I can make a difference to even just one person and urge them to abide by the guidelines which are there to keep everyone safe.”
John had received his first dose of the Covid vaccine and despite the success of the programme, Councillor Stevens said this should not weaken people’s resolve.
She said: “My father had his first jab and I’ve had mine, but this doesn’t mean we can just go back to normal.
“It was a very happy time for John working in Bridgnorth and I want to see the future of the town as a safe place to be.
“He was very proud when I became a councillor and I hope I can carry on some of his inspirational work.”
John leaves his wife, Sylvia, daughter Sarah and son Jamie.
