Family's tribute to Scarborough 83-year-old Harry Millard, who has died from coronavirus

Harry Millard, aged 83, of Garfield Road, died at Scarborough Hospital less than two weeks after falling ill with the disease.

His family are urging people to realise that anyone can catch the virus.

“I never thought in a million years my dad would have got this,” said Lesley Naylor, one of his daughters.

“He had been in isolation for two weeks. I don’t know how he could have picked it up.

“He was very fit for his age and didn’t have any underlying health problems.”

Mr Millard moved to Scarborough from Hartlepool when he was a child and had lived in the area ever since.

He worked as a lift engineer before retiring 20 years ago.

He used to play dominoes at The Trafalgar and was a fundraiser for the MS Society.

He and his wife Vera were married for more than 60 years before she passed away last November.

They had three daughters – Julie, Lesley and Val – eight grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

“He loved them, every single one of them, and they loved him,” said Lesley.

“He played a big part in all of their lives.

“He was always there looking after people. Everybody liked him.”

Mr Millard could often be seen around Scarborough walking his dog Buster.

He started feeling unwell at the end of last month, was struggling for energy and was diagnosed with a chest infection.

But his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to Scarborough Hospital on Sunday April 5.

He tested positive for coronavirus and, despite attempts by doctors and nurses to save him, died last Thursday.

Lesley said she and her sisters are now facing having to organise a funeral under strict social distancing guidelines.

“It’s awful that we can’t have the funeral for him that we would have done,” she said.

“He was very well known. It would have been packed.”

As she was caring for her dad before he went into hospital, she is now self-isolating. “It’s scary, she said. “It’s not nice.

“I just wish people would listen to the advice and do what they’re told.”

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