Heartbroken daughter's tribute to Wellingborough Covid-19 victim who was a 'rock'

A well-known Wellingborough man who raised money for multiple charities with his Elvis act has been described by his grieving family as their 'rock' and 'selfless'.

Ian Monah died from the effects of coronavirus at Kettering General Hospital on April 21, ten days after he had been admitted into the intensive therapy unit.

The 58-year-old father of two leaves widow Flo, and daughters Joanne, 28, and 31-year-old Kelly.

Kelly said: "He was our rock. My mum is heartbroken. She talks about him all the time and keeps wondering where he got it [Covid-19] from.

"He was a special man. He was such a selfless man, he would always think of others before himself."

Ian, who had been a chef at the Hind Hotel, and wife Flo, 61, had been married for 37 years and met at a family party- they married at the United Reformed Church in Wellingborough.

The former Weavers School pupil and his wife bonded over a love of Elvis and the 'The King's' The Wonder of You, will be played at Ian's funeral next week.

When not working night shifts at Morrisons in Wellingborough Ian offered his services as a Elvis impersonator to raise money for charities but his first performance for wife Flo was a surprise.

Kelly said: "Mum was shopping in the Swansgate one day and this woman said 'come and listen to this singer', she went round the corner and it was dad singing an Elvis song.

"He had entered a talent show. Mum was so embarrassed. He sang The Wonder of You to her. After that he grew more and more confident.

"He got his speaker and microphone, bought some jumpsuits and would sing at garden fetes, birthdays and weddings. If he could contribute he would.

"When we were growing up he would always play Elvis in his car."

It was at work Ian first noticed that he felt unwell, mentioning a 'weird' taste in his mouth and that he 'didn't feel right' to daughter Kelly.

When she went to see him at home, he was having difficulty with his breathing and over the next few days deteriorated until they called an ambulance to take Ian to Kettering General Hospital.

Kelly said: "They came in what I describe as a space suit to collect him. I was reassuring him as they put him in the ambulance.

"He said to mum 'we have had some good times' and that was the last thing he said to us."

Kelly was called to the hospital to visit her father after they rang to say he was very ill.

She said: "They said they would make special arrangements. I had to wear a 'spacesuit'. He was laying there, sedated. I brought some photos with me - one of mum and dad in his hand and one of me and my sister on his chest. He was fighting so hard .

"The doctor said they feel he hasn't got long to live, it could be minutes, could be hours so I stayed with him until about 2.30am.

"I just didn't want to leave him knowing this would be the last time I'd see him alive. When I left him, I said, 'it's OK you rest now, let me make you proud, look after mum and Jo now you've done so much for us time for me to take the reins'.

"I then got the call when I got home just about to drift off to sleep then at around 4.45am, I got the dreaded phone call to say dad passed away."

Due to coronavirus restrictions, Ian's funeral will be for closest members of his family but Kelly will organise a memorial to her father later in the year funded by a Go Fund Me page .

She said: "I know how much everyone loved and respected my dad, from his charity events, always singing, making people smile, spontaneous serenades in the town centre, wanting to brighten peoples' day, opening shops

"Dad would always go above and beyond to help people that crossed paths with him without asking for anything in return - a selfless man. He always made sure he took care of us to the best of his ability and we would like to give him the best send off as we possibly can.

"We intend on giving dad a great memorial when the current pandemic is over, where all his beloved family and friends can come together to celebrate dad's life, our hero."

She added: "I'd like to thank everyone for their kindess and support. He was a special man."

A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you