The devoted Egremont couple’s family has revealed that caring staff at West Cumberland Hospital moved their parents’ hospital beds together in their final days.
Daughter Gill Downton said, as a way of saying thank you to the “amazing” staff on the Loweswater Suite for their kind actions, the family has donated £500 to the ward and a box-set of musicals.
The money was raised at the double funeral for the couple at St John’s Church in Cleator Moor.
A further £200 is set to go to a charity for blind veterans.
Mr and Mrs Leech lived in Cleator Moor for most of their life, but moved to Egremont a couple of years ago.
Grace and George Leech. This photo was taken at Butlins holiday camp in Ayr where they first met The couple, who leave three children – Gillian, Susan and Gordon – were due to celebrate their diamond wedding in December. Mrs Downton said: “They spent all their time together. They never spent a day apart.”
Mr and Mrs Leech were admitted into hospital in November.
Mrs Leech, 82, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease the previous week and had gone to hospital with a perforated bowel. Mr Leech, 83, who had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer, was admitted shortly after his wife.
“They wheeled dad’s hospital bed next to my mam. They were side by side. It was heartbreaking to watch,” said Mrs Downton.
Following Mrs Leech’s death on November 18, Mr Leech’s health deteriorated and he died on November 23.
Mr Leech used to work at Sellafield and had been on the committee at St John’s Church.
His wife, originally from Dundee, was a home carer for the elderly in Cleator Moor for over 30 years.
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