By Ally McLaws
By Ally McLaws
THE workforce of a Glasgow business was so moved by the tragic death of groom-to-be Jim Russell to coronavirus that staff have pledged financial support to The Herald’s Garden of Remembrance campaign, and also volunteered physical support.
HCS Mechanical and Electrical has donated £5,000 and hopes the money can be put towards memorial benches that will help establish a peaceful place of remembrance and reflection for those who have lost loved ones to the virus.
The Hillington-based workforce of HCS has strong links to Mr Russell and his fiancee Connie McCready through one of its key directors – Mark Lammey, who is engaged to Ms McCready’s sister.
Both couples were due to be married in 2020 but now their plans have been shattered and Ms McCready left distraught by the loss of her beloved partner. She is also haunted by the unanswered questions she has about his death as told in a heartbreaking interview published in The Herald yesterday.
Mr Lammey was so shaken by the death of his friend that his emotions rippled through the workforce of HCS where managing director Richard Clarke immediately decided that The Herald’s Garden of Remembrance campaign deserved the support of not just Glasgow City Council and the families of victims but the business community and the people of the city.
The Herald’s aim is to create a memorial cairn with a stone to remember every one of Scotland’s coronavirus victims.
Our campaign was given a boost when council chiefs, Leader Susan Aitken and Lord Provost Philip Braat, said the authority was happy to make a site available at Pollok Country Park.
HCS and its workforce are already heavily involved in maintaining services across local authorities and health boards and trusts ensuring continuity throughout challenging times. “If People Make Glasgow,” said Mr Clarke, “then local businesses owe it to the workers to care for people.
"We’re hugely supportive of this wonderful initiative and hope the people of Glasgow get right behind it.
"Clearly this is a great opportunity for the people of Glasgow to express their support for those who have been left bewildered and heartbroken by the consequences of Covid-19.”
Mr Clarke and said HCS will donate £5,000 which he hopes will be used to fund memorial benches to enhance the memorial cairn site in the park as a place for reflection and remembrance.
Ms McCready, who lost her fiancé Mr Russell to Covid-19 just weeks before they were due to be married, welcomed the “terrific gesture” from the firm where Mr Russell’s close friend is a key director.
HCS is already supporting councils and health authorities maintain services through this period of extreme challenge and some of the workforce have also agreed to volunteer as drivers for the NHS locally with HCS agreeing to foot the fuel bill.
Mr Lammey added: “That our boss has agreed to put company money into this brilliant project has made me feel proud to be part of it all – but I realise this isn’t just about money.
"That’s why I volunteer to help drive people about and deliver goods whenever they are required and why me and the rest of the team at work will be getting organised to raise funds through sponsored activities and offer to help the cairn project with any physical assistance that might be needed.”
HCS recently opened in Glasgow to build the Scottish division following generations of the business based in Yorkshire where it is a long-established and respected family owned concern with deep roots in the community.
Trading as HCS Mechanical and Electrical from UK headquarters in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, it opened the Glasgow office in 2015 where the Harry Clarke Holding group has continued to grow and flourish with a 130 strong workforce.
If your business or your workforce wants to get involved in The Herald’s Garden of Remembrance campaign we would like to hear from you. Contact us at memorialgarden@theherald.co.uk
Read more: Herald campaign: Memorial garden could help healing process, says top horticulturalist
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