Generous Geordies have rallied round to raise thousands of pounds for Newcastle's NHS heroes in memory of a Walker chip shop owner who died from Covid-19.
Gus Singh was a popular figure in the Newcastle East End community after running the successful Gus’s Chippy on Wharrier Street for more than 30 years.
The dad-of-three retired after suffering a heart attack and undergoing a triple bypass, but could regularly be found helping out at his family's shops, including his son Jag’s Premier store on Churchill Street, Wallsend.
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In January last year, Gus tested positive for Covid-19 and just days later he was admitted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) where he spent a month on a high dependency unit fighting the virus.
Tragically, the grandad-of-three died on February 17, 2021, aged 68 after he went into multi-organ failure.
In a show of support for the family, the communities of Walker, Byker, Howdon, Felling, and Wallsend, have rallied round to help raise an incredible £7,300 for the RVI's Critical Care Unit, Ward 38, which cared for him.
Funds were raised through bucket collections at the family stores in those areas, as well as through a Go Fund Me Page.
To mark the first anniversary of Gus' death, son Jag Singh, and son-in-law Sonu Singh, visited hospital staff on the ward to hand over the money.
Jag, 47, said: "I want to thank the people Howdon, Wallsend, Walker, Byker and Felling, as all of our customers, as well as family and friends, donated to this worthy cause.
"Real people have made a real difference.
"During Covid, a lot of people were off work and that's what makes this extra special because even when they weren't earning, the real people in the North East, the people who knew me dad and the people who have a real sense of community, they still gave."
The family has been told that the money will be used to help buy new equipment for the Critical Care Unit or to send staff on training courses.
"I also want to say a big thank you to the NHS," Jag added.
"I don't think we can thank them enough for the work they have been doing.
"The NHS is something that is really precious to our country.
"No matter what happens, there is somebody there to look after you if you are poorly.
"The staff are superhuman."
Born in India, Gus moved to Coventry with his family at the age of three.
A talented footballer in his spare time, he ran a shop in Coventry and worked for Jaguar while working as a bouncer in the evenings.
Gus married his wife Ami, 73, when he was 21 years old and the couple have two daughters and one son.
The family moved to the North East in 1980, where Gus became well known as the owner of Wharrier Street Fish Bar, later known as Gus’s Chippy.
