A BELOVED father who died with coronavirus is one of the first names to be added to a memorial quilt honouring people from Brighton and Hove who have died during the pandemic.

John Goddard, 94, lost his life to the “dreadful” virus this winter and is one of the first people to have his name sewn onto the fabric, with hundreds of others yet to follow.

The project aims to pay tribute to people from the city who have died with Covid – currently numbering 333 – using the help of volunteers.

John's daughter, Molly Thew, 55, from Hanover, said: “I think the quilt project is a wonderful idea for us local families to remember loved ones lost in the Brighton area.

"For me, this will be a wonderful project to be involved in as I sadly lost my 94-year-old father to this dreadful virus.

"Dad lived in Hanover since 1958. He loved the community that we lived in and since his sad death I have come to find out just how much he was respected by many of the local residents.

"Nearly the whole street and other local residents lined our street and gave him a tremendous round of applause on his journey to the crematorium and I found great comfort from this.

"By having the opportunity to take part in this project will give me great comfort and have interaction with others that may be dealing with their own grief in similar circumstances."

The quilt is being organised by Emma Daniel and Domino Moore, who took inspiration from The Women's Quilt – a tribute to the 598 women were killed as a result of domestic violence between 2009 and 2015.

Brighton and Hove Covid Memorial Quilt aims to pay tribute to city residents

Brighton and Hove Covid Memorial Quilt aims to pay tribute to city residents

Ms Daniel said: "We want to remember our city’s residents we have lost, sewing a name, choosing fabric and decorations means that their memory is kept special and alive by the city.

"The loss of each one matters and the quilt turns those statistics back into the person that we miss and we can begin to mourn collectively.

"We will treat each and every name with utmost respect and care.”

Families and carers who want to include their lost loved ones in the quilt are asked to send names, photographs and information about their lives and interests to bhcovidquilt@gmail.com.

Volunteers who want to create squares can also email or join the Facebook Group Brighton and Hove Covid Memorial Quilt Volunteers www.facebook.com/groups/742369290035047.

Deaths from Covid-19 were at their highest in the city at the end of January.

Data presented to Brighton and Hove City Councils Health and Wellbeing Board on January 26, showed cases peaked from late March to early May, and again from mid-December to January 15.

The week ending January 15 had the highest death rate, equalling the highest numbers in April.