Family of taxi driver who who lost his life to coronavirus continue his legacy of kindness after discovering his secret charity donations

Tony Birch, from Peterlee, worked as a cabbie for years before founded his own firm Tony’s Taxis, which grew to have a fleet of vehicles.

The 71-year-old died on Tuesday, February 2, due to coronavirus after falling ill in mid-January. He spent a fortnight in the University Hospital of North Durham and including time in the intensive care unit as his condition worsened.

Now, as his family prepare for the granddad’s small funeral, they are working to raise funds to help the hospital’s trust cover the cost of redecorating the unit’s family room, making it more comfortable for relatives and friends as they visit a patient.

Since their loss, his children have discovered Tony had quietly donated to various charitable funds over the years and hope their Tony Birch, A Hero Taken Too Soon campaign will help honour his memory, with its £1,000 target already topped.

As a key worker, he had continued to work during the pandemic and helped vulnerable children reach school through a contract with Durham County Council.

Tony leaves sons Anthony, 36, and Mark, 31, and daughters Lisa, 40, and Melanie Floyd, 38, along with wife Anne and her children Claire Greaves and Andrew Fairless along with eight granddchilden.

Anthony, who has set up the Tony Birch Never Forgotten Facebook page so people can share their memories, said: “He was a pillar of the community and he had worked as a taxi driver since the 90s and then set up on his own.

"The last time I spoke to him in hospital, he was talking about the level of care he was getting and how attentive the staff were.

"I said we should get them some flowers to say thank you and he said we’d have to get them something better than flowers, but he never made it home, so we feel we are doing this for him.

"He would be delighted we have done it, I think he would be really chuffed.

“Dad had a great sense of humour, he was very witty and was always making jokes.

"He was also generous and would do anything for anyone without complaint and was really well-known by a lot of people.”

Peterlee Catholic Club has been among those to offer condolences, sharing the funding page with followers and adding: “As a football club we are saddened to hear the passing of Tony Birch.

"Tony was very fond of our club and spent many family parties there over the years.”

The funding page reads: “During the current Covid-19 pandemic, NHS staff are doing their very best to treat the sick, protect the vulnerable and comfort relatives, without complaint.

“Let's raise some money in my Dad's name for County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust Charity (Durham Hospital) to show some appreciation for all of the care and comfort they gave to my Dad in his last few weeks.

“Let's keep his memory alive.”

Anyone who would like to donate to the fund set up in his name can visit the JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tony-birch-a-hero-taken-too-soon.

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