Thread by @PamanSingh

Thread on my grandfather who passed away due to Covid-19 this afternoon.

1/ Sorry to post this, but it’s important we do not simply see statistics and remember the human impact. I am utterly heartbroken, my grandfather was admitted to hospital last Sunday with symptoms

2/ He battled heroically but eventually succumbed late this afternoon.

From when he came over to the UK in the 60s, he remained steadfast in his faith – that of humanity. He faced up to the National Front and horrific racism with a smile, for him, these people weren’t enemies

3/ They were just unfortunate to have not had the interactions he had with other races.

He served Glasgow’s west end community for nigh on 35 years from his small shop, always ensuring that he made deliveries to elderly people.

I remember him telling me when a man came into his shop and was hurling racist insults at him, but then was injured in a road accident just outside. My grandfather closed the shop and drove the man to the hospital himself and becoming friends with him.

5/ This was only a small part of his life though. His main focus was on Seva – volunteering work. At the local Gurdwara, he would cheerfully wash the dishes of others, clean the toilets, and wipe down the shoes of those who came through the doors. Nothing was beneath him.

6/ He was the inspiration behind the Scottish Sikh Community’s drive to feed the disadvantaged and homeless regardless of beliefs, funding and setting up all manners of outreach support programmes, which is still going strong today.

7/ Of course, with him, it never stopped there. He also was acutely aware of the abject poverty he had been fortunate enough to escape from, but appreciated others were not so lucky. Every year, he sponsored and volunteered at an eye camp in Northern India.

8/ He would raise funds and then travel and assist those who had no money suffering from eye problems. He wasn’t an ophthalmologist, he was a simple shopkeeper, but he was qualified to change bedsheets, and feed and bathe. He continued to do this until his final trip last month.

9/ Apart from helping people, his passion was for running. They might as well have based the running man part of Forrest Gump on him. He ran over 650 races, from 5k to 10k, to half-marathons to full marathons, even though he only picked up running in his late forties.

10/ He ran the London Marathon 26 times and graced various marathons around the world with his presence.

Even in retirement, his routine was to wake up and be at the gym for 6 a.m. to pound the treadmill, all the way into his 80s, before going to help at the Gurdwara.

11/ An utter inspiration and my best friend in life. Someone who empowered others to become better versions of themselves.

I would never have become a Solicitor without him taking me under his wing and stopping me going off the rails.

12/ And finally, recognition to the staff at City General Hospital in B'ham who poured their hearts into helping him, from the entire clan (and there are a lot of us), we can never repay the kindness you showed and the support you offered when we were unable to visit him. Heroes

13/ We should all hug our loved ones a little tighter tonight.

Goodnight Amrik Singh. Gone but never forgotten. I hope to be able to do a fraction of the good and kindness you spread in the world. I hope you knew how loved you were at the end.

Update - I didn’t want to make this a big public outpouring on my part - but it would be selfish to keep him to myself. He wasn’t just my Grandfather, everyone is entitled to share in the light he brought.

With funeral restrictions, response is humbling. I didn’t expect this...

Although only six people will be allowed to see him off it’s a measure of people’s compassion and his enduring brilliance that thousands have paid respects.

Thank you, I have read through every reply, like and retweet and found great support.

Last thing I’d like to say is that so many have offered all types of help. Really grateful.

I’d ask that you emulate the great man and do one good thing or an act of kindness over the next day or so and then smile.

It’s the best way to pay honour to him.