Royle family star Ricky Tomlinson’s brother has died from coronavirus as he urges Brits to take part in mass testing
ROYLE Family star Ricky Tomlinson has today revealed one of his brothers has died from coronavirus.
The death of David Tomlinson, 79, was announced on November 3 but Ricky has not spoken publicly about it until this morning.
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Devastated Ricky, who played Jim Royle in the popular sitcom for 12 years, spoke about his loss as he urged people to take part in a mass Covid-19 testing pilot in Liverpool.
In a video message posted on the Liverpool City Council Twitter account, the actor said: "Covid is a killer.
"I know only too well, because one of my brothers has just died from Covid-19.
"Don't let it happen to you, send away for your kit today and do what you're supposed to do. Save your life and your loved ones around you."
His brother David was heavily involved in non league football and was chairman of the North West Counties Football League for 17 years.
TRAGIC LOSS
David's death was announced by Bury AFC which said it would be holding a minute’s silence in his memory prior to the club’s game against Golcar United.
The club tweeted: “The two teams are holding a minute's silence before kick-off for @nwcfl former chairman Dave Tomlinson who sadly died today from COVID.”
Paul Lawler, NWCFL chairman, added: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of our good friend and colleague Dave Tomlinson.
"Dave was the longest serving Chairman of the League having spent 17 years in the role before stepping up to President in 2015.
"Despite his position, he never forgot his club roots and used this experience to ensure the League was run correctly on behalf of its clubs, something that still holds true today.
"His passing puts the current situation with the suspension of football into perspective.
Covid is a killer. I know only too well, because one of my brothers has just died from Covid-19."
Ricky Tomlinson
"On behalf of The North West Counties League I would like to pass on our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time."
In today's video, Tomlinson, 81, said he had used a home testing kit and gave a passionate message urging people to do the same.
The star added: "I sent away for one of these testing kits. I've done it and I'm sending it back.
"Then I'm going to send for another one and repeat it again, do the test and send it back."
Ricky is the second of four brothers - Albert, him, David and Ronnie - who all grew up in Liverpool in the aftermath of World War Two.
In 2014, Ricky told how he and his three brothers had always remained close.
Don't let it happen to you, send away for your kit today and do what you're supposed to do. Save your life and your loved ones around you."
Ricky Tomlinson
Ricky said: “I grew up in the very working-class area of Everton in Liverpool, the second of four boys. Albert was the eldest, then me, then David, and Ronnie was the baby.
“We lived in a typical two-up, two-down house with a toilet in the backyard and us four boys in a big bed. Luckily, we all got on and are still very close.”
As part of the pilot scheme, which began on November 6, anyone who lives or works in Liverpool can have a coronavirus test, even if they are not showing symptoms.
Call The Midwife actor Stephen McGann also encouraged people to take part.
He said his brother Joe, who appears in soap Hollyoaks, and their mother had been for a test.
In a video posted on Twitter, he said: "My own mum and my big brother Joe have already been down for a test and they're going to go back next week and have another one.
MASS TESTING
“I am absolutely chuffed about that because this mass testing pilot puts Liverpool at the front of testing, at the front of research.
"We are where we should be in public health, all coming together to find out how to do this properly to benefit everybody else.
"I think it's a brilliant scheme. If you haven't been down there yet please consider going down."
Figures from Thursday showed 144,548 Liverpool residents had been tested since the scheme began, with many using the lateral flow tests which give results within an hour.
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About 2,000 soldiers have been deployed to the city to deliver the tests.
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Speaking when he visited a testing site in the city on Monday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the scheme was "going in the right direction" but they would like more people to take part.
The pilot was planned to run for 10 to 14 days initially but is now expected to last until the end of November.
