Beloved Shefford GP Dr Shiv Sekaran to be remembered at community memorial day in June

Dr Shiv Sekaran with his wife Melissa and daughters Lizzie and Emily. Photo: Supplied (Image: Archant)

Dr Shiv Sekaran, a GP at Dr Cakebread and Partners’ Shefford Health Centre who also worked out of hours for MDOC in Biggleswade, died on March 11 aged just 48 – following the very rapid onset of sepsis.

A private funeral was held on April 3, and Dr Sekaran’s wife Melissa and daughters Lizzie and Emily have this week scheduled a memorial day for the wider community on June 25.

A crowdfunding page set up by Dr Sekaran’s family on the day of his death has so far raised £16,365 for the UK Sepsis Trust, far beyond the original target of £450, with collection boxes to remain in place around Shefford until the memorial day.

And speaking to the Comet yesterday, Melissa said the community’s outpouring of generosity and tributes to her husband had given her ‘a huge amount of strength’.

Dr Shiv Sekaran with his wife Melissa. Photo: Supplied (Image: Archant)

She said: “I am extremely proud of him. He was a small man but a huge character and has had a massive effect on raising sepsis awareness.

“The UK Sepsis Trust is really grateful. I told them about the page a couple of weeks ago, but they were already aware because it had raised so much.

“Because of Shiv’s background, coming from India – his mother was from the Hindu Brahmin caste – he had a philosophy of always wanting to give to those less fortunate than himself. This was very important to him.

“He has in his death fulfilled his dream to do more for charity. I just wish he could have done it in a different way, so that he was still here with us.”

Announcing the memorial day on Facebook, she and her daughters added: “We would like to take this opportunity to say how grateful we are for all the kind wishes and memories of Shiv we have received over the last few weeks.

“The amount raised for the Sepsis Trust in Shiv’s memory has been overwhelming – it will make such a huge difference to the work the charity is able to do. It means so much to us to know how many people cared so much for Shiv and how many lives he touched.”

The memorial day for Dr Sekaran will be held from 2pm on Sunday, June 25, at Shefford Sports Club off Hitchin Road.

Lizzie said: “We just want people to know everyone is welcome – it’s a community event.

“We’re going to hold the memorial service and after that it’s going to go into a fundraising fete.

“There’ll be a raffle, an auction, refreshments, a bake sale and much more – with all proceeds going to the UK Sepsis Trust. They’re going to come on the day to help sort it all out as well.

“We’re looking for people who’d be willing to donate raffle prizes or cakes, or something for the auction – or anything, really. Anybody who has something they would like to offer, please get in touch.”

Hundreds of tributes have been paid to Dr Sekaran, describing him as an outstanding doctor, a great family man and a true gentleman.

Collection boxes for the UK Sepsis Trust in his memory are at Shefford Health Centre in Robert Lucas Drive, The Loft, The White Hart in Campton, Vallo’s barber shop and Lloyds Pharmacy – with online fundraising at justgiving.com/fundraising/DrShivSekaran.

Anyone who’d like to contribute to the memorial day on June 25 can contact Dr Sekaran’s family through facebook.com/shivsekaranmemorial or by emailing drshivmemorial@gmail.com.

• There is also a quiz night in aid of the UK Sepsis Trust in memory of Dr Sekaran on Sunday, May 7, at the Five Bells in Henlow from 8pm. To find out more about that, call John on 01767 580974 or email quizzesforcharity@outlook.com.