Tributes to hugely popular Hammersmith Hospital pharmacist and grass roots football organiser who dies with coronavirus aged 45

By Owen Sheppard, Local Democracy Reporter

Tributes have been paid to a Hammersmith hospital pharmacy technician and football league organiser who died after contracting coronavirus.

Jermaine Wright died at the Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea on April 27, just four days before his 46th birthday.

He joined Hammersmith Hospital’s pharmacy team in 2015, where he would check the quality of products used to treat cancer patients.

He previously worked at the Brompton, and Great Ormond Street hospitals.

Mr Wright was also the vice-chairman of the Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League, which is based in Hackney Marshes, and was the early stomping ground of David Beckham and John Terry.

A statement on the league’s website tells of how Mr Wright showed symptoms of Covid-19 in the middle of March, and decided to self-isolate.

“The last interaction he had with the league was on the March 25 via David Joseph on the league’s WhatsApp group,” The league said.

“Jermaine never mentioned his condition, such was his nature he probably didn’t want to worry anyone. After a period of not replying back to us, contact was made to the police as we were starting to worry.

“We later found out that Jermaine had been admitted on March 25 to the Royal Brompton Hospital.

“After a month in hospital battling Covid-19, Jermaine passed away on Monday, April 27.

“The world has lost a son, a brother, a dear friend, a colleague and a true pantheon among grass roots football.”

An emotive tribute was also paid by staff at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Hammersmith Hospital.

Chief pharmacist Ann Mounsey said: “Jermaine was an inpatient at the Brompton when he died, and we know that the team there share our grief.

“Jermaine worked as a senior pharmacy technician in our aseptics unit at the Hammersmith site, and was known to many staff not only within his close team but also the wider department.

“He was enormously proud of his work, and through his expertise in making and quality checking products such as chemotherapy for our oncology and haematology patients, as well as parenteral nutrition for our premature babies, he helped save countless lives.

“He lived the Trust’s values every day, and was a great member of this close-knit team.

“The loss of Jermaine is a tragedy for his family and for all the many people who loved him. Rest in peace, Jermaine, you will be hugely missed.”

Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League secretary David Joseph has set up a fundraising page, with a plan to spend the funds on something to commemorate Mr Wright, here.