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A POPULAR pub landlord known to thousands of Cheltenham racegoers has died from coronavirus as calls mount for a probe into why the festival went ahead.
Dad-of-three Alexander Grierson, 67, was among scores living near the course stricken by the killer following “The Greatest Show on Turf”.
It comes as several NHS heroes again swelled the death toll.
Among them were Dr Peter Tun, 62, who had pleaded for PPE days before he fell ill.
Landlord Alexander — Boyzie to pals — was pulling pints at his boozer, The Beehive, during the Cheltenham Festival which ran from March 10 to 13.
Despite warnings by health experts, the government took no action to prevent the event which some 250,000 people attended.
The London-born Chelsea fan, who had run the Prestbury pub for eight years, fell ill and died in Cheltenham General Hospital’s intensive care unit after a two-week battle.
A fundraising page for the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in his memory had last night smashed the £7,500 mark.
In a tribute, his family said: “He was the only landlord we know who would buy his punters a pint as soon as they came in the pub.
“His generosity was as big as his heart.
“Boyzie was loved by so many people, especially his family, and will be missed every single day.”
Prof John Ashton, a former director of public health, has called for a probe into the decision to let the race meeting go ahead just days before the national lockdown.
Among festival-goers to fall ill later were Andrew Parker Bowles, 80, the Duchess of Cornwall’s former husband, and West Brom striker Charlie Austin, 30.
An Ordnance Survey data map shows the GL52 postcode in which the course sits has had most coronavirus hospital admissions in Gloucestershire, followed by GL51 which houses Cheltenham Spa rail station.
There have been 147 coronavirus deaths in Gloucs, and 972 cases.
Critics have also demanded to know why 3,000 Atletico Madrid fans flew into Liverpool on March 11 for their Champions League match with Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Liverpool reached a peak of daily infections around two weeks later, earlier than surrounding areas.
The Royal Liverpool University Hospital Trust has registered 258 deaths — the ninth highest nationwide.
Ministers insist they were following scientific advice when deciding not to ban mass events earlier.
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Dr Tun, meanwhile, had emailed managers at Royal Berkshire Hospital on March 23 — lockdown day — to ask for PPE.
He fell ill a few days later and died there on April 13.
He was told the protective gear was in short supply and his ward ranked lower than others as there were no coronavirus cases on his ward, even though two of his colleagues were self-isolating.
Dr Tun was told his team could not even have surgical masks.
In a statement, the Royal Berkshire, which is based in Reading, said it was “deeply saddened” by “popular and respected” Dr Tun’s death.
A spokesman said NHS-wide guidance on PPE had been correctly applied.
Dr Vishna Rasiah, 48, “clinical lead” for regional neonatal work, died at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
He was based at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust.
Wife Liza said: “We’re devastated at losing our beloved Vish.”
Counsellor Ann Shepherd, 80, who had worked in mental health services in Derbyshire for 26 years, was described as an “angel” by patients paying tribute after her death.
Chief executive of the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Ifti Majid, said: “She was truly devoted to her work and her patients and was inspirational in her field.
“She was also a phenomenal character, full of colour and sparkle.”
Children’s nurse Katy Davis, 38, who had an underlying health condition, was described as “inspiring” at University Hospital Southampton following her death from Covid-19.
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Meanwhile, family and friends paid tribute to “larger than life” delivery driver Paul Wilkins, 59, from Newport, South Wales.
He was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital on April 1 and spent three weeks in an induced coma before losing his fight for life.
His son Thomas Wilkins, 26, said: “He was a real family man and he had a lot of friends.
“He put everyone else first.
“That’s who he was.”
Other victims included Special Forces war hero Lester Hudson who cheated death fighting the Japanese.
He would have been 100 in October.
He was one of the last surviving members of the Chindits, a unit that carried out raids behind enemy lines in the Burma campaign and survived being shot in 1944.
Great-grandad Lester said recently: “The bullet went right through me and out the other side.”
He died in a care home in Bradford last Friday.
Andy Elkins, 59, from Bridgwater, Somerset, who worked at EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point B, also fell victim to the virus.
The station has come under fire after pictures emerged showing a lack of social distancing.
It is believed two other employees have also caught the virus.
Mum-of-five Terry Murphy, 57, of Barry, South Wales, died at the University Hospital of Wales.
She was diagnosed with Covid-19 following chemotherapy for bowel cancer.
Son Jonathon said: “She’d take anyone in and help them.”
We are urging Sun readers to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.
We are backing a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.” SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”
We are asking our readers to please sign the petition below.