For many years she was the inspiration behind the magnificent gardens that were open to the public. A doctor by profession she had also served as the police surgeon in Guildford. In a fitting national tribute to all those who have died of coronavirus in the UK, a special memorial is being created to stand inside St Paul's Cathedral.

The structure has been designed by Mary Caroe's son, Oliver. Like his forefathers Oliver is an architect and is the cathedral's appointed surveyor of the fabric.

Oliver said it would be a "fitting memorial" to those who have died and would be "part of the fabric of St Paul's and part of history for centuries to come".

"There will be many families like mine who never have had an opportunity to gather; to properly acknowledge thanks for the lives lived and to appreciate carers and clinicians we will never have met." 

A campaign has been launched to raise £2.3m to build the memorial. It would see an online book of remembrance installed in a purpose-built structure. More than 7,300 names have already been entered into the book as part of the cathedral's Remember Me project.

The memorial campaign is hoping to unite people from across the UK who are grieving the deaths of family and friends. More than 127,000 people have died with Covid-19 in the UK, government figures show.