Harriet PALMER - Obituary & Funeral Report - Nov 1939

A Fatal Fall Downstairs

Aged Wisbech Woman's Sudden Passing

Accidental Death Verdict

     The Wisbech District Coroner {Mr. J.R. Dawbarn] returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" on an 82-year-old Wisbech 
     woman, whose death on Sunday morning followed a fall downstairs.

     Deceased was Mrs. Harriet Alice May PALMER, widow of Mr. Lapaldo Palmer, of 71, Colville Road.
     The Inquiry into her death was held at deceased's house on Monday afternoon.  P.C. Davis was Coroner's officer.

"Heard Crash."

     Mrs. Ethel PALMER,deceased's daughter-in-law, said that her mother-in-law had a mishap a short while ago, when 
     she complained of a bad head and had to go to bed.  Witness went with deceased to the bottom of the stairs, and 
     returned into the room to finish a meal.
     "I then heard a crash," she said, "and I rushed out into the passge and found my mother-in-law lying at the bottom 
     of the stairs"
     Deceased was conscious and was able to go to bed  She later told witness that she thought she had broken her ankle, 
     and she remarked to witness that when going up the stairs she felt dizzy.  She also had at the time, witness said, 
     a cup in one hand and a flashlamp in the other. Deceased was very active, although her eyesight was not very good, 
     and she had to wear spectacles.

     Bone through Skin

     Dr. D.C. Gunson said that the deceased was a very active woman, but a recent illness had caused severe pains in her 
     head.  He spoke of finding deceased at the bottom of the stairs.  The tibia in her left leg was sticking through, 
     and the leg was lying in a pool of blood.  He said he attended deceased until Sunday, when pneumonia set in and was 
     the cause of her death.

     The coroner returned the verdict stated above.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     The funeral of Mrs. PALMER took place at the Wisbech Borough Cemetery yesterday [Thursday] afternoon.

     Mrs. Palmer, who was born at Stoke Ferry, resided at the Pumping Station, Tinker's Drove, Wisbech, for about 
     36 years, but since 1916 she had lived down Colville road in which district she was very well-known and respected.
     She took little active interest in public affairs.

     The Rev. K.J. White [Vicar of St Augustine's] officated at the internement.

     MOURNERS AND FLOWERS

     The family mourners present were:  Mr. & Mrs. Leigh Palmer,  Mr. Horace Palmer,  Mr. Sidney Palmer and 
     Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Palmer, sons and daughters-in-law; 
     Mr. and Mrs. J. Cornwell, son-in-law and daughter; 
     Miss K. Moore,  Mr. A. Moore,  Mr. A. Palmer,  and Mr. F. Palmer, grand children; 
     Mr. Harry Palmer  and Mr. E. Palmer, nephews;  Mrs. Frank Troughton, niece; 
     Mr. Teaque, and  Mr. R.A. Waling, friends.

     Beautiful floral tributes were received from the following:
     Leigh and Sarah;  Horace, Emmy and grandchildren [Fleetwood];  Sid, Mabel, grandchildren and Granny Wood [Ashbourne]; 
     Bert, Ethel, and M....;  Jack, Alice and grandchildren [Enfield];  Kathy and Arthur;  Rene, Arthur and Dad [Fleetwood]; 
     Frank and Celia;  Albert and family;  B.., Granny Moore and Fred;  Ethel and Frank;  all at Outwell;  Bob, Phil and David; 
     Minnie and Norah Teaque;  Mr. & Mrs. R.A. Waling;  Mr. and Mrs. Gardner and family.

     The funeral arrangements were efficiently carried out by Messrs. W.A. Bailey & Son, of Wisbech

                     Transcription  © Ann McClean 2002

       My thanks to Susan Webb who supplied a copy of the original "Wisbech Standard" news-cutting - June 2002

       Return to Lapauldro & Harriet
       Return to PALMER Home Page
       Site Home Page & Index
       Contact Details - if you think you have any information that will help me with my research and these webpages. 

And don't forget to sign my Guest Book before you leave!     
This page created 13 August 2002
and amended/updated 15:59 19/02/2019