Inquest & Obituary

The Bucks Standard July 8th 1922

SUDDEN DEATH OF A CASTLETHORPE YOUNG LADY

At the Carrington schoolroom yesterday (Friday) afternoon Mr. R.G. Walton, coroner for North Bucks, held an inquest on the body of Miss Nellie Coey, who died suddenly the previous afternoon at the entrance to Messrs. McCorquodale’s printing works at Wolverton, where she had been employed for several years. The deceased was 25 years of age and her parents who have long resided at Castlethorpe are very highly respected.
P.S. Honour was coroner’s officer, and Mr. H. E. Meacham, manager for Messrs. McCorquodale’s was also present.
The evidence of Miss Minnie Coey was to the effect that on Thursday she had dinner with her sister and afterwards went for a walk together. She left her at 1.15 apparently in the best of health and made no complaint of feeling unwell. The deceased suffered from heart trouble following rheumatic fever contracted six years ago. She had not been attended by a doctor for three years.
Mr. Neal, of Stony Stratford, a watchman at the Printing Works, deposed that he was on duty at the entrance gates about 1.25 on Thursday. He saw deceased leaning against the door and suddenly staggered and fell before any assistance could be offered.
Miss Bardell, New Bradwell, corroborated.
Dr. J. O. Harvey said he was called to the printing works, and on his arrival he found Miss Coey was dead. He made a superficial examination of the body. There was no evidence of foul play, and in his opinion was that death was due to heart failure.
The Coroner entered a verdict of “Death from natural causes.”
Miss Coey was a young lady who was highly esteemed by her colleagues in the Printing Works, and her death has occasioned profound sorrow. Mr. Meacham paid a very high tribute to the deceased’s character and ability, and on behalf of the directors of Messrs. McCorquodale expressed sympathy with the parents and other relatives in their bereavement.
The Coroner concurred in all Mr. Meacham had said.


The Bucks Standard July 15th 1922

FUNERAL OF MISS NELLIE COEY. The funeral of the late Miss Edith Nellie Coey whose sudden death at the entrance gates to Messrs. McCorquodale’s printing works at Wolverton last Thursday occasioned profound sorrow among her colleagues and genuine grief in the village of Castlethorpe, where her parents have long resided and are much esteemed, took place in the churchyard of her native village on Monday afternoon. There was a very large congregation to join in the sad service, including several young ladies from Messrs. McCorquodale’s works and many residents in Castlethorpe desirous of paying a last tribute to the memory of deceased. The service was conducted by the Rev. W. J. Harkness (vicar). Miss Gregory was at the organ and played appropriate music as the congregation were assembling, and as the coffin was being taken from the church for internment she gave a sympathetic rendering of the Dead March from “Saul”. One hymn, “Brief life is here our portion.” Was sung. The chief mourners were:- Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Coey (father and mother), Miss Minnie Coey (sister), Mr. Bert Powell, Mrs. Willett, Loughton (sister), Mr. W. Willett, Miss Ursula Coey (sister), Mr. W. Garner, Miss Stones (aunt), Mr. A. Bartholomew, Bradwell (uncle), Mr. and Mrs. Cockerill, Wolverton (uncle and aunt), Mrs. Chas. Brown (aunt), Mrs. W. Garner (niece), Mrs. Baldwin, Wolverton, and Miss D. Bartholomew, Bradwell (cousins), Miss Bavington, Mrs. Herbert, Misses Amy and Mary Powell, Miss Stevens, Miss N. Kightley (Northampton), Mr. and Mrs. F. Powell, Miss Brown, Miss Burbidge, Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Bavington and Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hellenburgh (representing) the employees at Messrs. McCorquodale’s printing works), and many others. The polished oak coffin with brass fittings was borne to the grave by Messrs. H. Ward, A. Bavington, C. Harding and R. Panter. The funeral arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Mr. W. Dickens, undertaker, Hanslope. There was a very choice collection of flowers, among the tributes received being beautiful wreaths from Mr. Norman McCorquodale, J.P. (Winslow Hall), Col. L. C. Hawkins (a director of the firm of Messrs. McCorquodale), Mr. H. E. Meacham (manager of the Wolverton printing works) and the young lady colleagues of the late Miss Coey at those works.