Chairman of Aintree racecourse killed herself, coroner rules

The chairman of Aintree racecourse, Rose Paterson, took her own life in woodland near her family home, a coroner has ruled.

The inquest was told she was found dead by a police officer during a search of woodland in the early hours of 24 June.

Paterson, who became a director at Aintree in 2005 and its chairman in 2014, had made internet searches related to suicide in the weeks before her death, the inquest heard.

In a statement to the inquest, her husband, Owen Paterson, the North Shropshire MP and former environment secretary, who attended the hearing by video link, said his wife had been due to chair an Aintree board meeting remotely on 24 June.

The inquest was told she had not left any note at the family home in Shropshire and had made plans to travel overseas to see one of their three adult children.

Mr Paterson paid tribute after the hearing to his wife’s achievements in horse racing and the arts.

In a statement, he said: “The coroner’s verdict confirming that my wife Rose committed suicide … is absolutely tragic for me, our family and all who knew her.

“We were married for 40 very happy years. Rose will be remembered as a devoted, loving wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a most successful professional in her varied careers in the arts, charity and racing.

“We are still a long way from beginning to come to terms with her death.”

In his statement, he said he planned to become more involved in suicide prevention, and thanked the coroner and West Mercia police for “the very sensitive manner in which they have handled this tragedy..

The MP added: “If I can help to prevent just one family going through the extreme anguish that our family is currently suffering, I will have done something really worthwhile.”

In a separate statement to the inquest, which was read to the court by senior Shropshire coroner John Ellery, Mr Paterson said he made a 999 call from his office after initial searches failed to find his wife, who had not answered four phone calls.

Family members were concerned she may have been taken ill and had been unable to summon help, the MP said.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Ellery said Ms Paterson’s intentions could be established from the fact she was found in a remote area, and internet searches made between 27 May and 23 June.

• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.