Singer James Morrison found his wife hanged at their home, inquest told

Singer James Morrison discovered his wife hanged at their home, an inquest has been told.

The body of Gillian Catchpole, 45, was found at the property in Whitminster, Gloucestershire, last Friday morning.

Police officers had been asked to check on the mother-of-two a couple of days prior because of “concerns for her welfare”.

Ms Catchpole had previously said she was looking forward to the New Year after the launch of her new catering firm, alongside her successful village cafe.

A friend raised the alarm and, as the singer made his way into the property, he found his wife, who was mother to Ada Rose, 5, and Elsie, 15.

She was pronounced dead at the property at 9.37am, following the arrival of emergency services.

Roland Wooderson, the coroner, was told by police that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death during Tuesday’s hearing.

Pathologist Dr Terry Jones gave the provisional cause of death as hanging after carrying out the post-mortem examination.

‘James is devastated’

A family friend, in an interview with The Sun, said: “Gill was found dead on Friday at the family’s home in Whitminster.

“James is devastated and is being supported by his family. He is holding it together for their girls but has asked for the family to be left alone to grieve in private.”

The community was said to be in “complete shock” and Morrison has cancelled all his work commitments to focus on caring for his two daughters.

The couple were married in 2006 after meeting 20 years earlier when Ms Catchpole became a lodger at his mother’s home.

‘Many ups, downs and heartache’

Ms Catchpole had undergone a life-saving kidney transplant 14 months ago.

Ahead of her operation, in an Instagram post, she said: “Well, what can I say? What a difference a year makes.

“This time last year I was having my kidney transplant and, a year on, after many ups, downs and heartache, I am here owning my own business.

“At the start of this year I myself never saw this coming. For anyone out there struggling I can tell you from experience it does get better.

“Thanks to my amazing family and friends that have been there through it all and picked up the many pieces of me and my life. You all know who you are... today I feel blessed.”

Morrison has been through a number of tragedies following the loss of his alcoholic father Paul in 2010. He also lost his older brother Alexis and nephew Callum within three years of one another.

Morrison’s 2006 debut album, Undiscovered, is a five-time certified platinum release in Britain.

Meanwhile, his follow-up Songs for You, Truth for Me went platinum three times and The Awakening, released in 2011, was also certified platinum.