This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-32829875
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Olive Cooke death: Grandmother was 'fun-loving' person | Olive Cooke death: Grandmother was 'fun-loving' person |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The granddaughter of a 92-year-old poppy seller who was found dead in the Avon Gorge said she wanted her remembered as a "fun-loving person". | The granddaughter of a 92-year-old poppy seller who was found dead in the Avon Gorge said she wanted her remembered as a "fun-loving person". |
Olive Cooke was one of the UK's longest-serving poppy sellers and had collected money in Bristol for the Royal British Legion for 76 years. | Olive Cooke was one of the UK's longest-serving poppy sellers and had collected money in Bristol for the Royal British Legion for 76 years. |
Media coverage of her death focussed on suggestions she had been overwhelmed by junk mail from charities. | Media coverage of her death focussed on suggestions she had been overwhelmed by junk mail from charities. |
But Jessica Dunne said Mrs Cooke was "not a victim". | But Jessica Dunne said Mrs Cooke was "not a victim". |
She said: "I know the letters were a nuisance and an irritation and very intrusive to her, but it wasn't the reason [she died]. | |
"In the letter that she left the family there was no mention of the letters being a causative factor, and there is no blame on the charities. | |
"She wouldn't have wanted this backlash." | |
Miss Dunne said her grandmother's death came as a "shock" to the family, but she had faced "episodes of depression at particular points in her life" and it had "got worse as she got older". | |
'Under pressure' | 'Under pressure' |
Avon Coroner's Court heard that Mrs Cooke was pronounced dead at 18:20 BST on 6 May by a paramedic and was formally identified by her grandson. | |
An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned until 16 July. | An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned until 16 July. |
She had complained to the Bristol Post last year about the amount of requests for donations she was receiving. | She had complained to the Bristol Post last year about the amount of requests for donations she was receiving. |
A friend told the BBC that while he would not blame her death entirely on charities "pestering" her, she had been "under pressure". | A friend told the BBC that while he would not blame her death entirely on charities "pestering" her, she had been "under pressure". |
Mrs Cooke, from Fishponds, started selling poppies at the age of 16 as her father was an active Royal British Legion member having served in World War One. | Mrs Cooke, from Fishponds, started selling poppies at the age of 16 as her father was an active Royal British Legion member having served in World War One. |
She said it took on new meaning for her when her first husband was killed in action in World War Two. | She said it took on new meaning for her when her first husband was killed in action in World War Two. |
Previous version
1
Next version