Ex-mayor battling dementia and her husband, 81, found dead after gunshot
‘He was struggling to look after her’
POLICE were last night investigating whether a former councillor killed his wife of 60 years before taking his own life. The bodies of John Dunbavand and his wife Janette, a former Tory mayor, were found at their home in Hertfordshire yesterday morning.
Neighbours last night reported hearing a single gunshot before police were called to the house.
The Dunbavands, both 81, had lived in their £ 750,000 home in Northchurch, near Berkhamsted, for decades.
Mrs Dunbavand had enjoyed a long and successful career in local politics, but neighbours said she had become seriously ill with advanced dementia.
One said: ‘Janette had been really suffering in recent times. She could not even recognise people and friends despite having lived in the lane all her life.
‘It must have been difficult for them as a couple to cope. It is really sad but perhaps they thought this was the only way out for them.’
As police carried out forensic work in a tent in the front garden, another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: ‘The police are not telling us much, but we know Janette had dementia and was really struggling recently.’
A third neighbour said: ‘John was struggling to look after her. He might have thought, “I can’t look after her any more”.’
Mrs Dunbavand died in the same house she was born in. It was built by her father, a well-known local builder. She joined Dacorum borough council in 1985 and retired in 2003 having also served as mayor between 1994 and 1995.
She later joined Northchurch parish council, while her husband served as a Conservative councillor.
In 2011 Mrs Dunbavand ran a campaign to try to stop drivers speeding down her country lane.
She told a local newspaper at the time: ‘I have lived in Darrs Lane for all my life and the road is extremely dangerous… it’s chock-a-block with traffic going much too fast. Something must be done.’
A remnant of that campaign was a 30mph traffic sign which was still attached to the hedge outside her home yesterday. The house remained cordoned off last night.
Mrs Dunbavand was a director of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust and, until two years ago, still active as a director of Berkhamsted School Enterprises Limited. This group promotes the commercial interests of the £30,000a-year private school.
Mrs Dunbavand and her husband were both keen golfers and played at nearby Stocks Golf Club well into their seventies.
The former mayor was also a horsewoman and would often ride around nearby Northcurch Common. She also joined the old Hertfordshire Hunt in the 1950s.
The couple were together 60 years, having married in the pretty market town of Berkhamsted in 1958.
The Dunbavands had one daughter, Susan, 56, who is thought to be living in Australia, and a son, Robin, 54, who also lives on their street.
Police said they were called to the address following reports for the couple’s welfare. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Paying tribute to the couple, a spokesman for Berkhamsted School said: ‘Both were valued local politicians, and had served the school as governors. Mrs Dunbavand was also an Old Berkhamstedian, having attended the school during her senior and sixth years.
‘ Mr and Mrs Dunbavand will be remembered for their contribution to both the school and local communities.’
Gordon Godfrey, of Northchurch parish council, said: ‘They served the community for many years. Unfortunately Janette had dementia for a number of years. She had been all for looking after the area and its people.’
Hertfordshire Police said: ‘The circumstances around the deaths are currently being investigated and police remain at the scene.’