Poppy seller, 92, took her life after long battle with depression
BRITAIN’S longest-serving poppy seller left a note asking for passers-by to call police before falling to her death, an inquest heard.
Olive Cooke, 92, had previously attempted suicide twice and had suffered a long battle with depression.
She was found in the Avon Gorge in Bristol on May 6, two days before the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
Mrs Cooke dedicated 76 years of her life to raising money for the Royal British Legion and is believed to have sold around 30,000 poppies.
Avon Coroner’s Court heard the widow carried out her charitable work despite suffering from depression and being diagnosed with breast cancer.
The inquest heard how, before her death in the gorge, she left a walking stick, plastic stool and carrier bag containing a raincoat nearby as well as details to help police with her identity.
Inside the bag was a piece of card- board stating “Please phone police 999 elderly Fishponds lady gone over cliff ”.
Another note written by Mrs Cooke was found in her bedroom. It read: “To my loving family and step family. I find that with these last four months of health and deep depression and little sleep I can take no more. Thank you all for your love and kindness always.”
The previous year, Mrs Cooke told how she was receiving up to 267 letters a month and regular phone calls from charities asking her for donations. Her family later said that – while the calls and letters were intrusive – they were not to blame for her death.
Mrs Cooke began selling poppies in 1938 aged 16, having been inspired by her father, who set up a Royal British Legion branch in Bedminster.
She devoted herself to the charity after her husband, Leslie Hussey-Yeo, a sailor in the Royal Navy, was killed in Italy in 1943, leaving her a widow aged 21. She went on to remarry twice.
In a statement read to the court on behalf of Mrs Cooke’s family, her granddaughter Louise King paid tribute. “Olive Cooke was a much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother,” she said. “She lived a full life and achieved so much of which we are extremely proud.”
Terence Moore, assistant coroner for Avon, said Mrs Moore had been on antidepressants and in 2009 had twice attempted to take her own life. He recorded a verdict of suicide.
Last week, David Cameron announced amendments would be made to the Charities Bill in Parliament to stop rogue fundraisers taking advantage of vulnerable people’s generosity.