Thatcham woman died after fall in the street

Family have paid tribute to Olive O’Field who was "devoted to all of the family"

A THATCHAM woman died after a fall in the street, an inquest heard last Wednesday.

Eighty-two-year-old Dorothy Olive O'Field, of Park Avenue, was enjoying one of her regular

trips into the town on April 27, when she tripped and struck her head, the hearing in Newbury

was told.

Her daughter, Wendy Cripps, said in a statement that she and her sister had visited their mother after the accident.

“She said she had fallen that morning, that she had stumbled on the kerb and fallen face down.”

The sisters stayed until 9pm, and Mrs Cripps said: “She stood at the door and waved us off.”

Mrs O'Field had been taking paracetamol for the pain but had insisted that she was fine, telling

her daughters “not to make a fuss”, the inquest heard.

However, the family became anxious the following morning when Mrs O'Field's partner, George Fishlock, tried to telephone her and got no reply.

Mrs Cripps let herself in with her key, and found her mother lying on the floor upstairs, covered

with a blanket.

Paramedics were called but it was too late to save Mrs O'Field, the hearing was told.

Medical background provided to the coroner by Thatcham Medical Practice revealed nothing

relevant, but a post mortem examination showed that the cause of death was acute subdural

haematoma, a brain injury usually caused by a blow.

Assistant deputy Berkshire coroner Anna Burnside recorded a verdict of accidental death.

After the hearing, Mrs Cripps and her sister Jo Congerton paid tribute to their mother, who also

leaves a third daughter, Sylvie Haydon, and a granddaughter, Lisa Cripps.

Mrs Congerton said: “Mum was well known in Thatcham, having lived there for the past 30

years. She enjoyed her regular shopping trips to the Broadway but she really lived for her family.

She was devoted to all of the family, and to her partner George. We all miss her very much.”