Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Write Off

http://beesoft.soho.on.net/2ndSite/four/p36.htm


BRIDE-TO-BE SUZANNE BROWN - due to be married at the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady, Gillingham, on Saturday - was still in a coma last night after a smash at Bluebell Hill on Friday which killed two of her friends and seriously injured another.

Her fiance, R.A.F. photographer Brian Wetton at Woodlands Road, Gillingham, waited all the week-end at the West Kent Hospital, Maidstone, for her to recover consciousness. A Roman Catholic Priest, Father Gregory Moore, was called to her bedside. Yesterday her condition was said to be "very poor".

The dead girls were 23-year-old Patricia Ferguson, a teacher of Fair View Junior School, Wigmore, who lived with her brother in Malvern Road, Gillingham, and 22-year-old Judith Lingham of Banks [sic] View, Albany Road, Rochester.

The fourth girl in the car, which was driven by Suzanne, was 23-year-old [sic] Gillian Burchett of Borstal Road, Rochester, who was said yesterday to have shown slight improvement.

The crash, between Suzanne's Cortina and a Jaguar driven by Mr. Harry Backhouse, of High Street, Chatham, occurred near the Lower Bell at Bluebell Hill at about 11 p.m.

Miss Sheila Baird (28), of Curzon Road, Chatham, the passenger in the Jaguar, was also taken to hospital and yesterday her condition was said to be improving. Mr. Backhouse (29) was allowed to go home after treatment.

Shocked

The wedding of Suzanne and 23-year-old Brian was to have taken place at mid-day on Saturday. Friends of the couple had to turn guests away at the gates of the church. The reception was due to be held at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Chatham.

Suzanne, who comes from Adelaide, Australia, and Brian had booked passages to Australia where Brian was hoping to start a photography business. Both were Roman Catholics and Father Gregory led the morning mass in prayer for the couple at a Maidstone Church on Sunday.

Miss Ferguson, whose parents live in Dunfermline, Scotland, was in her third year as a teacher at Fair View and yesterday headmaster Mr. C. H. Burrows said: "The whole school has been deeply shocked by this news.
"Pat was a friendly, popular type of girl, well liked by both the children and the staff."

Miss Ferguson was also a member of the Rainham Amateur Theatrical Society.

Miss Lingham, a London stockbroker's secretary, was a former Gravesend Grammar School girl and a committee member of the Good Companion's Club, Rochester.

Her father, ship steward Mr. Eric Lingham, had left for Hong Kong on Wednesday last week and as soon as the news reached her home a message was radioed to him.

Yesterday his daughter Katherine said that he had replied that he hoped to get home in time for the funeral, which was expected to take place early next week. An inquest is likely to be opened this week.



2 comments:

  1. Judith was my second cousin. A lovely girl. Rest in peace. 50 years ago this week

    ReplyDelete
  2. such a sad story have you got any pics of Patricia and Judith what their hobbies wereplease

    ReplyDelete