Diana Churchill Worked To Prevent Suicides

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 2

Diana Churchill Worked To Prevent Suicides

(N^^^-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, Oct. 25. Diana Churchill, aged 54, Sir Winston Churchill's eldest daughter. took ber own kfe, a Coroner decided today. Evidence given at tbe toque* showed that abe bed been working for the Samaritan organisation. which haipe would-be suicides. The Rev. Chad Varah. heed of the Samaritan orgenisaLon, seed Mrs Churchill worked for him about 16 months and be saw her almost every day. “She liked to be alive,” he added. “She was an enthusiastic person. She was very happy fa ber work. I think k bad transformed her Lite finritog something to do which she felt was worth while and doing it as a rnernbercf a team of people who appreciated st’* Mr Varafc said Mm Cbur«biM got tense at temes, but to do sometong about it. "She did not bold the tbmg to,” be said. “She would speak of her *«>■■»■ If it was durtag the day me would speak to people around. If at other *• would telephone encouraged ber to Mr* CbunttU Aared his view that suicide wee never jutoifiaMa. That was one of the fir* thfaga be had ascertained. She bad frequently said abe “hived for tte Samaritans.” Mr Varah ated he was lead-

tog a pilgrimage to the Holy Land next year and Mrs Churcha was one of the first to book for it She was immensely looking forward to the trip. Be added: “Never to the 10 yean I have been dealing with people, many of whom ere aufcktai and some of whom have committed suicide, have I lost a client by uicfcfe without expecting them to do so. It never occurred to me that Mrs Churchill might commit suicide.” Dr. John Harold Hills Macrae said Mm Churchill bad been “very w*U” during the last three or four months, but had been “rather nervous" for five days during August and wee kept to bad under sedatives. It wee an “anxiety state.’' She telephoned him early on the morning of her death and told him she was worried ebout her work.

CsagrataJatfeaa. Congrataattone to Mrs W. Great (Domtoton president of the National Council of Women) for her work in presenting a petition regarding jury service for women, were expressed at a meeting of the Christchurch council on Thursday evening. Jury service for women was now well on the way, arid Mias M. E Saunders (president of the branch). "We owe Mrs Grant a real debt of gratitude.”