MP's wife killed herself in woodland at their home

Rose Emily Paterson, the chairman of Aintree Racecourse, went missing sometime after her son, Edward, woke her from her sleep in her chair and kissed her goodnight on the evening of June 22.

She was eventually found after a major search of land at their home at Sodylt near Ellesmere in the early hours of June 24.

The inquest at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury, was told Mrs Paterson, 63, had searched suicide on-line in the month before her death.

Senior coroner for Shropshire and Wrekin, Mr John Ellery, said he was satisfied that Mrs Paterson had taken her own life and recorded a verdict of suicide.

Members of her family listened to the proceedings remotely and a spokesman with them asked the press attending the hearing to respect their privacy at "this terrible time".

The inquest was told that Mrs Paterson had a previous history of anxiety of anxiety and depression but in his statement to the hearing, Mr Paterson said his wife had not been suffering from depression at the time and had not been prescribed any anti-depressants.

He said that they had spend lockdown together at their home but he said he returned to London in mid June, returning to spent the weekend at home on June 19.

"I drove back to London on June 22 with Rose due to chair an Aintree board meeting later in the week and then join myself, our son Felix, his wife and their daughter, for dinner in London to celebrate my birthday," Mr Paterson's statement said.

She was then to have spent the next week in France with her daughter Evie, the inquest heard.

The couple spoke to each other twice a day on the phone but on June 23 Mr Paterson rang his wife four times and left text messages with no success.

"My son rang me from home, he had not seen her all day and couldn't reach her mobile," he said.

The MP and his son asked neighbours to help search for Mrs Paterson.

"We were concerned she might had had a heart attack or stroke or been injured in the woods at home."

Mr Paterson rang the police and drove home.

When he arrived home in the early hours of the morning police and search and rescue teams were there and he was told his wife's body had been found.

"I asked police not to move her as I wanted to see her."

He was taken to the woods and saw Mrs Paterson hanging.

"It was evident to me she had taken her own life."

Son Edward, who had moved into the family home during lockdown said he last saw his mother on June 22 when they had had dinner together.

"I remember 'Ma' laughing. She was talking about going to France to see my sister," he said.

"At about 10.30pm I went to say goodnight. She was asleep in her chair. I woke her and told her and told her she was tired and to go to bed. She said something quite lovely, I kissed her on the forehead and went to bed," his statement said.

Friend, Louise Lane, had been riding with Mrs Paterson on June 22 and said she was acting out of character later in the day.

"She had a couple of horses she would put outside in the hot weather and she hadn't done this. I also saw her in her vegetable patch at home and she didn't acknowledge me which was strange," she said.

"She was a happy-go-lucky person who never put on airs and graces. She was just a lovely person," she said.

Mr Ellery heard that a police check of her computer showed Mrs Paterson had searched suicide on line in May and June.

"I am satisfied that she did take her own life. I do not need to to investigate why."

satisfied that she did take her own life. i do not need to to investigate why.

recodrd suciced. on our about 24th june 2020.

asked press to respect privacy of the family at this terrible time