Children pay tribute to depressed mother killed on railway line

Maureen Weselby, 59, who lived and worked in Angmer-ing and suffered from severe depression, was killed after being hit by a train not due to stop at the station at around 1.50pm. She was on the tracks at the time.

A spokeswoman for the British Transport Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Mrs Weselby worked as a secretary at St Margaret's Primary School in Angmering for 20 years and was a keen member of the village twinning society.

Following the death of Nigel, her husband of 29 years, after an operation in 2001, she suffered from serious bouts of depression and had made several attempts on her life.

In 2004, she suffered a breakdown and during that year spent time in Worthing's Meadowfield Hospital.

Her son Stephen, 27, contacted the Gazette and, together with his sister Kate, 25, released the following statement: "We are a very close family, so this has come as a profound shock despite the severe ups and downs of the last three years.

"Mum received fantastic support from her family, friends and the broader community. It is a shame that these efforts were not able to recover a lasting happiness for her but at least now she is at peace from her own inner turmoil."

Mrs Weselby was born on January 27, 1947, and adopted and raised by Richard Schollard in England and, for a time, New Zealand.

Just 18 months ago a friend was able to locate Mrs Weselby's living biological mother,Sheila Lancashire, and three previously unknown brothers, Ken, Colin and Jim.

Almost 60 years after they parted ways, Mrs Weselby and her Irish-born mother were reunited. Further reunions followed and the family had grown close again in a short period of time.

Stephen said that despite his mother's depression, there was no indication that she would take her life and she had, he said, set out that day on a shopping trip to cheer herself up.

David Boreham, headteacher at St Margaret's school, where Mrs Weselby worked, said: "It was with great sadness that we heard of the untimely death of Maureen, our school secretary.

"For 20 years she had worked in the school office, getting to know and looking after the children, as well as making sure that the administrative side of the school ran as smoothly as possible.

"She was excellent at whatever job she undertook and was highly respected for her efficiency and commitment to the school.

"She loved working alongside children, making sure that their needs, even if it was as simple as giving a child a plaster in her role as a first-aider, were always met.

"For the past three years her health had deteriorated and her most recent period of illness meant that she had not been in school since January.

"The school has lost both an excellent worker and a great friend."

Mrs Weselby's funeral will be held at Worthing Crematorium on Monday, May 15, at 1.40pm and is open for all who wish to attend.

Flowers are not requested but donations can be made to MIND the Worthing and District Mental Health Associa-tion.

These will be gratefully accepted at the Caring Lady Funeral Directors, which can be contacted on 01903 215255.

Mrs Weselby's son requested that the contact details for MIND, 01903 695410, and the NHS Mental Health Line, 0845 300 2727, be put at the end of this article for anyone who may be suffering depression but have not yet sought help.