10 October 1924 – Miss Mary Anne Blance Drummond

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From the North Wilts Herald on Friday the 10th of October 1924

An accident in her garden has resulted in the death of Miss Mary Anne Blance Drummond, of The Cottage, Hullavington. While giving her attention to a rose tree in front of the house, Miss Drummond, who had mounted a short ladder for the purpose, lost her footing and fell from a height of about five feet.

The deceased lady, a daughter of the late Mr. Harvey Drummond, of 49, Charing Cross, who was a member of the well-known firm of London bankers, was related to the Bowes-Lyon family. She had resided in Hullavington for about five years, and formerly stayed in Malmesbury during the hunting season. She was very fond of fox-hunting, was regularly seen in the field, and was known as a capable horse-woman and a fearless rider to hounds. She was well-known throughout the district and her many friends included the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and other distinguished people. Miss Drummond was an ardent supporter of the Conservative cause and was the moving spirit of Hullavington and District Conservative Women’s Association, of which she was the hon. Secretary. Of a kindly and generous disposition, she was ever ready to lend her help in the furtherance of any worthy object, and was held in high regard.

At the inquest held by the Coroner for North Wilts (Mr. A. L. Forrester) at Malmesbury on Friday, Lady Catherine Drummond, of Sherbourne House, Warwick, gave evidence of identification, stating that the deceased was the sister of witness’ late husband. She was 62 years of age, and a spinster of independent means.

Within 48 hours of her admission to the ward, the leg became gangrenous and an amputation was performed below the knee joint.

Henry George Tanner, sub-postmaster at Hullavington, told the Coroner that at about 7.10 p.m. on September 11th he was passing the main entrance gate of Miss Drummond’s residence, and she was then about to ascend a ladder to secure a rose tree to the verandah. Miss Drummond opened a conversation, asking him what he thought of the weather, and, having made a reply, witness walked on. Hearing a noise as of a fall, he returned, and found Miss Drummond on the ground with a broken leg. He called assistance and then telephoned for Dr. Pitt.

Dr. R. Pitt stated that he found Miss Drummond with a compound fracture of the right ankle joint. She was then on the ground where the accident happened, and she was immediately conveyed to Malmesbury Cottage Hospital. Miss Drummond was given an anaesthetic and the wound was cleaned. Within 48 hours of her admission to the ward, the leg became gangrenous and an amputation was performed below the knee joint. The patient died on October 2nd from septicaemia following the injury, after having done well for twelve days. Dirt must have got into the wound at the time of the accident.

The Coroner recorded a verdict of “Accidental death.”

The love and esteem in which the late Miss Drummond was held was manifest at the funeral, which took place at Hullavington on Monday afternoon. The first part of the service was held in the Parish Church, where assembled an exceedingly large congregation of relatives of the deceased lady, leading residents in the surrounding district, and people of the village and neighbouring places amongst whom Miss Drummond had spent the last few years of her life of usefulness.

The officiating clergy were the Rev. Gordon Tidy (vicar of Stanton St. Quintin) and the Rev. E. G. Mortimer (vicar of Hullavington). After the opening prayers the hymn, “Lead, Kindly Light,” was sung, following which the Vicar of Hullavington read the Lesson. Then came the hymn, “Now the labourer’s task is o’er,” and the Rev. Gordon Tidy read a further portion of Scripture, commencing with “Blessed are they who die in the Lord.” As the coffin was borne from the church the Organist (Miss Wicks) played the Dead March in “Saul.” Most of the congregation joined in the procession to the Cemetery, where the interment took place. The grave was lined with flowers and laurel leaves.

The chief mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. Corbitt, Bath (brother-in-law and sister); the Hon. Mrs. Ernest Bowes-Lyon, Slough (sister); Mrs. Charles Leslie, London (sister); Lady Katharine Drummond, Sherbourne House, Warwick (sister-in-law); Miss Alice Drummond and Mr. Frank Drummond, Warwick; Mrs. Archibald Drummond, Bisley, Stroud (sister-in-law); Mrs. Swan, Bisley (niece); Mrs. Pile, Alvechurch; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Forbes; Mr. Alan Leslie, London (nephew); Major John Drummond, London; Mrs. Fremantle; Mr. Bredon Everard; Lady Frances Eustace, Bardon Hall, Leicester; and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Barker. The Archdeacon of Worcester (the Ven. J. H. F. Peile), who otherwise would have conducted the service, was, owing to illness, unable to attend.