By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:20 PM on 29th April 2011
- Villagers say couple could not bear their health deteriorating
A retired businessman and his terminally ill wife are thought to have killed themselves in a suspected double suicide pact at their country house.
Villagers believe former publishing company director John Lawrenson, 80, and his wife Caroline, 70, took their own lives because they could not bear the idea of her health deteriorating.
The bodies of the devoted couple were found by a family friend just after 9am last Saturday at their 18th-century home The Old Rectory in Great Waldingfield near Sudbury, Suffolk.
Suspected suicide: Police believe the couple overdosed on pills at their 1.2million home
It is believed that they both died from an overdose of pills at the Grade Two listed seven bedroom house which has extensive grounds including a tennis court and is worth around 1.2million.
Mr Lawrenson was a general manager at Reuters news agency and later founded Monitor Press which publishes legal and business newsletters.
He and his wife who were married for 47 years had two children and are thought to have lived with their Labrador dogs at The Old Rectory for more 20 years.
Suffolk Police are treating the deaths as a suspected double suicide and say there are no suspicious circumstances. It is believed that Mrs Lawrenson has been suffering from cancer.
A villager who asked not to be named said: 'They were a loving couple who led a marvellous life. They were very active and used to jet away on the most marvellous holidays.
'We heard that Mrs Lawrenson killed herself because she was seriously ill and could not face a lingering death.
'Her husband did not want to live without her so it appears he took his own life as well. It is such a tragedy.'
The couple's children Frank Lawrenson, 44, and Sophie Little, 42, are said to be devastated by their deaths. Mrs Little refused to comment at her parents' home.
Frank who founded an electronics company and works in reputation management is a school governor in his home village of Kersey, Suffolk.
He is due to stand as a Conservative candidate for Waldingfield in the Babergh district council elections next Thursday.
Double tragedy: The body's of John and Caroline Lawrenson were found at their home The Old Rectory, in Waldingfield, Suffolk
Mr and Mrs Lawrenson are thought to have been regular worshippers at the 14th century St Lawrence church across the road from their house.
The Rev Caroline Hallett, the vicar of Great Waldingfield and nearby Acton, said: 'I have spoken to the family and they not wish to make any statement.'
Mr Lawrenson is thought to have formerly served for several years as chairman of the St Lawrence church fabric restoration committee responsible for the upkeep of the church.
Former Great Waldingfiield parish council chairman David Floyd, 73, said: 'He and his wife were a lovely couple.
'It is shocking to hear that they have died like this. The news has come out of the blue. Nobody picked up any vibes that something like this was going to happen.
'I got to know Mr Lawrenson because I served with him on the church fabric committee. He did a fantastic job for the church.
'I met his wife a few times because the church meetings were held at his house. He was an extremely nice man and she was very pleasant. It was a privilege to know them.'
Suffolk Police spokesman Anne-Marie Breach said: 'Police were informed that the couple had been found dead, but the deaths are not being treated as suspicious. It is a matter for the coroner and an inquest will be held.'
Mr and Mrs Lawrenson were pronounced dead when paramedics arrived at their home just before 9.40am last Saturday. An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said no attempt was made to revive them.
An inquest into the couple's deaths was opened and adjourned in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday. It is believed that toxicology tests are being carried out to determine how they died.
Mr Lawrenson was also known for writing a book, 'The Price of Truth: the story of Reuters millions' with Lionel Barber, published in 1984.
What a (true) love story.
- potter, stoke on trent, 29/4/2011 14:32
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