15th April 1938
The family of the late Martha Merrick, Goytrey, Pontypool wishes to thank relative’s friends and neighbours for expressions of sympathy and floral tributes in their recent bereavement.
Octogenarians Fatal Fall
Friday 15th April
Widow of former school master of Little Mill reformatory.
Myocardial degeneration accelerated by a fracture of the right thigh accidentally caused by a fall was the cause of the death of an aged widow stated Dr. J.F. Blain at an inquest at Pontypool on Friday afternoon.
Mr D J Treasure district coroner sat without a jury to inquire into the circumstances of the death of Mrs Martha Merrick, the widow of Mr Charles Merrick a former school master of Little Mill reformatory which was closed under the economy axe.
Mrs Dorothy May Merrick, wife of Mr Charles William Merrick and music teacher of Feltham Cottage, Newtown Goytrey stated that Mrs Martha Merrick lived with her husband and that about 2.30 pm on Monday the 22nd she accompanied her mother in law to another part of the house. They were returning when witness left Mrs Merrick to close the scullery door which led to the garden, then looking round she saw her mother in law falling and rushed to catch her, witness grasped her wrist but she fell onto her right side. Mr Merrick heard the fall and at once went to his mother’s assistance. Together they raised her and put her in a chair in the kitchen, Mr Merrick went for Nurse Price who came at once and telephoned Dr Blain. Mrs Merrick was put to bed and on Dr Blains arrival he ordered her to be removed to Pontypool and District Hospital where she died at 6.30am on the 6th.
For the past three years my mother in law has been in a delicate state of health physically and mentally and I had to watch her day and night, she was 82 years of age. Charles Merrick gave corroborative evidence and Dr J F Blain gave cause of death as stated in accordance. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
The Funeral
The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, the coffin having rested in the church overnight.
The Rev.d Luther Evans who has been doing duty for the Rector of Goytrey, the Rev.d T J Richards in consequence of his serious accident, officiated.
Mrs Merrick was the seventh daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Ivor Wilks, a family very well known and respected, not only in Goytrey but also in the county generally. She married Mr Charles Merrick who was a schoolmaster at Little Mill Reformatory for 30 years. It is some 31 years since Mr Merrick died.
She was a staunch churchwoman and in her younger days was a member for years of the Monkswood Church Choir with other members of her family. Her only son Mr Charles William Merrick of Newtown Goytrey, organist at Goytrey Church, survives her.
The family Mourners were Mr and Mrs Charles William Merrick, son and daughter in law: Miss Rachel Wilks, sister; Mr John Wilks, Little Mill and Mrs Agnes and Frances Wilks; Messrs Ernest and William Jackson, Goytrey and Abergavenny; Harry Wilks, Cardiff; Mr David Wilks, Merthyr; and nephews and neices.
Many friends of the family assembled at the church to pay their last tributes of respect and there were a number of beautiful tributes.
The Bearers were Messrs: R J Cecil and Alfred Rosser and Harry Owen