A former senior Shrewsbury magistrate and county WI chairman is critically ill in a New Zealand hospital after hitting her head in a fall.
Christine Marsh, 79, of Walford Heath, Baschurch, near Shrewsbury, was on an annual trip visiting an old school friend when the accident happened on March 1.
Christine Marsh.
The mother-of-three collapsed later that day and was airlifted to hospital in Dunedin. Mrs Marsh has remained there since and her family have arranged for her to be flown home from Auckland to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital this weekend.
Viv Marsh, 54, who runs Viv Marsh Postal plants at Walford Heath, flew to his mother’s bedside on March 6 before returning home on Tuesday.
He said: “Sadly mum’s condition is still very serious but she really is receiving the very best medical care and doctors and friends in New Zealand have been absolutely marvellous.
My sister Judith is still out there with her and will stay there until mum can be flown home. We know that she is as comfortable and cared for as possible at what is a most difficult and anxious time for us all.”
Mrs Marsh retired from the Shrewsbury bench in June 2001 after 26 years. She was chairman of the Magistrates Court Committee for three years and also head of the family panel.
Mrs Marsh was also federation chairman of Shropshire WI from 1971-73, a keen member of Shrewsbury Flower Show and a regular West Mid Show steward.
Sue Johnson, federation secretary of Shropshire WI, said members were shocked and saddened by the news.
“We are all thinking of her and hoping for her recovery,” she said. “Christine is a former chairman and has always kept in contact with us since she left the WI.”
by Charlotte Hester