Music teacher found dead in Eastbourne home

Anne Lawson was a passionate tennis player and pianist, and had moved to the town in 2016 to realise a dream of living by the sea.

The 82-year-old was discovered at her bungalow in Westfield Road in March this year, the inquest at Eastbourne Town Hall heard on Thursday (August 6).

A statement from Ms Lawson’s sister Susan Bushell said, “She would have done anything for anyone.

“She had an inquiring and inquisitive nature, and had more plans to travel.

“She was taken too soon and we will miss her very much indeed.”

The inquest heard Ms Lawson was born in south Manchester and had an ‘idyllic childhood’ with many friends.

She was keen on tennis from a young age, and later went to Trinity College to study piano.

Upon retiring, she lived in Eastbourne where she enjoyed rambling with friends and maintained her interest in music.

Coroner Alan Craze commented on her medical report from her GP, saying, “For a lady of her age, the fact she was only on two repeat prescriptions is really quite remarkable.”

On March 3, the inquest heard police received a call from a neighbour concerned about the build up of milk on Ms Lawson’s doorstep.

They found her body inside, and police said she had appeared to have passed away peacefully in her armchair.

Due to decomposition, a post mortem could not ascertain her cause of death, the inquest heard.

Mr Craze said it was a sad case, but that he was satisfied she had died of natural causes.

He expressed his condolences to her family.