A 47 year old Burton Latimer school teacher who had been dieting died at Kettering General Hospital after she had been admitted in an extremely emaciated condition and suffering from malnutrition, it was said at an inquest at Kettering Police station yesterday.

The East Northamptonshire coroner, Captain J S Parker, recorded a verdict of death from natural causes on Miss Florence Margaret Stokes, 10 High Street, Burton Latimer, who died at the hospital on Tuesday. He said the death of Miss Stokes, who taught at Burton Latimer County Junior School for 28 years, was due to heart failure accelerated by malnutrition, caused by her failure to obey medical advice.

Dr. P. A. MacFaul, house physician at Kettering General Hospital said Miss Stokes was admitted unconscious at 5.30 pm on Tuesday. He understood she had been found unconscious on the floor of her kitchen by a neighbour. It appeared that she had last been seen three days ago, but it was not known how long she had been unconscious.  She was extremely emaciated and suffering from malnutrition. Miss Stokes died later in the evening without regaining consciousness.  Death was caused by heart failure due to malnutrition.

Captain Parker said Miss Stokes’s doctor had written stating that she had suffered from ulcers on her thighs and swollen legs. Miss Stokes had refused to take an adequate diet and had ignored his suggestion that she should rest, the letter added. Her brother, Detective Sergeant Edgar Stokes, 73 North Street, Rushden, agreed that she had ignored her doctor’s advice and had been dieting.