IN her idyllic cottage on
the banks of the picturesque
River Itchen she
was living the perfect
life.
With her two dogs as companions,
Georgina Edmonds enjoyed
her independence living just a
stones-throw from her family,
including the two grandchildren
she adored.
During the week she would go
out shopping, catch up with her
close network of friends at a
needlework group and count
down the days until the weekend
to spend with her grandson
Harry, 13, and granddaughter
Nilou, 11.
But the tranquillity that exudes
from Kingfisher Lodge in
Brambridge was shattered four
weeks ago when the 77-year-old,
described as gentle and loving by
those closest to her, was brutally
murdered.
For her daughter Doddie, who
works as a nurse in Sudan, the
shock has only just subsided.
Now it is replaced by a brave and
clear focus to catch the evil person
who robbed her of her mum.
Yesterday she spoke to the Daily
Echo for the first time about the
tough four weeks and made a
plea to help find the killer who
remains at large.
What this person did to my
mum was absolutely
horrific and he is still
out there. He must be a
crazy, dangerous man.
He killed her in a terribly
vicious way, said
Doddie.
I replay her terror
and how frightened she
must have been, over
and over. There must be
lots of other grandmothers
around here living
on their own who will be
frightened.
She said: She was a
very lovely mother but
her role was very much
more of a grandmother.
She looked forward to
the weekend when she
had her grandchildren
with her. She was a
friendly, down to earth
woman. She loved the
garden, loved nature.
She was happy as Larry
living in her cottage with her cat
and her little dogs.
Mum liked everyone, she was
interested in people C a nice lady
who was quiet and generous and
gentle. She loved flowers, loved
gardening, loved needlework and
had been a member of a local
needlework group for more than
20 years.
News of the brutal killing has
shocked the local community C
and can be seen in the
numbers of cards and
letters of sympathy and
support the family has
received.
Local people have
been incredibly good.
People who I have not
seen for years have
written super letters
about Mum, said
Doddie.
She was such a gentle
person who met such
a violent death in her
own cottage. The terrible
shock has subsided
now and we feel very
focussed on finding who
is responsible.
Speaking about how
her family is coping,
she said: The grandchildren
Im sure are
devastated but are holding
it together very
well. They loved their
granny. For Nilou, granny was
definitely her best friend. She
wouldnt come through the door
for wanting to go to the cottage.
They were always putting on
little shows together or making
something, they were full of ideas
together, doing crazy stuff C
granny was amajor part of that,
said Doddie.
She would look forward to seeing
them all week. They are coping well and being very grown up.
There is no doubt the children
were the happiest thing to happen
to my mother in her life and she
was a wonderful grandmother.
As a family I think we are
strong and we want to catch this
person. We cant bring my mother
back as she has gone. We all
grieve in different ways at different
times.
Part of the time it all becomes
very surreal. What happened is
so terrible I just cant believe it.
I replay her terror but I dont
want this place (Kingfisher
Lodge) where mum has lived for
30 years to become unhappy. She
made it this way and Im sure its
where she would want us to be.
We are not going to let this villain
spoil all her hard work.
Mrs Edmonds was found battered
to death in the kitchen of
her cottage on the afternoon of
January 11 by her son Harry and
a close family friend.
She was last seen alive at 11am
that day and is thought to have
been in the house, perhaps making
some lunch, when her killer
struck, said Doddie.
If only the dogs could talk as I
suspect theymust have seenwhat
happened to Mummy. They are
traumatised as they seem skittish
and jumpy.
Adding that no funeral arrangements
had been finalised yet,
Doddie added: This is a beautiful
place to walk and think about
words and hymns but the real
focus at the moment is on catching
this man. I feel that my mother
has gone, she is a happy memory
and she is OK.
Asked about what she thinks
about when she looks at her
mothers cottage boarded up, she
said: Sometimes I just go blank
but other times I just imaginemy
mother there making a cup of
tea, doing her ironing, making
cauliflower cheese, saying goodbye
and giving me a hug.
Evil has blown in and out of
here. Its now gone C to be locked
up in jail forever C as long as
someone comes forward with the
information.
ñ Anyone with information should contact Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote:
The echo published a story 2 weeks ago about the family wanting to be left alone[/quote] Obviously the family change their minds
paul b wrote:
The echo published a story 2 weeks ago about the family wanting to be left alone
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote:
The echo published a story 2 weeks ago about the family wanting to be left alone[/quote] Left alone maybe while they were mourning her. Maybe now they want to catch the killer? Just a thought?
paul b wrote:
The echo published a story 2 weeks ago about the family wanting to be left alone
Left alone maybe while they were mourning her. Maybe now they want to catch the killer? Just a thought?
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