Family say 'begging' charities not to blame for Olive Cooke's death

The family of one of Britain's oldest poppy-sellers has defended the charities which repeatedly contacted her asking for donations, saying they were not to blame for her death.

Dedicated Royal British Legion supporter and charity fundraiser Olive Cooke, aged 92, was found dead in Avon Gorge in Bristol two days before the anniversary of VE Day.

She received hundreds of so-called "begging letters" every month - but her family has revealed she left behind a suicide note which refuted claims she had been overwhelmed by the constant hounding.

Her granddaughter, 37-year-old nurse Jessica Dunne, said the "beautiful" note had outlined reasons including depression and issues around being elderly.

She said while the letters were intrusive and a nuisance, they played no part in her grandmother's decision.

Mrs Cooke was widowed by the Second World War aged just 21, five years after she began selling poppies.

At that point, she threw herself into charity work, and could be found standing in the door of Bristol Cathedral each year in the countdown to Remembrance Day raising money for the cause.

She would also visit other elderly people who were unable to leave their homes and were suffering from loneliness.

Her family now hope to set up a special fund in her name.

Meanwhile, Mrs Cooke's MP Kerry McCarthy has promised to speak to the Charities Commission about the barrage of letters she received, and the Institute of Fundraising Standards Committee said it will review the case to see whether any guidelines were breached.

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