A DEVOTED couple who could not bear to live without each other took their own lives in a suicide pact - after reading a guide on how to kill themselves.

James and Hilda Bedell, known as Ted and Nan, drank whisky before tying plastic bags around their heads with elastic bands and suffocating by each other's side in bed at their York home as music played.

The loving, popular couple had meticulously planned their final act for years, putting it into action when they both feared for their health and leaving notes for family, friends and neighbours to find in the quiet Strensall cul-de-sac of Pelham Place, where they had lived for 21 years.

They also left behind a manual on the kitchen table graphically detailing how they should go about committing suicide - condemned by a coroner at the York inquest into their deaths yesterday as "a shameful book".

The bodies of war veteran and retired milkman Mr Bedell, 81, and former teacher Mrs Bedell, 76, were discovered on October 23, 2006, by their neighbour Janet Wardell, who said it was no secret they intended to die together.

In a statement read out at the inquest, she said: "When we went into the house, I saw a piece of paper on the doormat with my name on it and noticed music playing in the background. There were some notes on the kitchen table in Nan's handwriting and a book - the cover was not the same as what was inside.

"I called - but there was no reply - went into the master bedroom and found them in bed. I was aware of what they had done - they had long said they would commit suicide and it was a well-known fact between their family and friends."

Another statement from the couple's son, Andrew - who, together with the rest of their family, did not attend the inquest - said: "Some years ago, they had made it clear they didn't want to lose their quality of life and end up being nursed in hospital or a home.

"They were reading and talking about ending it together. But I spoke to them around October 15 and they made no mention of when or how."

The inquest heard how former RAF gunner Mr Bedell had been treated for anxiety and his loss of balance and trembling hands may have been signs of Parkinson's Disease, although they were more likely to have been due to a benign tremor, while Mrs Bedell's arthritis and osteoporosis had worsened in the months before she died.

"There was no reason to believe she was depressed or unable to make up her own mind about the future, and there was certainly no discussion of a suicide pact or anything to do with euthanasia," said her GP Dr Lesley Welsh.

Mr Coverdale recorded a verdict of suicide in both cases.


Coroner condemns suicide guide

"SHAMEFUL, offensive and irresponsible".

Those were the angry words York coroner Donald Coverdale chose to describe the book which tragic couple James and Hilda Bedell used to plan their suicide.

While he would not reveal the name of the macabre manual, he said: "It is not the first time I have seen a book of this nature - I have been critical of it previously and will be critical of it again.

"I find it deeply offensive in concept and its contents pernicious - it is a shameful book. People in pain and distress need comfort and support, not encouragement to destroy their lives. I believe, having heard news reports recently, that some internet chatrooms may serve a similar purpose in encouraging suicide, and I believe they deserve equal criticism. Many professionals devote themselves to preventing suicide and I have nothing but praise for them. But I condemn those who encourage suicide.

"I have been a coroner for many years and seen many suicides which are desperately sad, but this one I found to be particularly shocking.

"James and Hilda Bedell had apparently taken many steps to minimise the upset to their family and friends upon discovering their death, but I have no doubt the event will have caused the greatest distress to those who knew them.

"In this day and age, the ending of one's life because of a painful condition can hardly be justified, particularly when the support of the medical profession and a wide variety of medication and the support of close family members, not to mention close friends, are all so readily available.

"But clearly they had taken this decision to end their lives at some time, and no doubt everything was agreed between them."