A 33 year-old Hertford woman who was due to marry later this year inexplicably collapsed at work and died.
Jane Starr’s heart stopped without warning four hours after she collapsed. She had led a healthy and active life and had not been diagnosed with any life-threatening medical conditions.
The popular secretary was to marry Mike Aylott in October. He spoke this week of his shock following the tragedy on May 17 at the Harlow offices of pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline.
“It has not really sunk in yet” he said, describing Jane as a “fun-loving, modest and unassuming,” person who was “always smiling.”
“If it was an accident of some kind, then people accept it will happen, but for someone so young to die the way she did makes it more difficult,” said Mike.
He is determined to continue with a parachute jump next Thursday in March, Cambs, organised by Jane, together with her sister Karen’s boyfriend, Stuart Kitteringham.
They will now raise money for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), after learning that eight fit an healthy young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions every week in the UK. Donations of £6,223 have already been made at
http://www.justgiving.com/jane-starr
“It’s amazing how many people have donated and there are so many lovely messages on the website – it’s keeping us going and is lifting our spirits,” said Mike.
Plans for the couple’s wedding, which was due to be held at Holy Trinity Church in Hertford Heath on October 27, were well under way.
“Jane had already chosen the song she wanted for her first dance,” said Karen, who was to be the only bridesmaid.
“This has come as such a shock to everyone.”
She and her sister were “very close and shared many happy times together, especially socialising and shopping.”
Jane grew up in Hertford with parents Hilary and Nigel, known as Barnie, and studied at Hollybush and Simon Balle schools in the town and Hertford Regional College in Ware.
She had a passion for animals and loved to drive with the top down in her convertible Renault Megane. She was a proud godmother to her friend Amanda’s son, Billy, whose ninth birthday is today.
Mike, who works as a statistician for GSK, met Jane through a mutual friend three-and-a-half years ago and proposed in January. They were living together on the Foxholes estate.
Family, friends and colleagues remembered a loyal, cheerful and selfless person with a cheeky sense of humour and a natural, easy way with people.
Jane was pronounced dead at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow. An inquest was opened and adjourned by Harlow Coroner’s Court on May 19.
The funeral takes place on Monday at Harwood Park Crematorium near Stevenage at 12.30pm and is followed by a memorial service at Holy Trinity Church in Hertford Heath at 1.30pm.
All family and friend are welcome to attend. Donations should be made to CRY via Powell Funeral Service of Railway Street, Hertford.
