Retired model, 68, killed herself after regretting moving from her 'immaculate' seaside home

A retired model killed herself after struggling with isolation and regret following a move from the home she shared with her late husband to a flat 35 miles away, an inquest has heard. 

Lorraine Pillar, 68, moved from her ‘immaculate home’ in Sidmouth, Devon, following the death of her husband Chris.

An inquest heard there was still a mortgage on the house and she needed to downsize despite the fact all her friends were based in Sidmouth.

The mother-of-three upended her life to go to Torquay, Devon, to be nearer one of her sons but struggled to settle in the area and started to feel deep regret for the move.

Her friend John Moyah said the widow sold excess fixtures and fittings from her home and moved to a flat which needed renovating.

He told the Plymouth inquest that the flat was a ‘far cry from her home in Sidmouth’ but he had no indication that she was suicidal.  

Lorraine Pillar moved from her ‘immaculate home’ in Sidmouth (pictured, file image), Devon, following the death of her husband Chris

After moving away from her friends and community Ms Pillar started to struggle with feelings of depression. 

Her family told the hearing of their frustration with Ms Pillar’s GP for not getting her help when she reached out.  

Det Con Chris Avery said a handwritten note was found at the flat in which Ms Pillar said ‘forgive me’.

Phone messages revealed she thought she made ‘a terrible mistake’ moving from Sidmouth to Torquay.

She moved to Torquay (pictured, file image), Devon, to be nearer to where one of her sons lived but she did not settle and found the move upsetting

She was found hanged in the garage of the apartment block in Torquay in August 2020 by worried relatives.

The senior Plymouth coroner Ian Arrow recorded a suicide conclusion. 

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