THE husband of a Burbage pensioner, who died after collapsing in Marlborough High Street, has heaped praised on those who desperately tried to save her.

Valerie Titmuss, of Burroughs Drove, was shopping in the town at 3pm last Thursday when the 65-year-old fell heavily, close to the RSPCA shop.

Passers-by and nearby workers valiantly banded together to give Mrs Titmuss, who had terminal cancer of the oesophagus, first aid to try and revive her before the paramedics arrived. Sadly she died at the scene.

Since the incident, which meant the High Street had to be closed for about two hours, her husband William, 64, has managed to track down and thank in person those who tried to save his wife, to show just how much their efforts meant to him and his family.

“I think what each and every one of them did was brilliant and they should be proud of trying to save my wife because I am proud of them,” said Mr Titmuss, who is a heavy goods vehicle driver.

“It is just very sad because she will not be able to go to our daughter Sara’s wedding, which was brought forward for her and was in two weeks’ time, or see her new grandchild, which is due in about three weeks.

“It was lovely for me to meet these people and thank them. I found out that one was a trainee chef from Rick Stein’s, another was a plumber, the third was a Boots pharmacist and the fourth was a lady from a nearby woolshop and between them they gave first aid to Valerie.

“It is is just wonderful that people came together and tried to help without hesitation. The paramedics were magnificent and did all they could.”

Marco Yeung, a pharmacist at nearby Boots, said: “I was the third or fourth person to arrive and when I got there she was unconscious. We placed her in the recovery position and one went to get a defibrillator from the library and we used it five times on her until the paramedics arrived. It was a very emotional experience.”

Mrs Titmuss had been battling cancer on and off for the last four years. She had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but was told in October that there were no further treatments to help.

“When the policeman came to my door later that day to tell me the news it was devastating,” said Mr Titmuss, who has two children, son Richard and daughter Sara, and three grandchildren.

“She was a wonderful woman and she was very sensible and realistic about her illness. It is very sad because she will not be able to go to our daughter Sara’s wedding, which was brought forward for her and was in two weeks’ time, or see her new grandchild which is in about three weeks.”