The anorexic professor who ate so little her heart was the size of a child's

 Add your view

Deadly thin: Rosemary Pope weighed less than five stone when she died from anorexia. She ate little more than diet sweets and coffee

Rosemary Pope, 49, starved herself for so long that her heart had shrunk to the size of a child's.

Renowned as an exceptional academic, she threw herself into her work and hid her 30-year battle with anorexia from colleagues.

It was only this year, after struggling with the demands of her challenging job as Pro Vice Chancellor of Bournemouth University, that her body began to fail.

Tipped over the edge by a stomach virus, she collapsed alone at her home.

Yesterday, Professor Pope's brother, Michael Pope, 50, told the Bournemouth inquest: "Rosemary's eating had been an issue from her teenage years.

"We were fully aware she had an eating disorder but were very wary of broaching the subject in case it caused her distress.

"Despite this, none of us suspected her eating habits would lead to her death."

The inquest heard that Professor Pope, who never married or had children, had a "very distinguished academic career of national and international importance".

She took a psychology degree, followed by a PhD which she completed in 1989.

Following this, she worked at Greenwich University, then Surrey University before becoming head of the European School of Health in 1998.

She was also responsible for researching health education to advise national policy.

In June 2006, she became Pro Vice Chancellor at Bournemouth, where she was in charge of overhauling the education system.

But by 2008, the inquest heard, the job was making her "anxious" and she was concerned about the impact of the reshuffles on some individuals.

In January this year, she contracted norovirus, a stomach illness which made her sick and became even thinner than usual.

Her colleagues began to voice concern over her skeletal appearance but she refused to see a doctor.

On March 21, Good Friday, she was found dead in her detached house in the upmarket Queens Park area of Bournemouth.

It is thought she collapsed after returning from a shopping trip the day before.

The stress of carrying the bags may have caused her frail body to fail, the inquest heard.

Professor Pope, who was 4ft 10in tall, suffered hypoglycaemia, a complete drop in blood sugar levels.

This probably caused her to fall into a coma and her heart to stop beating.

Scroll down for more ...

Brothers Christopher (left) and Michael Pope outside the Coroners Court in Bournemouth. Michael said their sister's 'Eating had been an issue from her teenage years'

Her body was found by her younger brother Christopher, 47, who lives in London.

She had a pot of crème fraiche in her left hand, suggesting she may have been aware she needed some energy just before she died.

The shopping bags were found to contain several food-related magazines. She had also been hoarding tinned food.

Michael Pope, a solicitor from Sidcup in Kent, told the inquest his sister took desperate measures to avoid eating.

When she went to stay with him, she brought her own food and refused what he offered.

At Christmas 2007, Professor Pope invited her two brothers and their children to her house, where she provided a "feast".

But she left the room while they ate.

Colleagues told the inquest that Professor Pope appeared to live on WeightWatchers sweets, soft cheese and coffee.

She was said to have huge "mental and intellectual" capacity.

Colleagues described her as having an "unusually vivacious and outgoing personality" with a "robust sense of humour".

The coroner for East Dorset, Sheriff Payne, recorded a verdict of death by anorexia nervosa.

After the hearing her brothers said in a statement: "We are devastated by Rosemary's death.

"Although she had suffered from an eating disorder for some years, she was an incredibly enthusiastic, energetic and capable person.

"We find it hard to understand how she was able to carry on at all times without any interruption to her life or work despite her low levels of nutrition.

"She was an understanding, generous and loving sister and aunt and she will be greatly missed."

 

What's on today   What's on tomorrow

Receive our newsletter