Memorial service will honour murdered Alethea Taylor
A service will be held next month in memory of a retired primary school teacher from the Shropshire border who was murdered by her husband.
Alethea Taylor, 63, was reported missing by John Taylor in January last year from the bungalow they shared in Orleton, near Ludlow, and has not been seen since.
Taylor, 61, an undertaker, was convicted by a jury of her murder following a five-week trial earlier this year.
The service to celebrate Alethea's life will be held at St George's Church in Orleton, where she played the organ and regularly attended, on June 5 from 6.30pm.
It will be conducted by The Bishop of Ludlow, Alistair Magowan.
He today said he hoped the service would bring some kind of closure to those who knew Mrs Taylor following a traumatic period following her disappearance and the subsequent murder trial.
Everyone who knew Alethea is being urged to attend the service, which will be followed by light refreshments at the village hall.
The new vicar of Orleton Church, Reverend Bruce Thomson, who took over at the beginning of this month, will also be involved in the service.
He said today: "The disappearance of Alethea Taylor and John Taylor's subsequent conviction of his wife's murder took place before my time.
"I hope and pray, therefore, that this memorial service will bring comfort to all those who knew Alethea and help the community of Orleton in their grief.
"Alethea Taylor was very much a part of Orleton church. She was the organist and played a role in church activities and the community. Alethea was a member of the Birchpole singers and the choir will be singing at the memorial service.
"Alethea was also the leading light in a group of pensioners called the Evergreens. She used to organise days out for them."
Mrs Taylor's husband was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 17 years.
