The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The body of missing mother-of-two Bernice Williams has been discovered at her Lutton home.
A man, believed to be her husband Lawrence, was also found dead at the couple’s property on Colleys Gate on Monday.
The discovery came two days after police issued an appeal to find Mrs Williams, who had been missing since March 25.
The 50-year-old teacher at Sutton Bridge’s Westmere Primary School had lived in Lutton for several years. She was also a warden at the village’s St Nicholas Church.
The couple have two sons, both believed to be teenagers.
Villagers were shocked at the news and parish council chairman David Wilkinson spoke of the impact of the double deaths.
“It is very disturbing – you read about these things happening in other places, but don’t expect them in your own village,” he said.
Coun Wilkinson said Mrs Williams had been a “happy, smiley” person who was a familiar sight in the village.
“She helped with the flowers at the church flower festival and was a pleasant, smiley woman,” he said.
“It is hard to believe that this has happened.”
Coun Wilkinson did not know Mr Williams, but had seen him in the village.
He added: “We didn’t really know him at all.”
He said the parish council would be putting up a notice with contact details for anyone affected by the deaths, adding: “There may well be some more elderly residents who are very shaken by what has happened.
Mr and Mrs Williams had previously run Kanwal’s Kitchen, an Indian food market stall at both Spalding and Boston markets.
Both their families originally came from the Punjab area of India and they sold traditional food via the stall which they originally launched in 2009. It subsequently closed for business.
“Bernice cooked a lovely curry for the flower festival last year. Her death is going to cast a shadow over this year’s event,” said Coun Wilkinson.
It has not been revealed who called police to the address on Monday.
A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Further information about the investigation is due to be released on Thursday.
