Bill was on his way home - 'accidental death' verdict

Retired Carlisle Professor died after being hit by train, inquest hears

News & Star Wednesday 16 August 2017

An esteemed retired professor tragically died when he mistakenly wandered on to the tracks at Carlisle railway station and was then struck by a train, an inquest heard.

Professor William Speck, known as Bill, had completed a return journey from Carlisle to Whitehaven on the day he died, February 15, so he could carry out research in the town's archive centre.

Coroner David Roberts heard that despite being of relatively good health Prof Speck, 79, who was an emeritus professor of modern history at Leeds University, had displayed signs of confusion and disorientation while in the archive centre, symptoms which didn't go unnoticed by staff.

After seeing him appear unwell and hearing that he'd missed his preferred train back to Carlisle staff there accompanied him to the train station to make sure he got on the right one.

Although having a return ticket he told a conductor on board that he didn't have one. Once arriving back in Carlisle he also did not realise the train had stopped and had to be told by a member of staff he was in his home city.

After getting off about 7.15pm he was captured on CCTV walking around the station before going towards the northern end of the building however, it is unclear how he ended up on the track.

Sometime afterwards it is believed he was then hit by a train, although the exact time and vehicle responsible could not be identified.

The inquest also heard from friend Anne Firth, who attended a musical ground regularly with Prof Speck in Hexham.

She said that there had been an incident shortly before his passing where he'd turned up late - something he never did - and slept for the whole of the session after complaining of a severe headache.

When his body was found at the station at about 7.30am the following day it prompted a huge operation led by the British Transport Police.

Giving his verdict at the inquest, held at Cumbria House in Carlisle yesterday (TUE), Mr Roberts said: "It seems to me he was confused, unwell and didn't know what he was doing."

In giving a conclusion of accidental death he also ruled out the possibility that Prof Speck, of Belah, had intentionally killed himself.

Prof Speck grew up in Bradford and studied at Queen's College, Oxford before taking up lecturing positions in Newcastle, Yale in the USA, Hull and lastly in Leeds.

He retired in 1997 and moved to Carlisle in 2000 after growing fond of the area.

He was well-known in local history organisations and continued to write and research up until his death.