Gamlingay pensioner attacked at husband’s grave

Lila Smith, 79, has hardly left her house after she was set upon by two women at the site in Stocks Lane, Gamlingay on Thursday last week (October 6).

Mrs Smith claims the women assaulted her while she was visiting her late husband Tom’s grave.

She said: “It was horrible.

“They had been at a funeral of a relative there and when they saw me they started shouting and swearing, and then ran over to me.

“One of them then grabbed me by the hair and forced me to the ground. She held me down while the other one started punching and kicking me.”

Mrs Smith, who has lived in the village for more than 20 years, suffered cuts and bruises to her face and says clumps of her hair were also pulled out.

She believes the family may have taken exception to her visiting the cemetery on the day that the funeral was taking place.

She added: “I could see all of the vehicles parked nearby and people arriving, so I was careful to avoid the cemetery while the funeral was going on.

“I didn’t go over until I was sure that it had finished as I didn’t want to upset or offend anyone. I didn’t realise they were still there.”

Mrs Smith has since only left the house when accompanied by one or more of her four grown-up children.

She said: “My children have been very good to me but unfortunately none of them live locally, so I have had to wait until they have been able to travel to the area to accompany me to the shops.

“My husband died nine years ago and I have visited his grave almost every day since but I haven’t been able to go over there since I was attacked.”

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Constabulary confirmed that police officers attended after an incident at the cemetery at around 2.15pm last Thursday, and had spoken to a woman in her 70s and another in her 80s who had been involved in a confrontation.

No arrests were made.

The Chronicle contacted the other family through their solicitor but they were unable to comment before going to press.