South Yorkshire Times, February 2, 1957

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded at Wednesday’s inquest. The driver of the vehicle, Mr Frank Rock (48) of St Bethell Road, Rotherham, said he saw Mrs Richardson step off the pavement as he turned a slight bend in the road, near the junction of Queen Street, Swinton. She stood in the road.

“I blew my horn two or three times, and let the bus move slowly forward because I thought she was stationary,” he said.

Mrs Richardson’s daughter, Mrs Edith Juster, on the same address, said her mother was very active and was used to visiting friends unaccompanied.

She was, however, dead.

Mrs Ethel Jagger, of The Hall, Swinton, an old friend of Mrs Richardson’s, said she was travelling on the trolley bus was able to see the road before her. She said the bus was travelling very slowly, and Mrs Richardson seemed to step off the payment when the bus was only three or 4 yards away from her. Mrs Jagger said Mrs Richardson was holding her hat with both hands, which would have stopped her seeing the bus.

Mrs Irene Thorpe, 35, The Lea, Swinton, was walking on the opposite side of the road, said she saw Mrs Richardson step onto the road, giving the driver of the bus no possibility of avoiding her.

Dr R.H. Colquitt said course of death was cerebral contusion and haemorrhage, due to a fracture of the school resulting from the accident.

Mrs Richardson, a widow for 13 years, would have celebrated her birthday in April.