Shock at girl's suicide after battle with eating disorder

Joanne Ginley

A MOTHER last night told of her grief after her 16-year-old daughter took her own life following a two-year battle with the eating disorder bulimia.

Rowena France was found dead on Thursday night at the home she shared with mum Jacqueline, father Andy and 14-year-old sister Alex, near Holmfirth, Huddersfield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mrs France, 48, said Rowena, who had been a successful triathlete in her early teens, died following a two-year battle with the eating disorder.

She said: “She was anorexic for a year when she was 11 and then we had a few years of her being happy and then this started. We don’t know why.

“She suffered from bulimia for two years and in the last 12 months she had depression as well.

“If someone came to the door she could put on a happy face even if she wasn’t happy.

“We never thought she would take her own life.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Her mother, who said Rowena was studying art, English, French and Italian at college, said: “She was really clever, she always strove to do her best at everything she did and she got good GCSE results.”

Her father said: “We’re devastated, we can’t find words to express how we feel.

“She had just spent a week at the London College of Fashion doing a foundation course in fashion design. She wanted to go and live in Paris one day.”

She was also a keen runner but was unable to keep up her sporting interests in the last two years. “She became too ill to do it, she had to give up,” said Mrs France.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rowena’s principal at Greenhead College, Martin Rostron, said: “Rowena was a very talented linguist. She was a very likeable young lady and was involved with preparations for the Christmas production.

“It came as a big shock to lots of students. In the next few days we will make sure that all those who knew Rowena will have an opportunity to do whatever they need to do come to terms with their loss.”

Yesterday an inquest into Rowena’s death was opened and adjourned pending further inquiries at Bradford Coroner’s Court. Her funeral will take place on Saturday.

Yesterday family friend John McFadzean, told of his shock at hearing the news.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr McFadzean, 55, is a police officer and a youth development officer with the Holmfirth Harriers running club and he often works alongside Rowena’s mother, a committee member.

Mr McFadzean said: “We knew that Rowena had an eating disorder and knew her family were working with her to get her better. But I did not realise until now how much it affected her.

“I thought she had given up running because she didn’t want to do it any more.”

Mr McFadzean added: “Rowena still came along to support her family and she didn’t look unwell. She would always smile and say hello. I don’t think anybody really knew how serious it was.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I can’t really understand why it has happened, I don’t think anyone can. She was popular and had plenty of friends, she had just started college and had loads of friends there.

“She was a great girl and a good sportswoman. Everybody at Harriers is shocked by such an untimely death.”

Related topics: