Family pay tribute to tragic Stourbridge GP who died hours after car smash

Dr Pope, who worked at Three Villages Medical Practice in Wollaston and Amblecote, died last Wednesday (November 27) – just two hours after her car overturned on a country road at Broughton, near Claverley.

Police say the 38-year-old popular GP chose not to go to hospital after the incident, which happened as she overtook a cyclist at around 8.05am. Instead she was collected from the scene by her husband Trevor but she died two hours later at her home in Claverley.

Patients, colleagues, friends and relatives have been left devastated by her sudden death – which family members say has left the “world a darker place”.

In a statement, Dr Pope’s relatives described her as a “dedicated, respected and much loved GP, an enthusiastic sportswoman, a devoted Christian and a loving and much-loved wife, daughter, sister, aunty and friend”.

The Stoke-on-Trent born GP, who studied medicine at Leicester University, married Trevor after graduating in 1999 and the couple lived at Tasley, Shropshire.

She became house officer then senior officer at Shrewsbury Royal Infirmary before moving to Somerset to work as a GP. Seven years later she moved back to Shropshire and became a GP at Stourbridge’s Three Villages Medical Practice. She also later became a key member of Dudley’s Clinical Commissioning Group and was on a number of groups and committees dedicated to improving health provision.

Her family say she “always had time to listen, sympathise and care with great skill and compassion” and they added: “Liz worked tirelessly for her patients, her practice and the CCG, often working 12 or 14 hour days to accomplish all she felt was needed for them. But she also found time to be involved in the other activities she loved and enjoyed.”

In her spare time, busy Dr Pope had been a keen hockey player – playing for Bridgnorth Hockey Club for many years. She was also an avid horse rider – regularly entering dressage competitions with her horse ‘C’Est la Vie (known as Celi).

She also competed in a number of triathlons over the last few years and was in training for the next – having undergone successful surgery for a hole in the heart which was only discovered six years ago.

The energetic GP was also a volunteer during the 2012 London Olympic Games. She was appointed Olympic Village GP and helped many athletes and others with medical issues. She had also recently volunteered to help at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Horse of the Year Show.

On top of this – she also loved tending her garden. She and her husband had acquired the use of land above Eardington Station on the Severn Valley Railway, and Dr Pope had reclaimed a large area of the land for growing vegetables.

Despite being hit with another health problem – the gutsy GP, who had her thyroid gland removed after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, “never gave up” her family said.

In her home village of Claverley, Dr Pope was also a popular parishioner and member of the church choir - and had been looking forward to singing solos in some of the Advent and Christmas services. She was also a member of the Parochial Church Council.

Her family said: “Liz was someone who lived a full life. She never stopped doing the things she enjoyed and she loved being with her family and many friends. In her comparatively short 38-year life, Liz achieved more and did more good by bringing healing, hope and love to those around her than most of us do in much longer lives.

“She will be greatly missed by her family - especially her husband Trevor, her colleagues and patients, and her wide circle of friends, with all of whom she loved to spend time.”

Dr Pope had been driving a black Alfa Romeo Giulietta when the car crash happened on an unnamed road.

West Mercia Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, or saw the Alfa Romeo and the cyclist travelling along the road before it happened. People are asked to call 101 (and quote reference number 214S 271113).