Couple died after stepping into road in High Kelling
Sheila and Campbell Welsh, aged 81 and 82, suffered catastrophic injuries after being hit by a Mini Cooper outside the carol service they had attended with friends in High Kelling, near Holt, on December 22, 2024. The hearing at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard the popular retired couple had been enjoying mulled wine and mince pies with fellow parishioners moments before the collision and were looking forward to spending Christmas with family and friends. Instead, members of the congregation witnessed the horrifying aftermath as emergency services fought in vain to save them in the road outside the church.
He stressed both parents were normally extremely careful road users, adding that Mrs Welsh had always insisted on teaching her grandchildren how to cross roads safely. The couple had moved to Holt around 12 years earlier after downsizing from Welwyn Garden City, quickly becoming part of the local community. Mr Welsh enjoyed a successful career with Cadbury Schweppes before taking early retirement and later working as a brewery director.
A former rugby player and Army reservist, he remained active into later life, tending his allotment and cycling regularly. Although slowed in recent years by back problems and nerve surgery, his son described him as sharp-minded and a trusted source of advice for the family. 
Mrs Welsh, originally from Scotland, worked for many years as a secretary at British Aerospace. She was also an accomplished pianist and known for her "lively, warm and vibrant personality." Friends described both as energetic and sociable, regularly cycling long distances and meeting friends in local pubs and church gatherings.
Retired music teacher Christine Mangan, a close friend, told the court: "Sheila was not your typical 81-year-old. We would often cycle 30 miles together. They were both so full of life."
On the evening of the collision, parishioners stayed after the carol service to socialise enjoying mince pies and mulled wine. Witness Claire Bennett recalled chatting with Mrs Welsh, who spoke happily about friends and family coming to stay over Christmas. Shortly afterwards, as people began leaving the church, a "loud metallic bang" rang out from the road.
Mrs Mangen said she discovered Mrs Welsh's crushed glasses in the road before recognising her friend lying injured nearby. Mr Welsh had been thrown further away by the impact. It was then she saw a person she assumed to be the driver involved who was very upset.
Mrs Mangan said she heard him say: "Are they still alive? Don't tell me they're dead." Members of the congregation called emergency services but despite prolonged efforts by paramedics, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another witness told the court that they heard the distraught driver say: "They just walked in front of me. I didn't see them... they were just there." The stretch of the A148 where the collision occurred has no street lighting.
Investigators found the couple had been wearing dark clothing without reflective material and were crossing from the westbound side into the eastbound lane when they were struck. The court heard that in such conditions pedestrians may only become visible when directly illuminated by vehicle headlights, leaving drivers little or no time to react. Research cited during the inquest showed that at 30mph a vehicle can travel more than 20 metres before a driver can even begin to take evasive action after perceiving a hazard.
Given the couple's age and Mr Welsh's mobility issues, investigators concluded they would have been crossing slowly and were likely unsighted when they stepped into the path of the vehicle. Forensic evidence suggested that Mr Welsh was struck by the vehicle first, with his wife to his right side. 
Assistant coroner Christopher Leach recorded both deaths as resulting from a road traffic collision, stating the evidence showed the driver could not reasonably have avoided the collision. He also offered sympathy to the driver and said he hoped the inquest findings would reassure him that he was not responsible for the " horrendous" tragedy. In summary he said he was satisfied that the vehicle was being driven safely and the the couple had walked into the unlit road on a dark night wearing dark clothing.
"They would only have become visible to the driver when his headlights illuminated them," he added. "Given the short time and distance he had to react it was highly unlikely that he could have taken action to avoid them." Extending condolences to the Welsh family and the local church community, he described the deaths as "a very sad and tragic event". He also thanked the police for their diligent investigation into the tragedy.
For those who knew Sheila and Campbell Welsh, the lasting memory is of a couple deeply connected to family, friends and their community who tragically lost their lives together on what should have been the beginning of a joyful Christmas.
