THE death of a heartbroken wife who passed away just weeks after her beloved husband was last night described as “the end to a perfect love story”.

Doris Ling died on January 14 after being taken to Colchester General Hospital with an infection. The 90-year-old passed away just three weeks and five days after her husband, Bob.

The popular couple, who lived in Aldeburgh and would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in April, ran Snape Maltings Concert Hall for 28 years.

Mr Ling passed away just before Christmas at the age of 87 having suffered ill health.

Mrs Ling had been staying with her granddaughter, Charlotte Hayes, in Colchester since her husband’s death.

Last night she said: “Everyone is saying it’s the end to a perfect love story. They are now back together.

“It was very sudden. Understandably she was heartbroken when grandad died.

“They did absolutely everything together and were never apart.

“They always say that behind every great man is a great woman and it was true.”

Before moving to Snape Maltings the couple had other jobs, including being grave diggers and milk roundsmen.

They had two sons, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, the oldest of whom is 18.

Mrs Ling, nee Fryer, was born in Aldeburgh and still has many relations in the town.

Her funeral is happening at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Aldeburgh, on Thursday, February 3 at 11am.

The family do not want any flowers, but would like any donations to be made to Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research, c/o Tony Brown’s Funeral Service, New Cut, Saxmundham, IP17 1EH.