Almost exactly 20 years ago, Gerardine Quaghebeur, who lived in Wootton near Abingdon, was sitting on an underground carriage near Aldgate station when a terrorist detonated a bomb.
It was one of four explosions that day and Dr Quaghebeur’s actions on July 7, 2005, would lead some to call her a hero in what became known as the 7/7 attacks.
However, her husband has said “the shock and trauma of it never left her” as he paid tribute to his wife of 30 years, who passed away last month on June 19.
Peter Richards spoke at a Wootton Parish Council (near Abingdon) meeting on Tuesday (July 1) of “Gerardine’s” early years in Africa.
Born on January 4, 1960, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, she spent time in South Africa and Nigeria, taking her school exams in Nairobi.
After retiring as a doctor she became an enthusiastic member of the local council (Image: Peter Richards) She trained to be a doctor, specialising in neuro-radiology – which included running x-rays – and Mr Richards said that although a senior doctor initially told her she wouldn’t be a success because she was “a woman and foreign”, she did make it.
It was in 1987 that she met her future husband – also a doctor and eventually head of the John Radcliffe Hospital’s paediatric neurosurgery wing – and after having getting married, they moved to Oxfordshire in 1995.
She helped raise two children from Mr Richards’ previous marriage, but it was her actions on July 7 that he said truly “sum her up”.
When the blast occurred, she was struck by flying bodies, suffering smoke inhalation, a perforated ear drum and other injuries.
“She spent a lot of time with people in the carriage,” said her husband, “and she did her best to help them”.
At one point she left the scene, but returned to continue to support the injured.
In addition, Mr Richards said “she had a real go at people taking photographs”, something which she spoke about at the inquest that followed.
During those proceedings, Lady Justice Hallet praised Dr Quaghebeur, saying she behaved with “great courage, determination and humanity”.
Yet, according to her husband, the incident was not something she ever fully recovered from.
Following her retirement she joined the Wootton Parish Council, serving as chair, and was a trustee of the village’s community centre.
At the council meeting on Tuesday, councillor Laurence Brockliss paid tribute to her “level of interest” and the “detail” she brought to the role.
For the final 15 years of her life she had multiple sclerosis and for three years she battled breast cancer.
She spoke six languages and was a lifelong Liverpool fan, visiting Anfield for the first time this year.
“I was very glad I was married to her,” said Mr Richards.
