Tributes paid to murdered Eastbourne woman

Jackie Hoadley was found with serious injuries at her semi-detached family home in Broad Oak Close after a visitor raised the alarm at 2pm on Sunday. After police and paramedics rushed to the house, Mrs Hoadley, a popular disability rights campaigner, was declared dead at the scene.

A murder investigation has been launched by the Sussex and Surrey major crime squad and a 62-year-old man was arrested at Chailey Heritage, a special school near Lewes, on Sunday.

Mrs Hoadley was the mother of two severely disabled children.

A spokesperson at Chailey said, “We are very sad to confirm that Jackie was the mother of two young people at Chailey Heritage Foundation. Our whole community is deeply saddened by the tragic situation and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and Jackie’s friends at this time. We would like to pay tribute to Jackie as a devoted and caring mother and a committed campaigner for the rights of disabled children. She was well-known by many of the parents at Chailey Heritage and she will be sorely missed by so many people.”

Carole Oram, a parent governor and a friend of Jackie’s, said, “Jackie was an ‘institution’. She gave so much to so many people and she fought for what was right for our disabled children. We are all devastated. Our main priority now is to support Jackie’s two children and the staff who work closely with them at this incredibly difficult time.”

Superintendent Katy Woolford said, “This has obviously been a tremendous shock for those living in and around this close community and I would like to thank them for their patience and forbearance while our investigation team continue their work.”

A man remains in police custody in connection with the murder.