NCA CASE 06-023868 / DYFED POWYS POLICE
A woman's body was found washed ashore on Traeth Gwyn Beach in Ceredigion on October 23rd 1974. The woman was white, 5'6" (168cm) tall, and of medium build. She was fully dressed and had no visible scars, though her feet were calloused. Consultant pathologist Dr William Beasley determined she had likely been in the water between one and three weeks; forensic tests showed no presence of poison and that there was a strong possibility the cause of death was drowning.
The body was clothed in underwear including a vest with a 38"-40" bust, a 40C Playtex bra, and brown tights. She had a blue round neck sweater, paired with a red short-sleeved slip over jumper, and a pair of trousers. On her feet the woman was wearing a pair of 'Rustlers' brand pigskin lace-ups in a size 6. These were made in Poland and had surgical insoles. At the inquest it was suggested she may have walked with a limp.
Around her neck the woman had a 30 inch white pebbled chain link necklace, described at the inquest as most probably a Catholic rosary. She was buried at the RC Church in Aberystwyth on December 19th 1974.
(Placrug Cemetery, grave 798, plot 13 unconsecrated - ref number #453)
I couldn't find much about the Rustlers brand, but there were a few pairs of shoes listed on ebay. Here's an example of their logo from a pair of brown lace-ups:
In terms of newspaper coverage, October saw a flurry of reports on a body washed up on Llandudno beach, quickly identified as Miss Gwendoline Croxall from Smethwick - her death was ruled a suicide at an inquest in November. By contrast this poor lady, whoever she was, doesn't seem to have attracted the same kind of press attention.
The Daily Post for Thursday 19th December 1974 did report on the inquest however:
Mystery of Body on Beach
The identity of a well built woman washed up at New Quay on October 23 still remains a mystery, an Aberystwyth inquest heard yesterday. Detective Constable Barry Jones said extensive police inquiries had been made to try and identity the woman who he described as 5ft 6ins tall, with dark hair, who was in her 30s.
Her size six lace-up pig-skin shoes were fitted with surgical insoles which, with other physical characteristics suggested that she might possibly have walked with a limp. Around her neck was a 30in white pebbled chain link necklace, probably a Catholic rosary. During the week before her body was found, strong north-north westerly gales prevailed.
Dr. William Beasley, a consultant pathologist, said the woman had probably been in the water for up to three weeks. Forensic tests showed no presence of poisons, but there was a strong possibility that the cause of death was drowning. An open verdict was recorded by the Coroner, Mr Reginald Edwards. The woman will be buried today following a service at the RC Church, Aberystwyth.
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