Mother aged 38 dies days after having twins

Published on Wednesday 14 May 2008 22:14

A HIGH-FLYING city businesswoman who gave up work to spend more time with her young family has died two days after giving birth to twins.

Wendy Anderson, 38, died in hospital in Edinburgh on Wednesday last week, following the birth of her son Alexander and daughter Mackenzie.

Mrs Anderson leaves behind her husband, Ken, and three other children, Jock and Hamish McMillan and Una.

Her death and the announcement of the birth of the twins appeared on the same day in The Scotsman yesterday.

It is believed there were complications and Mrs Anderson suffered an aneurysm and died in intensive care at the Western General Hospital.

Mr Anderson, who lives in Stockbridge, said she would be "hugely missed by her family, friends and colleagues, all of whose lives were enriched by her many wonderful qualities".

Mrs Anderson moved to Edinburgh in 2002 to work for investment company Martin Currie after five years as head of global energy research at investment bank Lehman Brothers in London.

At the time, she said she was leaving London after 12 years to achieve a better work-life balance and that she had negotiated with her new employers for two afternoons off a week to be with her children.

"There's a real sense of work hard, play hard here. But in London, the work hard takes over too much. It's just a lot more sensible up here," she said.

"It's very competitive down there, it's dog eat dog. We came up here because we wanted a different work-life balance.

"I was a bit nervous about leaving London, but it's been a lot better than I hoped."

In December 2005, Mrs Anderson decided to leave work and become a full-time mother.

Mr Anderson said yesterday: "This has been a hugely distressing and difficult time for all the family and we are greatly saddened by Wendy's passing.

"I want the children, as much as possible, to live ordinary lives despite what has happened."

Mr Anderson is a director of production company Red Kite in Edinburgh and won a Bafta in the mid-1990s.

Neighbours were still in shock, but a friend, said: "I saw Wendy the other week and she was looking well. She was looking forward to having the twins. She was really excited. She was such a lovely person."

Last night, Andy Sowerby, managing director at Martin Currie, paid tribute to Mrs Anderson. He said: "We were devastated when we heard the news.

"Wendy was a senior director at Martin Currie and she left in December 2005 to dedicate her time to her family. She was a valued employee and a trusted and respected friend. All our thoughts are with her family."