A small Buckinghamshire community is grieving the loss of a widely adored local publican, who was killed in a stabbing attack at a German train station while traveling abroad over the weekend.
Thirty-one-year-old Rebecca Bullock, the popular manager of The White Swan pub in Whitchurch, was assaulted at Rosenheim Station just before 1 a.m. local time on Sunday. Emergency services rushed her to a nearby hospital following the incident, but she could not be saved and was pronounced dead a short time later.
Local law enforcement in Bavaria confirmed that a 27-year-old German man with no fixed permanent address was taken into custody at the scene immediately after the attack. He has since been detained in a psychiatric hospital as authorities investigate on suspicion of murder.
In an emotional Facebook post shared over the weekend, the team at The White Swan broke the news of Bullock’s death to the local community. “We are so deeply sorry to say that our beloved Becca passed away over the weekend whilst away on holiday,” the statement read. “Becca was much-loved by all of the team at the White Swan and our amazing regulars.”
Following the devastating announcement, the pub chose to close its doors starting Monday as staff and regulars processed the loss. The pub’s landlords confirmed that it would reopen at 3 p.m. on the following day, noting that reopening aligns with what they believe Bullock would have wanted. Heartbroken customers and community members have since left floral tributes outside the pub to honor Bullock’s memory.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office told the BBC that British consular staff are already providing full support to Bullock’s family as they navigate the tragedy, and remain in close coordination with German local authorities working on the case.
Beyond her work at The White Swan, Bullock was an passionate and dedicated recreational runner with deep ties to local running communities. After recovering from three major spinal operations, she completed the 2022 London Marathon to raise funds for the Spinal Injuries Association, a charity based in nearby Milton Keynes that supports people living with spinal cord injuries.
She was also a committed member of Thame Runners, a running club based in Oxfordshire. The club released a statement following Bullock’s death expressing profound sorrow over the loss of their teammate. “In July, she and her clubmates were part of the winning women’s team at the Waddesdon 5K in Buckinghamshire,” the club shared. “She will be remembered with great affection by the many members who knew her, ran alongside her and shared in her love of running.”