The wife of the Conservative former cabinet minister Owen Paterson has been found dead near their family home. In a statement, Paterson said the loss of his wife, Rose, 63, had come as a “terrible shock” to the family. “It is with great sadness that I must inform you that my wife, Rose, has been found dead at our family home in Shropshire,” he said. “Rose and I were married for 40 happy years. She was a wonderful, caring wife, mother and grandmother. “Her death has come as a terrible shock to us all. I would ask the media to respect the privacy of myself and my family at this extremely difficult time.” West Mercia police said the death was being treated as “unexplained” but it was not thought any third party was involved. They said her body was discovered in woodland near her home. Rose Paterson, the daughter of the fourth Viscount Ridley, was the chair of Aintree racecourse. The couple married in 1980 and had two sons and a daughter. Downing Street said Boris Johnson had offered his condolences to Paterson and his family. A spokesman said: “The prime minister heard the news this morning and has written to Owen. His thoughts and every sympathy are with Owen, his children and grandchildren at this difficult time.”