Michael Clough was found dead on July 10 in a small wooded area opposite his home in Surlingham — a place he often wandered to sit and reflect, Norfolk Coroner’s Court was told.

A neighbour raised the alarm after they discovered his body while clearing out garden waste in the village near Norwich.

The 77-year-old, who was born in the city on April 11, 1948, had lived a largely independent life.

A bachelor and retired builder, he was known locally for his love of pheasant and clay shooting, a pastime he had been forced to abandon due to health problems.

His brother, Bernard Clough, said the loss of that passion had left him increasingly isolated.

Norfolk Coroner's Court in Norwich (Image: Denise Bradley)

Bernard, who attended the inquest at County Hall earlier this month, told the court that he had visited his brother the day before his death and initially........

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