Can you imagine this......

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I didn't notice dead bruv

By JAMIE PYATT

[The Sun 5th Feb 2004]

STUNNED Bert Silver told yesterday how his brother lay dead in a room at their caravan home for 18 months — without him noticing.

Hard-of-hearing Bert, 72, admitted he thought there was “something a bit odd” when 75-year-old George failed to emerge.

But he added: “George liked to keep himself to himself, and to be honest so do I.”

He finally discovered the grim truth on Monday after “plucking up the courage” to enter his brother’s bedroom.

He said: “He looked a bit skeletal and I called the police. I haven’t been told what he died from.”

Bert, of Blissford, Hants, went on: “I don’t know why it took me so long to find him.

“I’m not at his beck and call, you know. I’m not his keeper. There was no smell or anything.

“One morning George just didn’t get up and if he wanted to stay in bed all day then he could.

“I thought that there may have been something wrong when he didn’t appear.





Passed away ... George Silver


“But I admit that I didn’t go into his room for a few hours, a few days ... well quite a while actually, which was a bit naughty.

“A doctor came out and assessed me. I asked if I was bonkers but he said I wasn’t.”

Bert and George — neither of whom married — moved from Bexlyheath, Kent, into the three-bed mobile home with sister Dorothy after they retired in 1992. Dorothy has since died.

Police called to the caravan by Bert said they found just a skeleton.

George and his brother rarely ventured out. Bert said he spent his time watching a 38ins TV.

Neighbour Eva Simpson, in her 60s, said: “The police asked when I last saw George.

“I racked my memory and said I hadn’t seen him for a while. They told me he had been dead for quite a while. I was shocked”.

A post mortem proved inconclusive. An inquest will be held in Southampton in two weeks.

Age Concern said: “If you don’t see a neighbour you should check on them.”