A CHINEHAM pensioner, who served in the Royal Air Force for 25 years, was found dead next to a double-barrel shotgun, an inquest heard. 

Charles Wright, of Maynards Wood, died on June 12, last year, at the bus shelter in Reading Road.

An inquest into his death, on Tuesday, May 14, at Winchester Coroners' Court, heard that Mr Wright, 86, was a 'good bloke' and that his death came as a 'total shock' to his family. 

His son Peter Wright said: “We got on well. He was stable and we spoke about everything. He loved his time in the RAF, it was in his blood.”

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The inquest heard that Mr Wright had been struggling with health conditions including back pain and chronic kidney disease.

The hearing was told that Mr Wright also had a firearms licence. 

Peter Wright said: “This was a total, total shock. He was in pain and he was struggling. Losing his driving licence was devastating to him. He was rational and a genuine, honest bloke.”

A post mortem was carried out by consultant pathologist Dr Bineeta Foria which found the cause of death to be a traumatic brain injury caused by a gunshot. 

Area coroner Jason Pegg gave a cause of death as suicide. He said: “His anxiety in relation to his health conditions contributed to his death.”

The coroner gave his condolences to the family and said: “I have no doubt he was a good bloke.”