Retired film director shot himself dead, inquest is told

Widower William Young, 82 - a talented artist who lived alone with a menagerie of animals including alpacas, donkeys, ducks and dogs - had lost interest in life after spending six weeks in hospital with bladder problems, the inquest was told yesterday, Tuesday.

On February 8 this year, Mr Young’s gardener and general helper Sharon Hill arrived at his isolated home in Middle Lypiatt, near Stroud, to find he had shot himself in the head with a single barrelled shotgun.

He left no suicide note but an envelope containing £1,000 in cash was found with the words 'I'm sorry' written on it.

In a statement to the inquest Mrs Hill, who lives nearby, said she arrived at Mr Young’s cottage around 10am and fed the animals before entering the house.

A short while later she went upstairs and found Mr Young dead in his bedroom.

He was in his pyjamas with an open shotgun lying on his body.

She told the inquest Mr Young complained of ‘being tired and feeling down’ after returning home from Cirencester Hospital late last year, having undergone treatment for a urinary tract infection.

His wife Muriel died in 2008 after more than 50 years of marriage.

"He had been very active prior to his hospital admission," said Mrs Hill.

"He was a very talented, clever man - a keen artist. He had been a film director and owned his own company.

"When he got home he seemed very different. He was not the same ‘Bill’ who had gone in."

Pathologist Dr Keith McCarthy said he found Mr Young had a 'severe bladder problem due to some obstruction' that could have had an effect on his state of mind.

An appointment was made for a mental health nurse to visit Mr Young on the day he died but he took his own life before that could happen.

Gloucestershire deputy coroner David Dooley said: "The manner of his death was most final, absolute and extreme, so I can be sure of his settled intent to take his own life."

He recorded a verdict of suicide.