‘Kindest’ Eastbourne librarian found dead at home

A librarian was found dead in his Eastbourne home.
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Peter Allen was described as the ‘kindest man’ at a public inquest into his death on Thursday (August 27).

“I will always remember what a wonderful man he truly was,” said his daughter Catherine Knowlden in a statement.

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“My dad was the kindest man. He was always supportive and encouraging towards me.”

Ms Knowlden said he was a ‘gentle soul’ who liked to keep himself to himself.

He was happiest hiking over the Downs and painting, she said, and she called him an ‘amazing artist and great reader’.

The 78-year-old was found dead in his home in Finmere Road on June 2 this year.

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He lived there alone, and police were alerted after a neighbour raised concerns as she had not seen him in two weeks.

Detective Sergeant Nick Green ruled out any third party involvement.

Sadly the body was too decomposed for the pathologist to ascertain a cause of death, the inquest heard.

Mr Allen’s GP of 20 years Peter Williams agreed with the coroner that he had died of natural causes, most likely heart disease.

Dr Williams said, “He exercised more enthusiastically than anyone I’d ever known, he walked up to 20 miles a day.”

Coroner Alan Craze recorded a conclusion Mr Allen had died of natural causes.