Questions surround the death of a "much-loved" volunteer who died alone at his home, with a poignant final diary entry adding to the mystery. 

The body of Simon Meldrum from Station Road, Thetford, was found by police in an upstairs room of his house on the evening of February 20.  

Officers attended following concerns for the 64-year-old's welfare after he had not been seen for a few days. 

An inquest was held at Norfolk Coroner’s Court this week where it was revealed that the medical cause of death could not be ascertained 

In a statement from Mr Meldrum's family, the court heard that he was diagnosed with epilepsy following a car accident in the mid 1980s. 

He underwent brain surgery to improve his condition, but it was unsuccessful. 

The statement added: “His epilepsy remained poorly controlled throughout his life. 

“It led to seizures that often occurred with little warning, and he was frequently admitted to hospital.” 

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Mr Meldrum was also diagnosed with osteoporosis and used a walking stick after fracturing his leg in 2022. He also had some long-running health conditions as a result of having meningitis as a baby. 

His GP confirmed his medical history of epilepsy, osteoporosis, and respiratory failure. 

He kept a day-to-day diary which offered an insight into his life, including the final entry a couple of weeks before his death.  

It read “prepared chicken for my main meal, had a bit of a headache” before his writing trailed off and became undecipherable.  

Norfolk Coroner's CourtNorfolk Coroner's Court (Image: Newsquest)

Area coroner Samantha Goward said: “It was not possible to determine the cause of death at post mortem. 

“In conclusion, his death is unascertained but there was no evidence to suggest any suspicious circumstances”. 

A "VERY KIND" MAN

His siblings paid tribute to him via this newspaper, describing him as “a much-loved brother” who would be “sadly missed by all who knew him”. 

Their statement to the court added: “Simon was independent and tried to live as independently as possible. He was a very private person.

“He was very kind and felt more comfortable helping others.

“He appeared vulnerable due to his epilepsy and frequent seizures, but he wanted to prove he was able to live his life the way he wanted.”  

Mr Meldrum was born in Dereham on July 17, 1959. 

During his lifetime he volunteered for several local charities including Home-Start, Age Concern and Friends of Thetford. 

He was an “experimental cook” and enjoyed buying local produce. He also enjoyed photography, local history, puzzles, newspaper crosswords, listening to Radio 4 and watching television. 

He had a goldfish which he enjoyed caring for and some houseplants. He was well-known in Thetford and had a circle of friends.