School sealed off after body found (From This Is Wiltshire)

School sealed off after body found

9:30am Friday 4th December 2009

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A BODY has been found near a Swindon school for the second time this week.

A 46-year-old man, believed to be local father Joe McHugh, was discovered yesterday morning at 6am in the lane between the Crumpled Horn pub and the Eldene shops, at the bottom of Thorne Road.

Moments after the discovery Swindon CID set up a tent shutting all neighbouring businesses, and a nearby entrance to Eldene Primary School, as shoppers gathered at the scene.

The incident comes only two days after the body of Aaron Vickers, Robbie Williams’ former hairdresser, was discovered by a 16-year-old hanging in a wood near Cassini Drive, Oakhurst.

That incident happened between Oakhurst Primary School and a play park.

Community members yesterday paid tribute to Joe, who is believed to have collapsed at the location at some point during the night before.

“He was a sound bloke that everyone in the community knew and respected,” said Trevor Hersnip, 46, from the Crumpled Horn pub. “He was a good mate of mine and a good friend of a lot of people.

“One of the things I remember the most about him, and is good description of the kind of person he was, was that he loved animals – and they loved him.

“You would never see him without his dog.”

Mr Hersnip said Joe was also a “huge character” in many of Eldene’s neighbouring communities – including Park North and South and Walcot.

A 50-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: “He was one of the friendliest men you could meet, and likewise he had the friendliest Rottweilers I have ever met – its name was Bruno.

“He never came into the pub, he was always content hanging outside with his dog.

“Joe was lovable and gentle kind of guy.

“I was shocked to hear because he is a friend, I wasn’t that stunned that he had passed on.

”I know he comes from a big family, I believe he moved to Swindon from Derry, in Northern Ireland.

“Joe was extremely well respected, no one would ever pick on him or mess with him, he was far too lovable for that kind of thing.”

Toni Folds, 46, from Parks, said Joe’s stepson used to be best friends with her child.

She said: “He had a heart of gold, I will remember him fondly.”

DC James Newbery, of Swindon CID, said the police, who allowed the shops to open at about 8am, were not treating the death as suspicious.

He said: “They are tragic circumstances whenever a family loses someone. It’s very sad that this man had to pass out in the street.”

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