A FORMER Winchester City Councillor who did “lots for the community” died after a fall, an inquest heard.

Bruce Warland, 79, lived with his wife at their Benenden Green home in Alresford for many years.

On June 30, he fell down the stairs of the property and was taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.

Over one month later on August 3, he was pronounced dead. A post mortem report by consultant pathologist Dr Adnan Al Badri states the cause of death as severe pneumonia.

Speaking at the inquest in Winchester, his daughter Julia Hibbert said: “Dad was a very well educated man, he didn’t attend uni but studied on the Open University and had a degree in marine engineering.

“He met mum whilst working out at sea for Shell on an oil tanker, but left when mum had my brother Mark as he didn’t want to be away at sea any more. He was very much a family man.

“He was always very supportive, very caring and did lots for the community as a parish councillor and later a city councillor.”

During his retirement Mr Warland, who has seven grandchildren, volunteered at a local primary school to support pupils with their mathematics.

In 2016, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“He was very mobile in his old age, but did have dementia,” continued Mrs Hibbert. “He didn’t want to acknowledge his memory issues, but mum and I pushed for him to get a diagnosis.”

Area coroner Jason Pegg concluded the inquest as an accidental death.

He said: “I have no doubt whatsoever that you, the family, have some very fond memories with Mr Warland.