From the ITV website. Friends of Sergeant Richard Williams said he was a 'generous and caring' former Royal Engineer who dedicated 20 years of his life to serving in the army. One of his close friends criticised housing association staff for not checking in on him sooner, and said he could have been found earlier had they taken swifter action. The friend, who did not want to be named, said: "He was a very generous and caring person, who would travel half way across the country if a friend needed him. He had medical retirement because of illness but doctors never got to the bottom of it. They thought it was Lyme disease or MS, but they never worked it out. I saw him a few weeks ago - it must have been a few days before he died - and he said he was on new medication and was feeling much better. He took my dogs on a two hour walk. Everyone knew he was ill. I think someone should have checked earlier - if only for the woman who lived below him. It's supposed to be warden flats." ? Anonymous friend