Police at The Nabb, St Georges, Telford, after the body of John Corbett was discovered on December 21 last year.

A neighbour and close friend of retired Shropshire lorry driver Ted Corbett today spoke of her shock when he knocked on her door and told her he had killed his brother.

John Corbett, 77, was found by police dead in bed at the Telford home he had shared for 50 years with brother Ted. Minutes earlier, on December 21 last year, Ted, 66, had knocked on Carol Meeson’s door to confess what he had done.

Mrs Meeson, a part-time cleaner, today described that moment and said: “I opened the door and Ted was standing there. He thrust this envelope into my hands, put his arms around me and kissed me.

“He said ‘Kiss me goodbye Carol, you will never see me again. I have killed my brother and I intend to kill myself’.

“On that he didn’t look at me or anything, he just took off up the drive.

“I suddenly realised he meant what he said and I called after him and told him to come back. But he said ‘I can’t Carol, I can’t do it any more’ and with that he was gone.”

Mrs Meeson said she had known the two brothers for almost 50 years and said they would do anything to help anyone.

Other neighbours on the street today paid warm tributes to the two men and said they were very much part of the community.

Celia Hughes lived across the road from the Corbetts and often took meals over for the two men.

She said they would always return the plates clean.

“I knew something was wrong the day before,” she said.

“They have a key to my house and they used to let themselves in and turn the lights on and shut the curtains if they knew I was going to be out of the house. I was out late that night but when I got back they hadn’t done it, which was most unlike them.

“It’s a terrible shame and it came as a great shock to us all. They were an important part of this community and well-liked by everyone who knew them.”

Another neighbour, Roger Albert, said: “Their house was always absolutely spotless, they took great pride in it.

“They were a great team, Ted was the housekeeper, he ruled the roost and made all the decisions, and John was the gardener who loved his fishing.”

By Wayne Beese

Ted Corbett’s letter to neighbour Carol Meeson

Dear Carol,

The position I find myself in is intolerable.

It’s not how John and myself see life. What I have done is what he wanted.

My love for my brother may be hard for others to understand but that is their problem.

Put John safe (follow will). I say goodbye to my friends, Cel and Roger etc.

John’s mental breakdown has wrecked our plans for growing old together.

I am sorry this might look wrong but our future now is pointless.

Carol, I trust you to do the right thing. I have put things in good order.

Don’t let the water system in the house and the central heating freeze.

Yours

Ted