The family of Clive Wyard have described him as “a man who helped everyone he could and wanted nothing in return.”
The family of an Ipswich grandfather found collapsed outside his home are desperate to know what happened to him – as new CCTV footage emerged of his last movements.
Clive Wyard, a retired dock worker, was discovered on his driveway in Valley Road by passers-by up to seven hours after he left an Ipswich pub in July.
The 74-year-old left the Royal George after a game of darts with friends between 11.30pm on Thursday, July 19, and 12.20am the next day. He was found with significant injuries – including two black eyes, a large orbital fracture to his skull and a split cleft lip – and later died in hospital.
Details surrounding what happened to Mr Wyard remain unclear, and police say they are keeping an open mind about what happened to him.
Four weeks on, detectives have issued an updated appeal with CCTV footage capturing his last movements before he was found collapsed.
Today, his family are issuing an urgent appeal for people to come forward with information.
His younger daughter, Jackie Garnham, 41, said: “Even if you didn’t see him, if you didn’t think it was relevant, the slightest bit of information could be really big.
“All his friends from school, for the docks, from his time as a soldier, they all say the same thing – he would help anyone he can.”
Born in 1944, Mr Wyard attended Landseer Road School and joined the Royal Engineers as part of the national service.
He located and disposed of land mines in Bahrain and Jordan and eventually left the force in 1974, before working at Felixstowe docks for 39 years before his retirement. Mr Wyard visited the Royal George to see friends every Thursday for the pub quiz and darts.
According to relatives, he regularly walked to Valley Road after the pub closed – leaving his children at a loss to what was different this time.
His elder daughter Jo Wyard, 45, said: “The last thing he said to his friends as he left the pub was: ‘I love you guys’.
“He was the kind of man that told you he loved you.”
Detective Chief Inspector Marie James added: “We continue to keep an open mind as to what may have taken place and are appealing to anyone who believes they saw Mr Wyard walking along Colchester Road or Valley Road, between 12.15am and 7.15am on Friday, July 20, to contact us.”
Anyone with information should call the Major Investigation Team on 101 quoting Operation Rufforth.
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