Ipswich agent found dead

An Ipswich-based estate agency director is believed to have committed suicide after being found hanging at his home.

Neil Baker, a director of Primedale Residential estate agency, was reportedly discovered hanging in his garage on Sunday by a friend visiting him at his house.

The death is understood not to have been connected to the economic downturn.

John Purcell, chairman of the Primedale Group and Baker's business partner for 30 years, claims that Crown Developments, the subsidiary Baker had had responsibility for, has been operating successfully.

"He [Baker] was, ironically, far from suffering in the economic downturn," says Purcell.

"He saw it as an opportunity and engaged in property purchases at discount prices. He was in his element, and having traded through the last recession I think he felt confident, qualified and upbeat about the opportunities afforded. I couldn't have wished for a more able business partner."

He adds: "But sadly, what he couldn't cope with was his private life. He'd been recently divorced and couldn't see clearly, and it's just very sad.

"He will be sadly missed because he was a driving force in the business."

Baker was also a director of other companies within the Primedale Group, including Orwell Insurance Services, Oncover2day, Nema Properties and PFS Suffolk, the group's financial services arm.

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