Tributes have been paid to a man whose body was discovered in the water at The Rye on Tuesday, as he was formally named by coroners.

The man has been identified as 30-year-old Barry John Ward, of Marlow Bottom Road, Marlow by Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court.

Mr Ward was said to have had problems with alcohol before his death and had been living in a studio flat since June, but had previously been sleeping on the streets in Maidenhead and Marlow.

In an interview with Marlow FM in February this year, Mr Ward shared his experience of homelessness and described how he left his family home in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, in March last year due to ‘family problems’ and turned to alcohol to cope.

A spokesman for Marlow Methodist Church, who did not want to be named, told the Bucks Free Press that Mr Ward had been sleeping rough before Marlow Methodist Church and All Saints Church had helped him find somewhere to live.

He said: “He slept rough in All Saints churchyard before he was taken under the wing of the church and Marlow Methodist Church and was supported with money and food.

“He referred to me and a colleague as Bodie and Doyle because we kept him on the straight and narrow and tried to look out for him. He seemed to be making some progress.

“He had some medical problems, terrible back pains and poor eyesight, which made things very difficult for him.

“It is fair to say we were all very saddened by it all when we heard the news. Everyone from the church who knew Barry is very sad but not entirely surprised.

“I could describe him as a very troubled man who found life very tough. He found it very difficult to find where he fit in life.

“It is important to remember this was a person who still had a family who cared about him and who he cared about. He had hoped to go home to East Anglia one day to be with them again.”

Bucks Free Press:

Barry Ward

Speaking on the Marlow FM show, Mr Ward, who had studied at college for a catering qualification, had told of his fear that he wouldn’t survive on the streets, especially in winter.

He said: “Most nights I would think am I going to wake up tomorrow morning because of the weather?

“In a year I would like to have a roof over my head and back in work, maybe back in the catering trade. I want to sort my life out and get out of this situation.”

An inquest into the cause of Mr Ward’s death was opened yesterday by Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court and adjourned to a date that is yet to be confirmed.

Did you know Barry? Leave your tributes below or email stephanie.wareham@london.newsquest.co.uk.