Verdict of suicide on boxing trainer Francis

The boxing trainer George Francis, who guided Frank Bruno and John Conteh to world titles, hanged himself at home after three family tragedies, an inquest was told yesterday.

The 73-year-old, who started his career as a bare-knuckle fighter in the slums of 1930s north London, had become depressed over the past three years. In 1999 his wife, Joan, died of cancer; two years later, so did his son, Simon. This year, his son-in-law was killed in a car crash in South Africa.

Francis was found dead at his home in Hillway, Highgate, on 4 April this year by a neighbour who had been alerted by Francis's girlfriend, Marie Gallagher.

Ms Gallagher told St Pancras Coroner's Court she had visited Francis at about 1pm because she was worried that he had not responded to her phone calls. "I saw a chair positioned at the bottom of the stairs. There was a note on it reading 'Please don't come upstairs, George'," she said.

Francis had left two other notes stating his intention to take his own life. The coroner, Sean McGovern, recorded a verdict of suicide.