Inquest reveals Bovingdon man took his own life

A man from Bovingdon was found hanged after failing to turn up to his appointment at Watford General Hospital. Kenneth French, 59, of Old Dean, was found hanged by an officer from Hemel Hempstead after he was alerted by the Watford General Hospital that he failed to show for an appointment. Mr French had been prescribed drugs and anti-depressants after struggling to deal with the break up from his long term partner, losing his business as a self-employed shopkeeper and was struggling financially. The inquest in Hatfield returned a verdict of suicide after the coroner ruled Mr French died from asphyxia by hanging himself with an electric cable. The coroner, Mr Edward Solomons, said: “After studying all the evidence I believe that Kenneth Roy French, of Old Dean, Bovingdon, died from asphyxia by hanging and I return a verdict of suicide.”