His tennis racket is by the front door. I still can't believe he is gone

Father-of-three Yuri Ouvarov was found by the gates of Regent's Park Golf and Tennis School on 13 December.

He had regarded the club as "the love of his life".

His widow Tatiana described how days earlier he had sent out invitations to his daughter Alla's wedding.

Speaking from the family home in Golders Green, Mrs Ouvarov said: "His name was on the invitations. The weddingwas only a quiet celebration. There was no party, no dancing. It was so sad there was not a daddy there for Alla.

"He will never meet his first grandchild when Alla gives birth."

Mr Ouvarov moved to London from St Petersburg in 1991. As well as Alla, 26, he leaves behind Michael, 24, and Maria, 14.

He coached several famous people including nutritionist Gillian McKeith and actress Amanda Holden.

His widow said she was still struggling to come to terms with his death: "I wake up in the middle of the night and think about it and I wake up in the morning and think about it.

"I still cannot believe it. I still think he will come through the door one day and everything will be back to normal. His tennis balls and rackets are still sitting by the front door and his car is still parked in the driveway where he left it. I don't know what to do with them."

She described how her husband sank into depression after the closure of the Regent's Park club. An inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court heard the 53-year-old was "teased" by park officials who gave him hope that the centre would stay open. But last March The Royal Parks agency terminated its 99-year lease.

"Tennis was part of his nature," said Mrs Ouvarov. "He loved it so much. He had a magnetic personality and people loved to be taught by him. For him the loss was a tragedy.

"At first he thought he would get another job but none of the other clubs had vacancies. It was very difficult for him to sit at home while I went to work."

Mrs Ouvarov, who works in a coffee bar in St John's Wood, added: "He worried about how he would support the family. From having so little in Russia he had come to England and achieved more than he could ever have hoped for.

"He was at the top and when the club closed he felt like he'd dropped to the bottom again. We all feel guilty. I never realised he was in such a deep depression. Maybe we should have talked more. I tried to but he blocked himself off.

"I suppose I will be all right, I have three children. But life will never be the same again."