SHE was the love of his life and he could not live without her.

Retired heating engineer Graham Preece struggled to cope after the death of his beloved wife Angie.

And in June this year – 14 months after his wife died of cancer – the 74-year-old was found hanged at his home.

Below his body police found a broken picture frame containing a photo of his wife.

Also in the house in Milner Court, Shirley , officers discovered a shrine Mr Preece had created using photographs of Angie.

An inquest into his death heard how his wife discovered she was suffering from the advanced stages of the cancer after being admitted to hospital following a fall.

She died just a few days later.

Following that, the inquest heard, Mr Preece had told his doctor he wanted to drink himself to death and had been treated for depression.

The court also heard that he had told his extended family how he wanted to die.

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict that Mr Preece took his own life.

On the Christmas Eve before his death, Mr Preece published a tribute to his wife in the Daily Echo .

It read: “Angie my darling, another festive season, Christmas, and we will not be sharing this together or our wedding anniversary in mid- January.

“I love and miss you so much, darling.

“I will love you forever and never ever forget you. It has been a privilege and an honour to be your husband. I have always loved you and always will.

“As always, darling, goodnight, God bless and may God be with you.

“Darling, I love you so much. Your loving husband, Graham.”

It was just one of a number of touching tributes he left to his wife following her death.