Kentish Express Ashford & District
Postman took his own life, inquest hears
A postman and popular footballer took his own life after discovering his wife had cheated on him, an inquest was told.
Andy Hone was found hanging at his home in Kingsnorth by his wife Susan on April 29 this year after learning she had been unfaithful.
Just days before the 43-year-old father-of-two had been to visit his GP, who described him as “tearful and very distressed”.
The GP’s statement was read out in court. It stated: “He found out his wife had been unfaithful. He was devastated, angry and emotional. He felt life was not worth living.
“He said he liked his job but he had recent stress at work. He said he had suicidal thoughts but thinking of his daughters would stop him doing anything.”
But then he took his own life, recording a suicide note on his Nokia mobile phone alongside a sign saying “please play me”.
Assistant coroner Christine Freedman recorded a verdict of suicide at the inquest held in Folkestone yesterday (Wednesday).
The news of his death shocked his family, friends, work colleagues at Royal Mail and teammates and players in the Ashford and District Sunday League.
He had attended the North School in Ashford during the 1980s before joining Royal Mail when he was 17 in 1990.
He joined as a postal cadet, and was presented with a special award as Postal Cadet of the Year in his time working at the delivery office in Tannery Lane.
Most recently he served the community in Hothfield, where villagers have described him as a very dedicated postie, who was friendly and would go beyond his normal duties to help others.
The father-of-two was also a keen sportsman and was a stalwart of Ashford Dynamo FC where he made more than 1,200 appearances, including as part of the Royal Blues’ successful promotion to the First Division.
At the time, Dynamo club secretary Ted Revell said: “Some local players are a little bit average, but not Andy.
“He showed over many, many years that his level didn’t drop. It is such a great loss, and he will be remembered by everyone.”
He was also an integral part of the Shadoxhurst side which won the Division Four League and Cup double in 2008.