A heart-broken family will face their first Christmas without their caring and funny mother after she took her own life in the summer.

Depressed mother-of-three Alison Connick, who had cancer, waved her husband off to work one morning at 8am and 45 minutes later had been hit by a train, an inquest heard on Friday.

Mrs Connick, 51, tucked a note under husband of 23-years Jeremy Connick’s pillow before leaving her home in Clemence Road, Wimbledon in July this year.

She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in April after returning from a walking holiday in the Atlas Mountains with friends and began receiving radiotherapy treatment at the private Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon.

Wimbledon Times:

Alison Connick, right, with her dog Pepper at the Shooting Star Chase charity walk 

Mrs Connick was a keen photographer, fundraiser and founder of the Wimbledon Friends of Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice, for which she took part in a charity dog walk on Wimbledon Common in March.

Coroner Darren Stewart heard Mrs Connick had a history of ‘seasonal’ depression and had been admitted to the Priory Hospital in Roehampton for two weeks, which treats and manages those with mental health problems.

Westminster Coroner’s Court heard consultant psychiatrist Dr Niall Campbell had been very surprised and upset at news of her death on July 21 this year because she had not said she had been intending to commit suicide.

Speaking at the inquest on Friday, Dr Campbell, who had known Mrs Connick for about eight years, said: “She had thoughts about suicide but had no plans.

“She had no intent to do anything and was looking forward to the future.

“I was handed the note that she left below her husband’s pillow before she left home.

“It is very distressing for anyone to read.

“She had a depressive dip and she acted impulsively on the day.”

The coroner heard she was a keen photographer, artist and sculptor and she was dedicated to raising money for charity.

She was diagnosed with early breast cancer in April and started radiotherapy in June this year. On July 21 she was seen in a restricted area of Wimbledon train station and a short time later she was struck by a train, the court heard.

Mrs Connick’s husband Jeremy, who was supported by family members, broke down at the inquest as he described his wife as caring and funny.

“She loved life,” he added.

He expressed concern the hormonal breast cancer treatment drug Letrozole had caused her low mood and was poisoning her.

He said: “My concern was I had noticed a change in her mood.

“I felt the drug was in some way poisoning her or it was the wrong thing for her.

“I asked if the doctor would consider taking her off it.”

The coroner heard from Dr Muireann Kelleher, a consultant oncologist for St George’s NHS Trust and Parkside Hospital, who said she had prescribed the drug and was happy for her to continue on it after extensive consultations with colleagues at the time.

The couple have two daughters and a son aged 19, 17 and 15 years-old.

Coroner Mr Stewart ruled she took her own life whilst the balance of her mind was disturbed.

Anyone affected by issues around suicide can gain confidential advice and support by calling the Samaritans on 08457 909090 or by visiting samaritans.org