THE widow of a successful former jockey from Newmarket who died after suffering a head injury have said his family can now move on following the inquest into his death.

Richard Fox, of Skeaping Close, Newmarket, died aged 57 at West Suffolk Hospital on June 28, 2011.

Among his most cherished memories were riding horses for the Queen and - in Trinidad - Bob Marley. At yesterday’s inquest into the death of Mr Fox Coroner Dr Peter Dean gave a narrative verdict, saying he died from complications following a head injury after two falls occurring against a background of epilepsy following a previous spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage.

The inquest heard that the former jockey was taken to West Suffolk Hospital by ambulance following a fall in Iceland in Newmarket on April 30, 2011, where he banged his head on a freezer. But he also suffered a fall after being moved to ward F3, which is believed to have been from his hospital bed.

While pathologist Dr David Rouse felt there had been a significant injury after the second fall, later complications from the first fall could not be taken out of the equation.

A statement on behalf of Mr Fox’s widow, Marie-France Vincent, said: “The death of Mr Richard Fox on June 28, 2011, following two months on a life-support machine was a devastating blow to us as a family and a great loss to all who loved and knew him.

“Richard had a successful career as a jockey spanning more than 20 years before retiring in 1999 after suffering a brain aneurysm. He then enjoyed a successful period as an after-dinner speaker and was once a body double for Rupert Grint in a Harry Potter film.

“Richard lived life to the full and enjoyed a good practical joke. He brought happiness and good humour to those around him and is sadly missed.

“It has been over a year since Richard’s death, and we are relieved now the coroner has determined the cause of death we can, as a family, draw a line under this matter and move on.”