A heartbroken restaurateur whose husband died suddenly has been overwhelmed with the words of comfort and sympathy from wellwishers.

A memorial will be held this evening for Sergejs Sergejenkovs-Telford from Gillingham who died earlier this month.

He ran Nucleus Arts with his husband, Aaron Sergejenkovs-Telford, having met in Rochester Coffee Company in the High Street 14 years ago.

Paying tribute to him earlier this month Mr Sergejenkovs-Telford described his partner as “the light and love of my life”.

This evening, a heartfelt commemoration service will be held at the Guildhall Museum, where the couple were married, for friends and family from 5pm.

He will then host a gathering at the neighbouring Cafe Nucleus where people are invited to pay their respects to the 37-year-old Latvian-born financial director.

Serg’s body is due to be flown back to his home country on Monday where the Russian Orthodox had booked a burial plot. His funeral will take place the following week.

Aaron, 35, said: “I have had so many cards and flowers. I have chosen a poem for a friend to read.”

The businessman was found by a member of public near Medway Park sports centre.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended along with paramedics who performed CPR to revive him. He was declared dead at 1.55am.

After opening the inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone on Monday, the coroner Sarah Clarke heard that the cause of death was hanging. She adjourned the hearing for a full investigation to be held on July 30, at 2pm.