A family man tragically took his own life after being made redundant by a golf club due to the financial impact of the Covid pandemic, an inquest heard.

Greenkeeper Dave Everett worked at Lyme Regis Golf Club for 33 years, but lost his job after being laid off because of the 'severe financial hardship' with the club's costs 'exceeding income'.

A coroner heard how Mr Everett's family said he was left 'completely broken' when he lost his job at the golf club, in Timber Hill.

The inquest heard that he was one of five greenkeepers employed at the club - which was founded in 1893, and described as one of the finest in the south west of England - and that he had once been the head greenkeeper.

His widow Julie told the inquest in Taunton that the club's committee members said it was suffering 'severe financial hardship with costs exceeding income' due to Covid and 'needed a radical overhaul to reduce costs'.

She said Mr Everett was offered a 'financial exit' and members wrongly thought he had taken early retirement.

She said one of the five greenkeepers had to go and the others had financial commitments with mortgages or children.

Mr Everett, 61, of Chard, offered to work a couple of hours a week on a basic wage but was told the club could not even afford that.

Mrs said: "He did not want to leave the place he loved."

She said that he was left in tears when he went back to the club and found it had spent money when it said it was broke and had employed a new member of the greenkeepers' team.

She added: "He felt broken. He had worked most of his life at the golf club and it had destroyed him."

His son Scott said: "He put his heart and soul into Lyme Regis Golf Club."

He added that he 'was loved by everyone, had a fantastic network of friends' and 'that job was everything' to him.

Mr Everett was found in woods near Staple Hill car park at Neroche, near Chard, one morning in October this year by walkers.

The senior Somerset coroner Tony Williams recorded a suicide conclusion.

'Well respected member of staff'

After the hearing, Chairman of Lyme Regis Golf Club John Coley said: "David was a well-respected member of the green staff who served the club loyally over 33 years, much of this time as head greenkeeper.

"During this time he built a committed and reliable team and to his credit two of the team are still with us after 25 years.

"He led on a number of large projects: the redesign and build of the new course lay out; installation of the new irrigation system; narrow banding of the worst draining greens and the renovation of all course bunkers.

"He was well aware of budget constraints, was mindful and proactive about costs and built good relationships with several treasurers."

Manager Arthur Daines added: "His leaving was a very hard decision for the club to make when faced with the uncertainties of Covid and every effort was made to manage his departure appropriately.

"The membership overwhelmingly elected him an honorary member of the club in recognition of his great service and were all delighted to learn he later secured a position at Taunton and Pickeridge GC.

"Subsequently we were equally devastated at the news of his sad passing and everyone at the club offers their condolences to his family. The club has lost a great servant and we shall be recognising him with a permanent memorial on the course."