A retired banker is suspected of having taken his own life, Oxford coroner’s court heard.

Mark Nicholls, 72, understood to be the former chairman of investment firm Rathbones, was found dead at Cleeve Lock on the River Thames near Goring on March 24.

Opening an inquest into his death, assistant coroner Joanna Coleman noted that Mr Nicholls was thought to have died ‘having taken his own life’.

The cause of death remained unknown, pending further post-mortem reports.

A full inquest will be held on August 3.

Mr Nicholls, whose profession was given in open court as ‘retired chairman of a finance institution’, lived in Little Wittenham.

In early 2021, it was reported that Mr Nicholls was stepping down from roles with Rathbones and West Bromwich Building Society ‘for personal reasons’.

His long career in banking included stints with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the City of London Investments Trust.

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