The widow of Chelsea vice-chairman Matthew Harding, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 1996, has lost her second husband to cancer.

Ruth Harding, reported to be Britain's fourth richest woman, married Richard Gist at their Ditchling mansion in July 1999.

Arsenal fan Mr Gist, 39, a former area manager for child protection group the NSPCC, died on Saturday shortly before the FA Cup Final.

He began with the NSPCC as a child protection officer working in Coventry before rising to the post of area children's services manager.

Ms Harding, a mother of four who is in her 40s, inherited £50 million when her first husband died aged 42 as he returned from watching Chelsea's Coca-Cola Cup defeat at Bolton.

She met Mr Gist at an NSPCC children's centre in Coventry, which had received funding from Mr Harding.

A statement released by solicitors Farrer & Co said: "It would be very much appreciated by his family if they could be left undisturbed by Press inquiries at this time of great sadness for them all."