A woman found dead hours after celebrating her first wedding anniversary with her husband was just weeks away from emigrating to a new life in Australia.
Horse riding champion Abigail Garside, 30, was discovered in public gardens in Harrogate, North Yorks, on August 18, the morning after toasting the marriage milestone with husband Samuel at a luxury spa retreat.
The couple had shared joyful pictures on social media at the 300-acre Rudding Park resort just hours before Mrs Garside was discovered three miles away in the centre of the spa town.
Police are treating her death as non-suspicious but the exact circumstances have not yet been publicly disclosed.
The Daily Mail understands that Mrs Garside, an accomplished dressage rider who won at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show, was planning to relocate to Australia with Mr Garside.
The couple had advertised their new-build detached home on the outskirts of Blackburn, Lancs, for rent and had secured visas ahead of a scheduled October move with their three dachshund dogs.
Mrs Garside had told of her excitement on social media, posting a picture on August 1 of the couple in Melbourne, captioned: ‘We’ve been keeping a secret. This is our new future home.’
The same day, Mr Garside posted on Instagram: ‘It’s been a long 6 month process but we are officially Australia bound! Visas approved. House secured. A whole new chapter and adventure begins.’
The couple (pictured) had shared joyful pictures on social media at the 300-acre Rudding Park resort just hours before Mrs Garside’s body was discovered
Abigail Garside (right) was discovered dead in public gardens on August 18, the morning after toasting a marriage milestone with husband Samuel (left) at a luxury spa retreat
The Daily Mail understands that Mrs Garside had been planning on relocating to Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and was looking forward to the ‘new chapter’ (Pictured: Mr Garside’s successful visa application)
A friend of Mrs Garside told the Daily Mail that the couple had been counting down the days to the move.
They said: ‘Both of them were so excited about moving to Australia. They had been back and forth and fell in love with the country.
‘Abbey would talk about it constantly and they were over the moon when Sam secured his work visa. They had their whole future ahead of them.
‘None of us can believe that just a day after celebrating their first wedding anniversary, she’s gone. It’s beyond heartbreaking.’
The couple had visited Harrogate on August 17 to celebrate their wedding at the Crow Wood Hotel and Spa resort in Burnley, Lancs, a year earlier.
Just nine hours before her body was found, Mrs Garside had posted smiling photographs of the couple raising Champagne glasses in a hot tub, writing on Facebook: ‘Lovely day in Harrogate celebrating our first wedding anniversary with my love.’
Mr Garside also posted on Facebook that day, sharing wedding pictures and declaring: ‘1 year since you became my wife!! I love you more and more everyday, happy anniversary.’
Mrs Garside’s body was discovered in gardens in the centre of the spa town shortly after 6.15am the following morning.
Mrs Garside and her husband had posted photos of their lives together on social media including foreign holidays (as seen above). When they wed, she wrote on Facebook: ‘Today I get to marry the man of my dreams’
It came a year on from the couple’s big day (seen above) on August 17, 2024, at the Crow Wood Hotel and Spa resort in Burnley, Lancashire
The couple had toasted their one year marriage anniversary before Mrs Garside was found dead
A friend of Mrs Garside (pictured) told the Daily Mail that the couple had been counting down the days to the move
Mrs Garside (pictured) was found in gardens in the centre of the spa town shortly after 6.15amÂ
Devastated Mr Garside shared the tragic news of his wife’s sudden death. Posting a photo of the loved-up couple taken the previous day, he wrote: ‘My absolute world, my best friend and my beautiful darling wife.
‘I will love you forever and you will never leave my heart xxx.’
There was no answer at the couple’s new build home in Blackburn, bought for £245,000 in 2021.
Mrs Garside’s Porsche, with a personalised registration plate, remained parked in the driveway.
Her heartbroken mother, Anne Gresty, said she was too upset to speak about the tragedy.
She said: ‘I’m sorry, it’s the wrong time. We’re absolutely devastated.’
North Yorkshire Police confirmed a woman’s body had been discovered in the gardens on Montpellier Hill, in the heart of Harrogate, shortly after 6.15am on Monday, August 18.
No arrests have been made.
The day before her body was found, Abbey and her husband Sam were posting on social media about their luxurious time away at the Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate
Mrs Garside (pictured) was well-known in equestrian circles, winning at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show in 2019
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘A cordon including screening was put in place to allow the investigation into the circumstances to take place.
‘At this stage, we do not currently believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.
‘Our thoughts at this time are with the woman’s family.’
An inquest is scheduled to open at North Yorkshire Coroner’s Court on September 11.
It is believed that Mrs Garside was fit and healthy – and last year she climbed the 800m Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District.
The couple, who began dating in 2020, had previously scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
Mrs Garside was well-known in equestrian circles, winning at the Horse of the Year Show in 2019.
Ribble Valley Riding Club, where she had been a member for more than two decades, told of its ‘great sadness’.
Friends of the couple (pictured) have flooded social media with messages of shock and sorrow
‘Abigail was a great supporter & highly valued member for over 20 years.
‘Abigail will be sadly missed by everyone in the horse world thats for sure. Sending all our love to the family at this very sad time.’
The post included a collection of photographs showing her journey through the club.
Mrs Garside’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, with a horse-drawn carriage procession from her home to a nearby church in the village of Feniscowles.
A memorial webpage has asked friends to donate to the mental health charity Mind and the Dog’s Trust, described as ’causes close to her heart’.
A post on the site detailing funeral arrangement said: ‘We would be deeply touched by your presence as we give Abigail the beautiful farewell she deserves.’
Tributes were paid by friends online.Â
Naomi Raph wrote: ‘Our beautiful best friend. You lit up every room with your smile and your laughter.
‘I’m absolutely devastated, our friendship group won’t be the same without you.
‘Love you forever.’
