Her increasingly desperate search for Jamie Gordon, 30, the man with whom she had hoped to start a family, was beamed around the world last weekend.

Yesterday her worst fears were realised when she learnt that her boyfriend of seven years was on board the diverted No 30 bus that was blown apart in Tavistock Square, Central London, shortly before 10am last Thursday.

Mr Gordon and his fellow passenger, Philip Russell, 28, were named yesterday as the second and third confirmed victims of the terrorist attacks.

The families of two other passengers who died on the bus requested that their names should not be made public until the inquest into their deaths opens at St Pancras Coroner’s Court today.

A statement put out by Ms Nash, 30, and Mr Gordon’s family read: “Jamie was a kind, caring person who always put other people first. His great sense of humour and personable nature put him centre stage with family and friends.

“He loved life — but didn’t take it too seriously. He was very much in love with Yvonne and finally settling down with plans for a wedding and family.

“Jamie comes from a large and close family, and spent his formative years in Zimbabwe where he developed his love for horseriding and tennis. Jamie enjoyed many family ski holidays, and was an accomplished guitar player and singer.

“Jamie touched many people’s lives and the response to this tragedy is overwhelming.”

On a normal day Mr Gordon, who lived in Enfield, would have taken a different route to work but he and Ms Nash had stayed at a friend’s house the night before after a colleague’s leaving party.

Mr Gordon was last heard of at 9.42am on Thursday when he telephoned workmates at City Assets Management in Old Street to say that he was catching the bus.

His mobile phone was found amid the wreckage of the No 30 bus. Thirteen people died in the blast but until yesterday Ms Nash and Mr Gordon’s family had clung to the faint hope that he had somehow survived.

Thea Gray, a close friend of Ms Nash, said: “At least we know now. It’s the not knowing that’s the true nightmare.”

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