AN award-winning gardener who devoted his life to brightening up Inverclyde has tragically died after suffering a fall in the street.

Tributes have flooded in for much-loved horticultural expert Robert Keill, who spent 45 years helping others at Caddlehill Allotments in Greenock.

Family man Robert, who was 82, first took on the plot to spend time with his wife and children.

It sparked a lifelong passion for gardening that would see him win dozens of trophies and medals at shows and become a hugely respected competition judge.

But big-hearted Robert and wife Sheena also gave back, taking their vegetable crops from the plot and handing everything into Ardgowan Hospice every month.

Sadly Robert died after a fall in Jamaica Street and never recovered from his injuries, passing away later in hospital.

Daughter Vivien, who lives in Gourock, said: "It was such a shock and so sudden.

"But he would have hated not being able to get up and go to his garden.

"We all miss him so much.

"Dad will be remembered so fondly by everyone who knew him.

"He was always so helpful, he wanted to help everyone.

"People would come to him and he would give so much good advice."

Vivien described her dad as 'full of fun' and sais he had many hobbies.

She told the Tele: "He loved the outdoors, that is who I take it off of myself.

"We would spend hours as a family in the allotments but before that we would be down at the water."

Robert was born and raised in Greenock, before moving to Gourock's Reservoir Road with his family 30 years ago.

A gymnast and keen scout as a child, he went on to carve out a career for himself with IBM.

He met Sheena and they married in March 1960.

It was while staying in a flat in Cornhaddock Street that he acquired a full plot at Caddlehill so he could take up gardening with the children.

The couple were devoted to their family Vivien, now 60, a civil servant, Robert, 59, an engineer who stays in Miami, and Valerie, 56, who recently retired from her role as a cook at Ardgowan Primary.

Loving couple Robert and Sheena celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary on March 30 2020 just days after the whole country went into the first lockdown.

Sheena said: "We had a party planned to celebrate but it had to be cancelled.

"It was such a shame but we still made the most of it."

Grieving Sheena, who is aged 82 and is also recovering from a fall, said: "We always said that the secret to a happy marriage was a bit of give and take and an argument once a day.

"I will miss that daily argument so much.

"We are such a close family and we are all helping each other.

"When Robert had to give up his allotment I gave him a part of my garden to grow his plants and vegetables.

"Robert loved his gardening, I think he was most proud of his leeks and onions and his begonias."

When Robert was forced to give up his plot a year before lockdown due to failing health, the kind couple continued to buy fruit and vegetables and hand them into the hospice.

During lockdown they spent their days tending their beautiful garden in Reservoir Road.

There have been lots of tributes to Robert, with hundreds of mourners at his funeral, where donations were in aid of the hospice.

There was a floral tribute at the Kilmacolm Horticultural Show, where he would normally be a judge.

Tele gardening correspondent and friend George Irvine said: "Robert was a lovely man and he will be greatly missed by us all."