FAMILY and friends gathered to say farewell to a sports stalwart and accomplished accountant from Greenock who was knighted and touched the lives of many in the local community.

Tributes were paid after Sir Robin Duthie, who was honorary president of Greenock Cricket Club and held a number of high profile business roles, passed away earlier this month at the age of 93.

His son, Peter, described his father as a proud Greenockian who loved his family and was always ready to offer advice.

He said: "My dad never forgot his roots and had no time for anyone who thought they were better than others simply because of an accident of birth.

"He may have ruffled feathers occasionally, but it actually meant he was comfortable in anyone's company.

"Dad won much respect and made many friends in business as a result.

"As they say, you can take the boy out of Greenock, but you can't take Greenock out of the boy."

Sir Robin was born in Greenock on October 2 in 1928 and grew up in a small one-bedroom flat on Campbell Street with his parents and sister.

While his education was primarily at Greenock Academy, Sir Robin spent a short spell at Rothesay Academy when he was evacuated to the Isle of Bute during the second world war.

Upon leaving school in 1946, he joined accountancy firm Thomson, Jackson, Gourlay and Taylor as an apprentice accountant.

Sir Robin's apprenticeship with the firm was interrupted by National Service, but after he was demobilised in 1949 he returned to the firm.

This period was also when Sir Robin met his wife, Noel, while at Kilchattan Bay on holiday.

Upon meeting Noel, Sir Robin told a friend that he had just met the woman he was going to marry and, true to his word, the pair were wed on April 5 1955.

They would go on to have three children - David, Peter and Susan - as well as six grandchildren and a great grandson.

He qualified as a chartered accountant in December 1951, after many months studying and attending evening classes.

The following year Sir Robin joined camping equipment makers Blacks of Greenock, where he would spend the next three decades of his career.

In 1962, just ten years after joining Blacks, he rose to the rank of of managing director and then, another decade later, was appointed the company's chairman.

Sir Robin oversaw Blacks' dramatic growth from a tent making business that employed around 200 staff into an international business with over 4,000 employees.

This considerable achievement did not go unnoticed and he took on several major roles within the Scottish business sector.

He took on the role of chairman of the Clydeport Authority between 1978 and 1981 and was chairman of the Scottish Development Agency from 1979 to 1988 before being made chairman of Britoil from 1988 to 1990.

His business achievements were recognised first with a CBE in 1978 and then with a knighthood in 1987.

His son Peter said that while Sir Robin benefitted financially from his work, it was being able to provide for his family and charities that really gave him joy.

He said: "His success brought some financial reward, but the greatest pleasure that this gave him was the capacity to be able to support his family, friends and good causes when it was needed.

"This was usually done discreetly and seeking no recognition.

"He also made sure that his children and grandchildren understood his and mum's values - and was delighted to see those embraced."

Outside of business, Sir Robin was also a keen cricketer and captained Greenock Cricket Club in 1960 and 1961.

In 1961, he scored four successive half-centuries in the Western Union, a feat never bettered in the club's competitive history and at a time when runs in the Union were hard-earned.

He was elected honorary president of the club in December 2018.

In addition to cricket, Sir Robin also enjoyed rugby, curling and snooker, as well as being an avid golfer who played well into his later years.