FAMILY and friends of Haddington man Gavin Calder have paid tribute to the 65-year-old after he died suddenly last Friday.

Mr Calder, the older brother of Scotland rugby internationalists Jim and Finlay, suffered a suspected heart attack while playing golf in Coldstream last Friday.

The trio of brothers spent their childhoods at Dale House in Haddington, near to the existing entrance of Tesco, and Gavin’s son, Robin, said it was on the fields in which the supermarket currently stands that his father and uncles discovered their love of rugby.

Robin also led the tributes to his late father. He told the Courier: “He will be hugely missed by all his family, his friends and everyone at Stewart’s Melville RFC – he was a real people’s person.”

Mr Calder also said that while his father moved away from Haddington in the early 1970s to study at the University of Aberdeen, he retained a love for the town and his home county.

“We were always back in Haddington a lot to visit our family when we were young and dad had a real connection with East Lothian,” he said.

Stewart’s Melville RFC also paid their respects, with president Colin Rigby calling Mr Calder “Mr Stew Mel”. He added: “No matter what was needing done he was always one of the first to roll up his sleeves and muck in – no job was too lowly for our Gav.

“Ask any player young or old and they can all tell you tales of his friendship and wisdom. Gav was always on hand to provide advice and guidance and mentor players, coaches and colleagues – not just about rugby but in life itself.”

And Mr Rigby paid a personal tribute to Mr Calder, adding: “Gavin, you touched so many people in your short 65 years.

“It was indeed an honour and a privilege knowing you; thank you for being my friend, the world is a poorer place without you.”

He is survived by his wife Moira, children Robin, Laura, Cheryl and Gavin, his brothers and his 10 grandchildren.

No funeral details have yet been confirmed but the family hope it will take place next week, following the conclusion of a post-mortem.