MEMBERS of the public have been invited to pay their respects to the owner of a popular taxi company in Musselburgh who passed away after suffering a heart attack while in his taxi.

Alex Watson, 76, stayed on McNeill Way in Tranent and ran Burgh Taxis in Musselburgh alongside his business partner Enid Grace Kay.

Alex was on a hire when he began suffering chest pains on Monday evening.

The taxi driver pulled over with a customer in the car after experiencing the chest pains before having a heart attack. He later passed away, despite the passenger attempting to give him CPR.

A funeral service will be held for Mr Watson on Tuesday at Seafield Cemetery at 1pm. Members of the public are being invited to pay their respects to him as he is taken to the cemetery from his home at about 12.30pm.

The procession will be followed by the taxi Alex passed away in and will pass through Musselburgh and past Pinkie St Peter's Primary School, which Alex attended as a child.

Alex’s daughter Jackie Edmond, 52, described her dad as a man who always put family first.

She said: "My dad was a grumpy man but he had a heart of gold.

"He always put his family first and he was always close with me and my brother and his grandkids.

"Even though he was grumpy sometimes, he would always look out for us and he was always there for his family. He was definitely a family man."

Alex was married to wife Betty and had two children as well as five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Alex was born in Musselburgh but moved to Tranent with Betty in 1968.

He began running Burgh Taxis in 1991 along with five others.

Jackie said that, despite staying in Tranent, her dad was always a "Musselburgh man", hence wanting his company to be based there.

In the years that followed, he became a well-known figure in the local taxi industry.

Prior to owning the company, Alex worked as a miner.

Jackie said: "The response from people has been lovely. So many people have messaged me to pay their respects and it's clear to see that he was loved in the community.

"He didn't want a big funeral but, given how much of a response we've had from the community, we want to give his customers and friends a chance to say goodbye."

Following his passing, Jackie took to Facebook to thank his passenger at the time for attempting to save his life.

She said: "We just want to say to the person, a big thank you for trying.

"I am really grateful and also thinking about how devastating this will have been for them too.

"We are totally heartbroken."

Musselburgh ward councillor Cher Cassini passed on her condolences to the family.

Mrs Cassini said: “I am very sad to hear that Alex has passed away and my thoughts are with his family at this time.

“I didn’t know Alex personally but I knew of him through the council.

“I will keep his family in my thoughts and prayers, and I pass on my condolences to them during this difficult time.”

Shona McIntosh, fellow Musselburgh ward councillor, said: "I’m very saddened to hear this news and my thoughts are with Alex’s family, colleagues and friends as they come to terms with their sudden loss."

Irene Tait, chair of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council, also passed on her condolences to Alex's family.

Many people commented on Facebook to pass on their condolences to the family.

One person said: "Burgh Taxis are lovely people and Alex will be sadly missed."

Another described Alex as a "nice cheery man who came into my work delivering medication. Thinking of all the family".

While a third commented: "I’m so sorry [to hear] of your dad’s passing. He was lovely with my son, who he took to harmony education. My son was wild but your dad always stayed relaxed and calm with him. Thinking of you and your family."