A long-standing Strathaven greengrocer who "would do anything for anyone" and was a well-kent face in the town has died.
James McGuire passed away peacefully aged 76 at home last week with his family by his side after a battle with esophageal cancer.
He leaves behind wife Margaret, daughter Catherine and son James.
Their other son, John, sadly passed away in June 2020 in an accident.
James also has three grandchildren, Seamus, Olivia and Rebecca, who he adored spending days off with, and is survived by three sisters and three of four brothers.
He was brought up in Burnbank in Hamilton with the McGuire family having run fruit and veg shops in the town and elsewhere in Lanarkshire for nearly 50 years.
As well as the shop in Strathaven, which he ran for 25 years with wife Margaret also working there, he had a shop in East Kilbride Village for a number of years.
Although James, from Hamilton, closed this several years ago to concentrate on the Strathaven business.
Daughter, Catherine, who owns the Bully Inn in Hamilton, led tributes to popular James:
She told Lanarkshire Live : "My dad absolutely loved working in the shop and the people of Strathaven. Mum helped out too but she took early retirement. Dad, however, just loved working.
"He only shut the shop two years ago due to having chemo for the cancer and everything that was happening with Covid.
"Dad just loved being around people and having a good chat with them. He would also do anything to help anyone out.
"It wasn't the first time that mum would go looking for something, like a couple of chairs, only to find out that dad had given them away to someone who was struggling.
"There was always lots of people in the shop and while they came for the great produce dad had, I'm pretty sure a lot of them were just there for a chat too.
"He also used to give apples and alike out to the children passing, he was just such a kind soul. He had time for everyone and they for him."
And away from work, James' other pride and joy was his beloved grandchildren.
"He took the grandchildren out every Sunday on his day off, whether it was swimming or going to the shops, when they were younger. He just adored spending time with them, " Catherine went on.
"Having spent 40 years going to the fruit market, he also used to love going there to meet all his friends and enjoyed a stroll around the West End of Glasgow.
"He also enjoyed buying and selling cars and shopping in his spare time and he loved going to Perth and Blairgowrie with the family as he had fond memories of going there himself as a boy and picking strawberries as part of the family business.
"And he used to help me in the Bully Inn too, tidying up after closing time."
Catherine added: "My mum and the rest of the family would like to thank everyone for all their kind words. Dad was so well-liked and would have been absolutely chuffed to bits that people thought so highly of him and had such nice things to say."
Avondale Councillor, Margaret Cooper, said: "James was a well-respected greengrocer for over twenty years in Strathaven.
"He always had a word for customers and passers-by. His shop was in a prominent corner position on the corner of the Common Green and as in days gone by his produce stood outside the shop giving a bright, colourful and attractive display.
"When the shop finally closed its doors it was a loss to the town. James’s passing is a sad moment for his family and my thoughts are with them."
Good friend, Kevin Armstrong, said: "On behalf of all the staff at Café Q chip shop, we are all saddened by the news of this great man's passing.
"I have known James ever since I have worked in Strathaven. He was a kind and thoughtful man and always liked a laugh with his customers and had time for all of them. I will always remember this great man."
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