A GLOWING tribute has been paid to a retired Eyemouth fisherman and cherished community stalwart following his death at the age of 84.

William Swanston Grant – known locally as Billy Tiger – was at the heart of life in the Berwickshire fishing village for decades.

An Eyemouth man through and through, he lived his whole life at the town’s 36 Church Street.

Billy died peacefully at Borders General Hospital on Tuesday, September 10.

His was a life well-lived, spending decades as a fisherman before going on to work as a cleaner and caretaker at Torness Power Station.

On his retirement he immersed himself in community life, becoming a much-loved lollipop man at the town’s church crossing, a role that made him known to generations of youngsters.

Billy also served on Eyemouth Community Council for more than 25 years, being its vice chairman for nine years.

One of the main voices supporting the regeneration of Eyemouth Harbour, he also spearheaded the £3.4m redevelopment of Church Street.

Billy’s long-time friend and East Berwickshire councillor James Anderson, former town Provost, has paid a touching homage to his pal’s contribution to community life.

He said: “He was an encyclopaedia of Eyemouth and it didn’t matter where I went in the Borders, everywhere I went, somebody knew Billy. They had either worked with him or met him through being on the community council so long.

“Even the young people walking along Eyemouth High Street, when you would think a man in his eighties would not be spoken to by kids, every teenager and kid stopped and spoke to him – he knew them all as the lollipop man for generations.

“He had a really good relationship with the young folk, he really connected to them.”

A cherished member of the community, Billy was a talented footballer for Eyemouth United in his youth and also took it upon himself to clean up town memorials in recent years.

James added: “Billy would talk for hours. He did everything his own way and everybody knew him.

“He was open, honest and he had a heart of gold and he’s going to be a huge miss to everyone and especially the wee ones because they all loved Billy.”

James was by Billy’s side, alongside family members Gale Coates and Sandra, when he passed away at BGH.

His funeral is to be held on Wednesday, October 2, with burial in Eyemouth Cemetery, followed by tea and sandwiches at the community centre.