Tributes paid to businessman Bernard Hunter after his sudden death

Mr Hunter, 62, became ill while visiting a friend close to his Gilmerton home on Wednesday and passed away soon after.

Today, friends, relatives and the football club he worshipped praised the "generous" multi-millionaire who "lived his life on the rev limiter".

The son of a successful scrap merchant, Mr Hunter inherited the family business following his father's premature death in 1971 and later relocated the firm from its Seafield headquarters to Gilmerton. He also expanded into other industries including crane hire and loaning heavy machinery to contractors, swelling his fortune.

A season ticket holder at Hearts, it was Mr Hunter's crane company that helped erect the Wheatfield, Roseburn and Gorgie Stands at Tynecastle in the 1990s.

It was fitting, therefore, that his boyhood heroes posted a eulogy on their website. "Over the years, Bernard was a member of the business club and a sponsor and advertiser with Hearts," it read.

Rory Donaldson, head of sponsorship and advertising at Hearts, said: "I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news this morning. I spoke to Bernard recently to discuss plans for next season and he was excited by the season ahead. He will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

A petrol head in his youth, Mr Hunter was a successful stock car and Formula 3 driver. The highlight of his racing career was a third place finish at the prestigious Formula Atlantic sports car race in the 1980s.

Business took priority over racing in his later life but Mr Hunter never lost his passion for pace.

Despite his wealth and business acumen, friends stress he was a "down-to-earth guy".

Gordon McDougall, chairman of Livingston Football Club, knew Mr Hunter since he was a teenager and said his friend was "larger than life".

"Bernard was a great friend who would do anything to help anyone," he said. "It's great to have known him. For me, it was just so comforting that we met the other week for dinner after a few years where we hadn't seen each other."

Another friend, Bob Jamieson, said: "He had the helicopter and the Ferrari but he was just one of the boys. He enjoyed life to the full and lived it on the rev limiter all the time."

Mr Hunter's business colleague and brother-in-law, Jim Rafferty, described him as a "kind and generous character".

"He did a lot for the community and sponsored Fernieside Boys Club for a number of years. At Christmas time he would supply old people's homes with hampers."

Mr Hunter is survived by four daughters – Lorraine, Lorna, Clare and Jaklyn.