Stirling Farmer Syd Kyle, of Redhall Farm, Millhall, passed away recently at the age of 89.

He was born in Springburn, Glasgow, in October 1932, where his father was a coal merchant but also had a piggery storing around 500 pigs.

At the age of five, Syd was evacuated to his grandparents in County Antrim during the Second World War, and did not return to Glasgow until his teens. He had many happy times in Ireland, working the land and spending time with his Irish relations.

On his return, Syd tended to his father's horses at the stables in Springburn and it was there that his love of Clydesdale horses grew. When Syd was nearly fourteen, his dad bought Redhall Farm and announced that Syd had to go to yet another school.

When Syd said 'no', as he had had enough of going to different schools, his dad replied: "Well either that or a pair of Clydesdale Horses". Syd chose the pair of horses and said it was the best time of his life. At hay and harvest time he worked in big squads at the travelling mill around neighbouring farms.

Syd then got married to his beloved wife, Margaret, and had four children and was very much a family man. He doted on his three grandchildren and was proud of the arrival of his first great-grandchild, born in January this year.

Family, friends, work and Redhall made Syd happy. He worked hard at trying to make a success of Redhall and took pride in keeping the farm tidy. Everything had to be done the way he liked it. He was particular in maintaining implements and in particular his Ford 4000 tractor, which he was often seen in the fields with, hay bobbing to his heart's content even up to the ripe old age of 86.

He also delivered feeding and hay all over Scotland in his lorry for local grain merchants.

Latterly, Syd's life was not without his share of heartache. He never really got over losing his wife, Margaret, and more recently suffered the loss of his son and then son-in-law. He survived a mini stroke two years ago and farmer's lung made breathing difficult.

In the end he developed a chest infection and pneumonia – the fight proved too difficult to win this time and he passed away suddenly but peacefully in Forth Valley Hospital clutching a photo of his beloved wife to his heart.

Syd was kind hearted, thoughtful, generous, full of laughter and a true gentleman who will be dearly missed by his family and everyone that knew him.