Graeme Bell, 44, died following an incident close to Renton railway station, on Monday, July 7.

The businessman and former DJ was a well-known and respected figure and, alongside business partner Joseph White, founded the White Bell Group.

Starting with nightclub Word Up in nearby Greenock, the business would eventually expand to include bars and clubs as far afield as Manchester and Gran Canaria.

He left the business a few years ago but retained a close connection to the area and people connected with Word Up.

Last week, many of those people paid tribute to a popular friend and colleague who had a ‘heart of gold’.

Gill MacLachlan, White Bell Group operations director from 2005 to 2014, said: “It’s nice when strangers become friends but sad when friends become strangers — so we won’t cry that you have gone only smile that you were here.” Greenock DJ and promoter Andrew ‘McD’ McDermid worked closely with Graeme and says he will be sorely missed.

He said: “A whirling dervish of a man with a heart of gold. The world will be a duller place without him.” Graeme started off as a DJ when he was just 14, performing under the name ‘The GB Experience’.

His entrepreneurial instinct came to the forefront in 1994 when he transformed a restaurant and bar into what is now Word Up.

Friends say he understood the importance of music policy — separating each of the nightspot’s three halls into a specific genre of music — leading to a varied mix of ages and tastes visiting the club. He also brought big names in the music industry to the club, including Mani from the Stone Roses.

Graeme was also said to be influential in putting on big name DJs like Judge Jules, Ferry Corsten and Tall Paul in venues throughout Scotland.

Fellow DJ Raymond Elliott said: “Being from a DJ background he understood the needs and wants of both clubber and staff members.

“His vision of the multi-scene club came from his travels around the country and even influences from abroad, giving the people of Greenock a variety of music genres under one roof.

“He should also be remembered for his promoting work, putting on big name DJs like Judge Jules, Ferry Corsten and Tall Paul in various clubs all over the country.

“He will always be remembered for always being on the go. A sad loss to the industry.” Word Up DJ Mark Brysland, aka Slim Boy Slim, added: “Graeme was in the background for a lot of cool things — he was willing to pay for guest DJs for the good of the club, for example Mani from Stone Roses’ first ever DJ slot was in the back room.”