TRIBUTES have been paid to a grandfather who died suddenly after collapsing at work.

Bob Mould is thought to have suffered a heart attack while on a platform on a cement silo at the Cemex Readymix plant in St Mary’s, Southampton.

The plant was closed for two days as staff paid their respects to their long-serving colleague.

Today his family are remembering Bob, born and bred in Southampton, for his passion for his family and work – and also for his beloved Saints. As a teenager Bob played for Southampton Boys but a knee injury put paid to his footballing ambitions.

His widow Jenny, 64, from Bitterne, recalled Bob’s deep fondness for his city’s team. She said that had Bob lived to Saturday he would have been overjoyed to see his team’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool FC.

Jenny said: “He loved his football and would be over the moon. He is probably up there and got them all working.”

Jenny and Bob married in 1968. They had two children, Joanne, 38 and Justin, 42.

Jenny said Bob loved to spend time with his grandchildren, Luke and Megan, hunting for crabs on the beach or organising a family barbecue.

He had returned to work as a concrete batcher at the Cemex plant opposite St Mary’s Stadium as soon as he could following a spell of illness.

Paying tribute, Bob’s boss and Cemex area manager for Hampshire, Dave Edwards, said: “He was totally dedicated to his job and went that extra mile for the company. He was very conscientious and hardworking, a key member of the team.”

Last night the Health and Safety Executive said they were not investigating the incident.