Douglas Gilbert the well-known boss of a construction firm and brother of Aberdeen Asset Management chief executive Martin, has died after falling ill while on holiday in Tenerife.

Douglas Gilbert, 56, the boss of Riverside Construction, passed away suddenly while abroad with his wife Yvonne on the island on Tuesday.

Mr Gilbert, who has one grown up son and lived at Peterculter in Aberdeenshire, had recently bought a property on the Canary isle and was looking forward to playing more golf.

Martin Gilbert said: “We will all sorely miss Douglas. His loss was very sudden while he was abroad on holiday in Tenerife, having recently bought a property there.

“He was a business man, running his construction company, but above all he was a family man. A great father, husband, son, uncle and brother.”

Mr Gilbert, whose firm sponsors the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, added: “We shared a love of golf. It was one of his main pastimes away from work. He was a member at Royal Aberdeen and Deeside and he was very proud of his low, single-figure handicap. In fact, he had already joined a golf club out in Tenerife.

“This has had a huge impact on us all as he was such a big part of our lives. He has left us far too early and he will be very much missed.”

Brian Russell, Douglas Gilbert’s business partner of 20 years, said: “I really appreciate everything he did for me personally and all the work he put into Riverside Construction. From a personal point of view he was a colleague and a friend.

“The whole company is devastated. He was a family man. Our thoughts go out to them.”