A GUITAR LEGEND and member of a well-known band has sadly passed away at the age of 73.

Ronnie Lessels was a member of the Dunfermline band, The Falcons, and has been described by his bandmate as “one of the finest guitarists”.

Trevor Forster told the Press: “I first knew him when he was 17 and we got him to break his apprenticeship as an electrician, we were turning pro.

“We were pro for two and a half years travelling all around the country so that’s when we first knew Ronnie.”

Over the years, Ronnie also joined other bands before returning to The Falcons. Just in May they performed at a Sinkys Jam reunion night.

Trevor added: “I knew Ronnie very, very, well, probably better than anyone apart from his wife.

“All these years of playing, it was great. He was totally dedicated to what he did, a perfectionist.

“I can remember rehearsing one number for three solid weeks, and he said it’s not working, so we dropped it!

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“One of the finest guitarists I have ever worked with, absolutely brilliant.”

Ronnie had pulmonary fibrosis and had polyps in his lungs. He also had a problem with his kidneys, but had undergone a successful kidney transplant back in 2015.

A routine scan showed that the polyps had halved, but there was fluid in Ronnie’s lung. He later developed a kidney infection and passed away peacefully at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, on Friday, October 11.

“We were really close, I’d go so far as to say my best friend and when you are playing in a band, you don’t have many friends, you have acquaintances, loads of them, but you don’t have a regular friend, but Ronnie was.

“We did other things together, him and his wife, and me and my wife.” Trevor added.

Ronnie leaves behind his wife Anne and his two daughters Carrie and Jhody. He was also a much-loved papa.

Trevor commented: “He was a real family man, he doted on his daughters.”

There will be a retiring collection for Victoria Hospital Renal Unit for those who wish to donate.

Trevor said: “In the end we were all old but still enjoying what we did, and I’m going to hopefully enjoy it again as still going ahead with the Sinkys reunion in December, treat the whole thing as a tribute to Ronnie.

“It was a great band and very well known, and Ronnie had so many admirers because he was such a good guitarist.”

Ronnie’s funeral service was held at The Glen Pavilion on Monday, October 28 at 12.30pm. This was followed by an interment at Dunfermline Cemetery at 1.30pm.