By Cheryl Wood

A FORMER Royal Navy serviceman died after his car left the road and hit a tree in north-east Fife on Friday night.

Robert Open (56), of Largoward, lost control of his vehicle on a bend shortly before midnight on the A915 St Andrews to Largoward road, between the Higham Toll junction and Johnny Paul’s corner.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was involved in the accident.

Mr Open, known as Bob, had married twice and had two daughters, Poppy (16) and Sarah-Jayne (25), and three grown-up stepchildren, Paul, Lucy and Bryn Beveridge.

He latterly worked as a freelance IT consultant.

His second wife Shirley Open, from whom he was divorced, described him as a popular, multi-skilled and intelligent man.

Stepson Bryn (29) said, “He was always willing to lend a hand and was very generous with his time.

“He would always help people out.”

His family, who live at Cairnie, near Colinsburgh, said he was a keen yachtsman, shot, sub-aqua diver and motor cyclist, and spent much of his free time on his boat in the Highlands.

Born in Cardiff, Mr Open joined the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in Yeovil in 1970. His service took him around the world for a year, on what was to be the last voyage of HMS Eagle.

After moving to Scotland, where had earlier had a posting to Arbroath, he set up financial services company Spring Hill, now Abbey Spring Hill, in Glenrothes.

He had been an IT consultant for 10 years and had moved from Cairnie to Largoward six years ago.

The road was closed for around three hours after the incident as police conducted investigations.

Police have appealed for any witnesses who may have seen the accident or who saw Mr Open’s blue L-registered Proton car in St Andrews or on the A915 beforehand to contact them.

A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal in Cupar.