A GREENOCK man battling terminal lung disease has written a series of poignant love songs to his soulmate who died tragically a year ago.

Grieving Hugh Jackson, who suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, was left devastated by the sudden death of his partner of 46 years George McCrorey.

Former hospital driver George, who had rheumatoid arthritis, was sent to Inverclyde Royal because he was out of breath - and died two weeks later.

Retired engineer Hugh, 72, of Kincaid Court, said: "George walked into Inverclyde Royal with breathlessness and never came back out.

"Within days he was on a ventilator and moved to the RAH in Paisley.

"The consultant spoke to me at the time and I can't remember her words but I knew it was bad.

"Two weeks later he was dead.

"They said he died from pneumonia.

"He was on Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis and he seems to have contracted a lung infection.

"We had gone to his GP because he wasn't feeling well and he was sent to the hospital.

"I spoke my last words to him before we left Inverclyde Royal.

"After that I just sat by his bedside."

In the days and weeks that followed Hugh began to turn to writing to express his grief.

He added: "I had never written any songs before in my life before but we both loved music and dancing.

"I started to wake up in the middle of the night and write down how I was feeling.

"It was a type of therapy for me."

His lifelong partner George died was 62 when he passed away on November 15 last year.

In a moving tribute Hugh asked a singer friend to perform his songs at their favourite venue, the 175 Club in Greenock's Kelly Street

Hugh, who runs the Sunday Club in the 175, looked on as close friends gathered to remember George.

Hugh said: "George loved rock and roll and he just loved to dance.

"It was a special night.

"All those who loved him were there."

Friend Harry Stevenson sang the numbers including rock 'n' roll-inspired 'In the 1-7-5'.

Hugh, who worked in Kincaid's was diagnosed with the incurable lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis six years ago.

At the time he was given only three years to live but continues to fight on.

But he said: "George never knew what my life expectancy was.

"I didn't want to tell him."

Hugh says he wants to thank everyone who attended the tribute night in George's memory.

He said: "Everyone was up dancing and that is what George would have wanted."