TRIBUTES have poured in for a much-loved mum, former Telegraph photographer and popular school classroom assistant who has sadly died following a short illness.

Sheenagh Cameron, who was 60, passed away after suddenly taking unwell last month, leaving her loved ones and large circle of friends and colleagues heartbroken.

Sheenagh, from Gourock, became unwell unexpectedly and she passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by her family.

She was married to her soulmate Jonty for more than 30 years and was a very proud mum of daughter Rebecca and son Lewis and adored sister of Moira and Jan, sister-in-law to Graham and George and auntie to her many nieces and nephews.

Sheenagh touched the lives of many people and her sunny nature endeared her to everyone who met her.

She worked latterly at Lady Alice Primary School in Greenock, where she was a firm favourite with staff and pupils alike.

Her family say they are taking life an hour at a time following their tragic loss and have been comforted by an outpouring of support.

Paying tribute to her mum, Rebecca, 30, a primary teacher and talented singer, said: "Mum was so kind - she didn't have one bad bone in her body.

"She treated everyone the same and made them feel special.

"She didn't change for anyone and was a fiercely loyal person who would do anything for you.

"My mum had a great sense of humour too.

"I don't think she realised how many people's lives she touched.

"Since she passed I have met so many people in the street who are as equally as heartbroken as we are."

Sheenagh was an integral part of the Telegraph team for many years and her sense of fun, smile and infectious laugh made newsroom colleagues instant friends.

Her easy-going manner and patience made her the natural choice to cover the annual TeleTots competition, photographing hundreds of babies in the Oak Mall each year.

Jonty said: "Sheenagh loved children, especially babies and toddlers.

"She was a people person and loved chatting to folk, especially visiting care homes and listening to all the residents' stories.

"She was living her life right up to the last minute."

The last few weeks have been very traumatic for all the family as they try to come to terms with the sudden loss of someone special.

Rebecca said: "I was in London and when I came back mum was already in hospital.

"When I left she was at home but I never saw her at home again.

"I still can't believe she's not here.

"The grief comes in waves, you can be doing something simple and then you think 'has this really happened?'"

Jonty says the whole family have been a tower of strength for each other in the weeks since Sheenagh's passing.

He said: "We are extremely lucky to have a close family.

"We would have been totally devastated without each other."

Lady Alice Primary head teacher Gail Connick said Sheenagh would be missed by everyone at the school 'in so many ways'.

Mrs Connick added: “Not only was she warm, funny and treasured by her colleagues, making her a pleasure to work with, she also had the wonderful qualities of loving and seeing the best in all of our children.

“Sheenagh was genuinely adored by our children and looked up to as a colleague and friend.

“We will continue to hold Sheenagh dear to us at Lady Alice and be inspired to reflect her best qualities in our work with the children.”

Sheenagh was born to Jean and Alec McGovern and began her life in Brown Street, Port Glasgow, over the Plaza Cinema.

She was the youngest sibling in her family and when her older sisters went into teaching she didn't follow suit, finding her own niche in photography.

After leaving school, she settled into work at the photographer's in Union Street initially known as Hall's, and then Burniston's.

During that time she did her college course and training alongside good friend and long-time colleague, Telegraph photographer George Munro.

She loved her work and pursued it for 30 years, twenty of them closely associated with the Telegraph.

Sheenagh's funeral was packed as family and friends joined together to pay their respects at St John's Episcopal Church and her loved ones have been overwhelmed with messages of condolence.

More than £1,700 was raised for care-experienced children in her memory.

Jonty, 62, who works at Cigna, said: "I was receiving messages from people I hadn't heard from for 30 years and some cards from people I didn't even know but who knew Sheenagh."

Rebecca says that remembering her mum's strength of character is helping her through this sad time.

She said: "My mum was such a strong person, she would say what's happened has happened, there is nothing you can do about it and I want you all to live your lives to the full."

The Cameron family would like to thank all the staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, saying they could not have done any more for Sheenagh.

They would also like to highlight the work of the charity Meningitis Now - www.meningitisnow.org - which carries out research and provides support and awareness.