A father-of-ten whose son and daughter were both killed by their partners in the past three years was found dead himself outside a shop yesterday morning.

The body of Allan Dill, 58, from Pembroke, was discovered at about 8 a.m. in the doorway of the W.J. Boyle building, which hosts Bermuda Gas and Belco offices, next to Par-la-Ville car park.

Mr. Dill's daughter Ruth Binns, 24, was killed by her boyfriend Arnold Astwood during an argument at her Southampton home in September 2007.

A little less than 12 months before that, Mr. Dill's son Edward (Sleepy) Dill, 35, was stabbed to death by his girlfriend Andrina Smith at her home in Devonshire.

Police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances to Allan Dill's sudden death.

He was a well-known car washer in Hamilton's car parks, often seen without a shirt.

And although he had a home in Pembroke, he usually slept outdoors in the city.

Some friends speculated he may have died from a heart attack, but Police said the medical reason for his death was so far unknown.

Officers cordoned off a 30-yard section of the narrow road off Church Street, between Par-la-Ville car park and the W.J. Boyle building, yesterday morning.

Mr. Dill was pronounced dead by an on-call doctor at 9.20 a.m., with his tearful family arriving shortly after.

Last night, family members paid tribute to Mr. Dill and spoke of their dismay at the third death to rock the Dills in three years.

Allyn Binns, who used to help her father wash cars, told The Royal Gazette: "I'm surprised. I never considered this could happen to my daddy. I never thought it possible. I thought he could outlive us all.

"He was warm, funny and brutally honest. Far from perfect, but the best man I knew and the man I loved most in my life."

Daughter Alea Dill said: "He was somebody to hang out with, a friend and a best friend. He was someone I could talk to. I'm the daughter that's the most like him."

And Wendi Francis said: "I just loved being with him, taking his stories.

"He would just tell you the truth; you had to take it or leave it."

During the afternoon, friends gathered in City Hall car park where they paid tribute to Mr. Dill as a larger than life character.

Denton Parris, who washed cars with him for the past two years and described himself as Mr. Dill's cousin, said: "I was shocked, really shocked. I was coming to town on the bus.

"His trolley, which he always used to push, was by the gas station. Then I saw the Police and his family and I thought: 'No, not Allan'.

"Allan Dill was a good guy, kind and pleasant. He got along with everybody. He's going to be missed sadly.

"Me and him used to team up together. We would compete to see how many cars we would get in a week."

Mr. Parris said Mr. Dill had been hit hard by the deaths of his son and daughter.

Andre Simmons, who knew the victim since he worked with him in the construction industry as a teenager, said: "Allan Dill had a lot of friends. Allan Dill was loved by a lot of people.

"He was a guy who wanted for nothing and needed even less."

June Caisey-Dill, whose husband was a cousin of Mr. Dill, works in Kit 'n' Caboodle in the Bermudiana Arcade, yards from where his body was found by Corporation of Hamilton workers.

Explaining Mr. Dill would often pop in for a cup of coffee and some banter, she said: "He was a lovable character. He was just large. You knew he was around when he was around – his presence was loud and lovable.

"He had that aura, a kind of radiation; you didn't have to see him to know he was there."

Her colleague Andrea Franklin said: "He would come in and ask for a soda or bag of chips – he was irritating, but in a nice way. He called me 'wifey' to get my attention. He thought he was a bit of a ladies' man."

Ms Binns' body was discovered by her sister the morning after she had a violent row with Astwood.

Astwood is awaiting sentence after admitting manslaughter, with his lawyer claiming the argument sparked a swelling in Ms Binns' neck, causing her fatal breathing difficulties.

Smith was jailed for eight years last March for the manslaughter of 'Sleepy' after admitting that she fatally wounded him in the neck in what she claimed was self-defence.