A FORMER bodyguard who protected celebrity superstars has broken stereotypes to follow his passion.

With his burly bearded frame and armful of tattoos, music legends including Bob Dylan looked to be in safe hands with Littlemore resident Kyle Rix.

But the 29-year-old unclenched his fists and softened his stance to embrace his love of gardening, and has since been made head gardener at Lincoln College.

He said: "Being a gardener is not just a job - it's much more. It's a state of mind. You have to have a passion to make it work.

"Gardening is a continuous cycle of hard work, knowledge, and growth. Each season is different and every season has a purpose.

"You really are working with the grain of nature and this roots you as an individual in a way no other profession does."

Mr Rix left school at 16 after deciding he was not cut out for full-time education, and worked in the private security industry for 11 years.

As well as manning the doors at music venues he also chaperoned musicians including Björk and Iron Maiden.

But last year he pursued greener pastures and joined Abingdon & Witney College to study a work-based learning horticulture course, taking up a placement at Oxford University's Lincoln College.

He said: "I recommend the land-based courses that Abingdon & Witney run to friends all the time. It's a phenomenal place to learn, especially the attentive way the courses are taught to apprentices.

"The support from staff is fantastic too – I owe a lot to my tutor Anita Appleby in particular."

He is nearing the end of the course but hopes to continue maintaining lawns and tending to flowers rather than making a return to celebrities' sides.