Ian was born in Elgin, Morayshire in North-east Scotland on September 5th 1931. His father James, was a banker in the town and his mother Ann had been a teacher before their marriage. Banking and teaching had become a kind of family tradition so that it was no surprise that his elder brother Hamish followed a career in banking while Ian chose to follow the alternative profession. Educated at Elgin Academy and later at Aberdeen University from which he graduated with an MA (Hons) in Geography, Ian was then required to do National Service which, apart from the first few weeks of basic training was in The Army Education Corps. Postings in Kent both at Maidstone and Gillingham resulted in his introduction to the county which remained his home for the rest of his life, although family links with Scotland remained close, until the death of his parents and brother some time ago now. He taught for a few years in Maidstone before being appointed to the staff of Dartford Technical High School which was later to become Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. Ian stayed there for the remainder of his teaching career as Head of Geography. In this capacity he was responsible for arranging field work and A level students were introduced to a variety of different locations including, of course, Scotland (Perthshire and the Isle of Arran), Pembrokeshire. Snowdonia. Devon and other localities. Ian was also elected as teacher representative on the school's governing body and took an active part in the campaign to preserve the school's identity when the move towards Comprehensive status was at its height. He retired from the staff in 1993. For many years Ian was an assistant leader in Dartford Crusaders when Dr and Mrs Lyon had formed one of the largest Crusader groups in the country. Many people (some not so young now) in the Dartford area have very happy memories of Crusaders and its undoubted influence on the lives of those who attended. Ian was also a long standing member of the congregation at St Michaels and in latter years was a fairly regular attender at the 8.30 service where he sometimes lead the prayers and occasionally did the talk at the communion service. He also assisted at Communion and appreciated the privilege involved in making this kind of contribution to the life of St Michaels. Not having a close family himself he saw the fellowship at St Michaels as a kind of substitute family. On a personal level he felt himself to be an 'adopted' member of the family of Paul and Sally Turner. Paul had been a student at school in Wilmington and the close contact over the years remained very precious, as had the contact with Maurice and June Anderson whose friendship was also precious and had continued since the days of Dartford Crusaders. Both families, the Turners and the Andersons. welcomed Ian as one of themselves and were amongst the most highly valued things in Ian's life in recent years. Other close friends included Dr Philip Wheeler formerly of Nottingham University whom Ian had known since Aberdeen University days. Both had formed the nucleus of a small group who enjoyed annual holidays for many years. Finally Margaret Freed, formerly of Dartford Grammar School for Girls, who shared a common interest in geography over many years. A member of Wilmington Axtane Probus, he appreciated the opportunities it offered for contact with others of a like-minded outlook and he enjoyed many of the walks which were a regular feature of the Probus calendar. The Wilmington Twinning Association was also a source of pleasure for Ian during its lifetime and the friendship established with a number of families in Bray et Lu (and Fourges, a neighbouring village) continued for many years after the demise of the Association. Ian chose to spend his seventieth birthday at Fourges with a group of French and English friends. It certainly enabled him to demonstrate his ability to communicate in French on what was a very happy occasion. Although a Scot by birth and upbringing, Ian spent most of his life in Kent. He felt very much part of the community in Wilmington which had provided him with a home, a career and many real friends, without whose support and affection life would have been so much less rewarding and to whom he owes a debt of gratitude impossible to repay.