Ian,
or ‘Bonnie' as he was known at school,
was not only a class mate but one of a small number like
ourselves who took jobs in
London after leaving school. The two of us plus Michael Clegg and
Ian took the smoky steam train from Fleet to Waterloo each morning in an equally
smoky carriage. We would be joined by Barry James of
flying off the third floor
balcony fame) at Farnborough Main along with another whose name eludes us. We
would often catch the 5:09 train home and occasionally cadge a ride on the footplate. (Not me!)All four of us had moved house from the Pyestock and Minley Estates in Cove (Farnborough) during our time at FGS, Lin to King's Road in Fleet and the remaining three to Church Crookham where Ian met, or at least knew, his future wife.
Three of us worked in the insurance industry, Ian at the Royal Exchange opposite the Bank of England and remained in the same business until retirement. (Lin and Malcolm were Men from the Prudential in Holborn.
Malcolm drifted away from insurance to work for the G.P.O. and very different working hours and a flat in London ensured he never saw Ian again. Lin went his separate way a year or two later and this notice must necessarily end prematurely,
Ian sadly died in May 2024 just short of his 81st birthday. He was living in Falmouth with his wife Moraig and leaves two children.