He was a much loved friend and my childhood idle. My children can thank him for my love of folk music and my frequent attempts to torture them, both singing and playing it lol.
When he lived in the small village of Moore near Warrington he was a keen rugby player, along with my dad in the Moore vets team. Not the biggest of men he was frequently knocked around like a ragdoll, and almost as frequently carted off on a stretcher.
But his story's, his voice, and his singing is what I will always remember best for all.
He and his wife organised a Folk festival in Moore, I don't remember how many years it ran but I loved it so much. And poor old Ian had to put up with my incessant pestering all day and night long. "Please sing Hooks and Nets! Please sing Hooks and Nets!"
He made my childhood all the more wonderful, and called me his number one fan. Maybe he did that with a lot of children but he made me feel special.
A great light has gone from the world and I feel it's a little darker now he is gone. But we will always have the memories and the music. Long may it live on.