From Susan Matthews
Memories of Ian
My earliest memory dates back to Jean and Ian's wedding day in 1968, and specifically to Ian's bridegroom speech. He thanked a long list of people, of course, then added 'special thanks to Brenda, whose astuteness brought us together'. I thought it was a lovely sentiment, beautifully expressed, and for some reason it has stuck with me. Every time I hear 'astuteness' I think of Ian! Other memories of him have all followed a similar pattern over the years: conversations have been short and sweet! Whether in their first home near Birmingham (we used to call in on our way south) or decades later when they were back in Wigan, I had only brief glimpses of Ian. Jean and I would be sitting chatting, a head would appear at the door and a beaming, twinkly smile would greet us. Then of course he would disappear, back to his pottering, usually in the garden. When Ian opened his nursery off Miry Lane it seemed a perfect late career move for him. I do remember having 'proper' conversations with him there and I'm regularly reminded of him when I look at the ground cover bits in my garden. I'm glad to say that I do have fairly recent memories of Ian too. When we were on holiday near Blenheim, about twenty minutes away from Chinnor, we visited Jean and Ian and spent a few happy hours chatting...... about family, the garden, tales of Wigan old and new, and mainly of course about Latics. I don't think Ian would be too chuffed with them at the moment!
Our memories of Ian during that visit were of a lovely man, coping so well in difficult circumstances and seemingly, always smiling.
From Susan Matthews
Memories of Ian
My earliest memory dates back to Jean and Ian's wedding day in 1968, and specifically to Ian's bridegroom speech. He thanked a long list of people, of course, then added 'special thanks to Brenda, whose astuteness brought us together'. I thought it was a lovely sentiment, beautifully expressed, and for some reason it has stuck with me. Every time I hear 'astuteness' I think of Ian! Other memories of him have all followed a similar pattern over the years: conversations have been short and sweet! Whether in their first home near Birmingham (we used to call in on our way south) or decades later when they were back in Wigan, I had only brief glimpses of Ian. Jean and I would be sitting chatting, a head would appear at the door and a beaming, twinkly smile would greet us. Then of course he would disappear, back to his pottering, usually in the garden. When Ian opened his nursery off Miry Lane it seemed a perfect late career move for him. I do remember having 'proper' conversations with him there and I'm regularly reminded of him when I look at the ground cover bits in my garden. I'm glad to say that I do have fairly recent memories of Ian too. When we were on holiday near Blenheim, about twenty minutes away from Chinnor, we visited Jean and Ian and spent a few happy hours chatting...... about family, the garden, tales of Wigan old and new, and mainly of course about Latics. I don't think Ian would be too chuffed with them at the moment!
Our memories of Ian during that visit were of a lovely man, coping so well in difficult circumstances and seemingly, always smiling.