Not only did many people know Ian but most of those that did felt a great deal for him. You can read some of these here. Included are some messages that came from around the world on the mail list that Ian started "Sambistas". Even those who never met him were touched by his energy and efforts to unite people from diverse backgrounds. Others are from friends who have known him in other ways.
From: Louise Milne <l.milne-at-eca.ac.uk>
I met Ian at the end of 1978, near York, at the house of his old friend and my new friend, Sue Wiseman (it was good to see you at the funeral, Sue. I know how much of a shock this must have been). It was the dead of winter, the country was covered with snow, & I was breaking my journey north on the way home for Christmas. I was intrigued by this peculiar character, a few years older than us. His face, which never really changed over the twenty years that I knew him, a young Puck, with a terrifyingly blithe disregard for the rules and conventions of everyday life. I met him often over the next few years at Cambridge, because he was friends with Nick and Dave Cavalla, and Sue. It wasn't until I moved to America, however, that we became friends. At this time, in the mid-80's, Ian's job with Spider took him to the States fairly often.
Massachussetts, under Dukakis, had a thriving Silicon Valley beyond the ring road. Ian would show up at our house in Central Square, sometimes after calling from Logan, but the first time with no warning at all. Due to late planes and a snow emergency (it was once more mid- winter), he arrived at 24 Fisk Place at 4 in the morning. Fortunately all the lights were on & he could see Jay Dunn cutting up film at the bay window on the ground floor. He knew immediately that he had come to the right house. My flatmates loved Ian - when Doug met him again in Edinburgh years later, they recognised each other at once, and went off on a long spin of reminiscences about trying to see punk & indie bands in Boston. Somehow, although you could see twelve bands a night in the city at that time, there was never anything really good on when Ian happened to be in town (the timing of his arrivals may have had something to do with this). But we made up for the absence of live music by running endless late-night record sessions in the living room, where the merits and demerits of every band anyone had ever heard of would be gloriously discussed - and of course illustrated by the born DJ's amongst us, notably Ian. One of his most characteristic openers was surely "Listen to this." "This" could be anything from King Sunny Ade to bootleg Clash or Dead Kennedys, or some weird world music stuff from the far corners of the earth, most of which he had visited. Dave & others will be able to tell more about their adventures at WOMAD, and the Notting Hill Carnival, at which he was a regular for many years.
Once Ian had arrived & was supposed to be joining us for Chinese New Year at my friend Jan's house in Newton. But he had to rendezvous with a friend first, a huge guy from New Hampshire, long hair, Maths interests (? can't remember his name, a good guy though, met him several times). This man had just driven down from the White Mountains in a pickup truck - no small feat in the middle of January in New England. Anyway, they left the truck at Fisk, because no one was driving, the snow was too thick to see. It was, in fact, approaching blizzard conditions. It seems that neither of them looked at a map, which would have told them that Newton was a good fifteen or twenty miles away from Cambridge, although they did know that it was in the South West. After walking for about an hour, of course, over totally deserted streets, they began to get cold. Ian was wearing, I think, that ancient herringbone tweed coat. The first thing to do, clearly, was find a liquor store, to get some booze for the party. This they achieved. However, after walking for another hour, in a general southwestern direction, and having illegally crossed the Mass pike (this is a three-lane highway. OK, there were no cars that night) they realised that they were even colder, and also hopelessly lost. The solution for this was obvious: they managed to open the bottles by some ingenious ploy to do with Ian's hotel key (unfortunately bent during this operation into an unusable form, but still), downed all the wine in short order, and stumbled on, still turning blue but much happier, into the darkening night..... They never made it to that party (unsurprising; we realised later that he had left the piece of paper with the address etc behind at the house), but they discovered eventually a bar which was open, and also celebrating Chinese New Year. They had a great time.
I'll add more some time soon, but this is maybe a good place to stop. Ian, you are so missed, dammit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "John Hicks" <jwjhix-at-cogsci.ed.ac.uk>Ian usually lived life on the edge, and it was he who practically single handedly turned the small pockets of the gringo-samba world into an international community under the internet. The internet iteslef, incedentally, has a great debt to Ian for his instrumental role in the early development of TCP/IP and related technologies. I am sure that we would all welcome a longer message about this man's life, at least I encourage people with memories of Ian to share them here on his mailing list.
DAmmIt Ian, we are really going to miss you
john
Edinburgh
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Rosie Bell" <RosieMBell-at-aol.com>The fanzine I write for, Full Moon, which covers the music scene in Edinburgh, did a short piece on Ian. Address:- http://www.bidean.demon.co.uk/IanHeavens/IanHeavens.html Best wishes Rosie Bell
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "David de Hilster" <hilster-at-gte.net>
It is certainly a shock. I never met him in person although we were miles apart only a month or two ago here in Los Angeles but never hooked up. Our sympathies from everyone here at SambaLa'. I would like to put a dedication to Ian on the World-Wide Website.
It would be nice if those close to him could write their thoughts and send them to me to put on a webpage.
Also, does anyone have a photo of Ian they could send me to include on the page. I think it only fitting that the world know what he did for samba on the internet.
It is very sad. Let's keep his legacy of the sambistas list and samba internet web alive.
Again, our condolences to his family and friends.
Ian made this all possible for us and was truly "one of a kind".
-David de Hilster
Los Angeles
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm very sorry to know about Ian...
Peace,
Kátia Moraes
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Donna Miller <md-at-nyic.com>
I've just read the news and I am very saddened to hear of Ian Heavens' passing. I first encountered Mr. Heavens five years ago when I searched the Internet for samba info to inform and broaden my nascent samba hobby. I was, and have continued to be delighted by the mail on this list, and by the exploits of Bloco Vomit--a truly inspired and fanciful idea if there ever
was one!
I didn't know Ian Heavens but I just loved weird-family feeling of the Bloco Vomit crew as described and depicted on their website, and the idea that all of this activity was bound up with music, fun and a sense of near and far community. I was looking forward to the time when BV would play in the States, when we yanquis could see and hear them live.
In these past few years, it's been so great to see that BV has recorded two CD's, been on TV, gone on tour at home, in Europe and in the birthplace of samba as well. To me, this is a great example of what true popular music can be and do---Being of and from the ground--self-generated, full of energy, fun, guts and wit. In the age of mega-entertainment by "professional" entertainers, Bloco Vomit and community samba groups such as those that network on this list are more important than ever. I just wish I could have met Heavens and shaken his hand and told him this. I'm writing now as a stranger to express it to sambistas, the Heavens family and
friends, here.
What a great light and fun person he must have been.
Donna Miller
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Marvin Philippi <marvin.philippi-at-svm.rivm.nl>
I was deeply shocked and felt unbelieve when I heard about Ian's death. Just a few months ago he was in Amsterdam and we had made plans to meet. Due to illness of one of his children and crossing e-mails we failed to meet. I first met him in Amsterdam during the annual celebration of the queen's birthday in a band organised by the late Steve Kitson. I didn't know his name, but when I posted my first message to the sambistas list, we soon discovered that we had been talking and playing together all day. The next year it was a pleasure to meet him again and listen to his stories. Although we had only met once it was like meeting an old friend because he was so easy to get along with. It's a great loss that he's gone. My deepest sympathy goes to his family.
Marvin Philippi
Netherlands
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <tklm-at-lineone.net>
Ian seemed to live samba to the full, and I'm sure he must have derived great satisfaction from the various projects he was involved in. I met Ian only once, spoke on the phone a couple of times, but his presence has always been strong and I feel a great sadness at his loss.
My sympathies to his family and friends
Mally
UK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "thomas armstrong" <tomarm-at-hotmail com>
Very sorry about the news. I live in Seattle, Wa USA. I saw Bloco Vomit in Rio at the Ballroom. Ian and I exchanged some e-mails. He introduced me to Lenine who is now one of my big inspirations in manguebeat. Although I never met Ian in person, I enjoyed his e-mails and believe he was a great guy. I feel for you who knew him.
-Tom
Seattle, USA
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: harri.engstrand-at-sonera com
I feel like I lost a good friend, altough we've never met. He visited Finland and met some of our samba people here a couple of years ago, but I didn't have the opportunity to meet him then.
Mainly I remember him of being the first ones I've talked samba with by email since the early days of internet samba.
A TRULY GREAT LOSS!
Harri Engstrand
Imperio do Papagaio,
Helsinki Finland
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: simeon <simeon-at-connect.ie>
I am stunned by news of Ian's untimely death - I always knew Ian as one of those people who made things happen for the samba community in a selfless and quiet way - one of those behind the scenes people in many ways. He will surely be missed by those of us who knew him and many others who will never be lucky enough to make his acquaintance. Our thoughts are with his family and close friends....
A terrible waste.
Simeon
Ireland
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Gisanasam-at-aol.com
I cant believe it. I hadn't heard; thanks, John, for letting us know.
This is a big shock for all of my family, who knew Ian and Eileen well; my teenage daughter Anna has been staying with them in Edinburgh for a week every summer, doing much of her growing up under Ian and Eileen's amiable, welcoming and caring regime. Ian was game for anything, and he was a catalyst for good things. He leaves a space in our souls which will not be filled.
Giselle
London
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Bob Garland" <batucada-at-freenetname.co.uk>
We became instant friends - as soon as we met. Ian was like that. He led a small but crazed possee of Edinburgh sambistas to our workshop featuring Marquinho - in Hemel Hempstead (350 miles!) in 1993. They joined us for a great gig in a barn that night.
I think part of our affinity was due to us both being a long way from natural musicians! But hey - what the fuck!
Ian and Eileen always provided me with a bed, and a key, some great Portuguese white wine and some of the best stories ever - and I am happy to say I gave him a Chico Science tape.
Ian was a brilliant ambassador. Everyone has lost a great friend - including those who hadn't met him yet.
Bob Garland
Sambuka & GRES Unidos de Londres
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mas01rk-at-gold.ac.uk
It'll certainly be a sombre new year's eve for me this year, with all those memories of playing samba on the Mound.
Rodger Kibble
Brighton
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Anthony Watt <agogo-at-msamba.co.uk>
Gente!
I can't believe it! It seems like yesterday I was in his old front room sharing a bottle of whisky whilst he spoke of setting up a list server for the Samba scene and apologised for not being able to play, yet.
A warm, generous Man who encouraged and helped us all. I know I won't be the only one who wonders why and how, and will miss him. An old friend who I've neglected and now will never see again....
Tony W
Manchester School of Samba
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Patrick Selden" <gringolouco-at-hotmail.com>
I've only just got the news because I've been off-line for the holiday.
It's horrible. I had the honour and pleasure of staying with Ian and his family in the summer of 97 when Inner Sense played the Edinburgh Festival.
I remember him as a man of huge spirit, unfailing generosity and wonderful invention. His death is a great loss and my heartfelt condolences go out to Eileen, Alex and Dan.
Pat Selden.
UK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Phil Smythe <phil.smythe-at-btinternet.com>
Castlefield in Manchester has a shiny new youth hostel. Not the old sort with an officious warden, compulsory morning chores and tepid showers. This place was clearly keen to embrace the future come what may. At any rate when somebody asked them if they wanted to host 60 or so sambistas (you know LOUD individuals with BIG DRUMS who *don't* go rambling) they said yes. It was the 1996 Encontro and I can still remember the excitement of meeting up with people from so many other groups for the first time: - those hide headed pandieros - those furry orange surdo beaters - those special ear plugs! (lets face it we share some pretty esoteric interests). When we burst into the dormitory Ian was there on a top bunk. That week was the only time we were to meet face to face. Cyberspace can be deeply strange: Ian felt like a friend by then - hadn't we chatted ? Hadn't I laughed at his jokes, listened to his stories and advice? But wait because wasn't he a celebrity too? - I mean we are talking about *the* Bloco Vomit
here.
Anyway Ian wherever you are - for the entertainment of sambistas, for great album titles, for an open invitation to come and stay in Edinburgh and for somehow pacifying the security guard who came into our dormitory at 3am to find a large group of drunks with ganzas slaughtering "The Girl From Ipanema" - thank you! I'll miss you and I'm deeply sorry we met only once.
Phil
UK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Steve Charles <stevenc-at-hotmail.com>
I knew Ian for perhaps a lot less time than a most people but he certainly was instrumental in changing my life over the past two years. Starting from when he approached me at a party and and asked me to join Bloco Vomit.
Ian was our driving force, and our energy. We never would have come as far as we have if not for him. Ian has enabled me to go places and do things with this band that I never could have dreamed of. I'll never forget that.
My thanks to Ian - He'll be greatly missed.
Steve
BLoco Vomit
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joe Provo <jzp-post-at-rsuc.gweep.net>
I'd known Ian for somewhere around a decade from mailing lists of mutual interest
(jack's list and spunk primarily).
I'm stunned. I did have the great pleasure to meet Ian for drinks one of the times he came across the pond for spider. We had a great time, chatting for hours on stuff across the board. It was a grand evening. I'm just getting my life back on track (divorce, new relationship, reaching out to have a life again) and Ian was someone I wanted to get to see again as I am working joy back into my world.
I'm completely blown away. He was sorely missed in circles from which circumstances drove him away. Though I hadn't spoken with him directly since the whole Times incident, I still feel a great deal of warmth to him, hell, love for the man. I respected him greatly and will
miss him terribly.
With a heavy heart,
joe
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Claudio Santana <claudiomaracatu at hotmail.com>
Ian was great, he was always trying to speak in portuguese with me, wasting his time!
I still can't believe...
Claudio Santana
Ex-Bloco Vomit
Recife - Brasil
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: claudine <claudine-at-faustinacat.fsnet.co.uk>
I was emailing someone and wanted to send them a link to Ian's Bloco Vomit site when I came across this. I've spent the last half hour reading, smiling and trying to get rid of this lump in my throat.
I used to live in Leyton with Ian - big house - lots of mad people. Hadn't seen him for years until the beginning of December when I went up to Edinburgh. We almost cancelled the trip because of the train stuff but I am SO glad we didn't.
It was wonderful to see that he hadn't changed one little bit since we had last met, and SO brilliant to see how happy he was with Eileen and the boys.
It was a horrible shock to find out that he had died. I wanted so much to come to the funeral but it didn't work out, and all Eileen got from me was an incoherent phone call followed up with an equally incoherent letter.
Anyway, thank you to whoever put this site up, and whoever propelled me towards Kings Cross in December. He is greatly missed : )
Claudine
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Carlyn Nugent USA <carlynn-at-sevenlands.com>
I only met Ian once. I was visiting my friend Claudine in the UK and wanted to go on some sort of sidetrip from southeast England. She mentioned she had a very old friend, Ian, in Edinburgh who'd been inviting her to come up for ages. So, she used my visit as an excuse to take that trip. We only spent a day with Ian, but he made a huge impact on me in that very short time. He was, without a doubt, one of the most unique and interesting humans I've ever had the pleasure to meet. We discussed how much fun it would be if he brought Bloco Vomit to Kentucky (my home)...He promised he'd get there eventually to check it out and sample our local delicacies--drinkable and otherwise. I left believing it was just the beginning of a long and fascinating friendship...and a month later he was gone. I was truly saddened and could only begin to imagine how it must be for those who REALLY knew him and loved him. I've been meaning to write to Eileen since I heard, but was afraid it would just sound odd--this girl she's only met once going on about her husband's death. But, Ian did make an impression...and his passing is a real injustice to those who never had the chance to know him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Cosmic <andrew.fellows-at-ntlworld.com>
Like everyone else who knew and loved Ian I was absolutely stunned by the news of his untimely death. Like most other people at his funeral (I suspect) I realised that, great though my friendship with Ian had been, I had barely scratched the surface. Ian had such hidden depths, so many talents and, above all, such kindness and humanity. Even so, what I knew of Ian has left me inspired as well as grieving. This website andall the other initiatives being taken to commemorate Ian's life speak more eloquently than I can of how much we all valued him. My thoughts are with Ian's family.
Sincerely, Cosmic
Samba Ya Bamba
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Dierdre, Edinburgh <cassiel51-at-hotmail.com>
from the moment I hit edinburgh, the only way to describe ian was lovely. He was warm friendly and most of all encouraging. simple things that make a lasting impression when your new to a city. i have some great photos of ians ball gown collection and the shades really suited him. it was only every couple of months or so i ran into ian but i always remember speaking to ian on the best nights out. i spent ages talking to him at the carnival party last august and the great thing about him was that you always knew hed be friendly. the other things ill remember is that my friends from samba ya bamba when they came through to edinburgh, didnt stay at mine, you always knew to find them at ians house because they were having such a good time. No one is in any rush to forget you ian, you were so very kind.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Paul Molineaux <paul.molineaux-at-casi-rusco.com>
It's March 2001, and I've only just found out.
Back in 1994 when not every town had a samba outfit, I got to know Ian a little. A few of us from Nottingham went up and stayed at his house and jammed and busked during the Edinburgh Festival.
We stayed in touch, the next year he brought a minibus full of Edinburgh Samba School hundreds of miles back down to Nottingham for a joint gig. Those of us who were there still remember it as one of the best samba nights ever. Ian stayed at mine and I stayed up for hours soaking up his boundless enthusiasm.
In the summer of 1995 I found myself back in Edinburgh in a taxi with Ian. He was telling me all about this great new idea he'd had for a sambistas mailing list and, well you know the rest.
On that visit I accidently left my favourite pair of Converse drying on his radiator when I left for home, and never found an excuse to go back and see if he still had them. What a shame, I wish I'd spent more time with him.
My sympathy goes to the family and friends he left behind, he was one in a million.
Paul Molineaux
Dynamica! / Nottingham School of Samba, UK
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: roger morris <rogerconga-at-aol.com>
both maeve and i are deeply shocked,although we didnt know him that well,we admired his drive and spirit,i remember talking about samba and crossover dimensions,we shared the philosophy of being contemporary and what we bring to samba.
He wont be forgotten.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Eric Crawford <ecrawford-at-yahoo.com>
I met Ian through his Internet postings and met him in the autumn of 1999 when I visited Scotland. Ian graciously invited me to stay with him and his family for several days, invited me along to Bloco Vomit reherasals and their performances at a music festival on the Argyll coast. As we bought each other pints in the pubs of Edinburgh, I learned about Ian's ambitions to retire from the technology world and take Bloco Vomit around the world. For instance, we discussed the punk clubs I'd suggest if ever Bloco Vomit found itself touring California.
His warmth, intelligence and biting sense of humor were unforgettable, as was the obvious joy he took in pounding away in maracatu rhythms with BV. After that we stayed in touch occasionally and I was thrilled to hear about BV's triumphs on tour in Brazil.
I'm delighted to read a few words from his legion of friends, and wholeheartedly agree that he will be greatly missed and is wholly irreplacable.
Eric Crawford
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Pedro Serra <pedroserra-at-hotmail.com>
Only now I could bring myself to write something about Ian's death. It was so sudden and unexpected, so sad and frightning...
I had known Ian since 1999, when I first interviewed him for a Brazilian music magazine and we somehow connected (after reading all the e-mails on this page it's not hard to figure why). We traded dozens of e-mails and finally met in person when Bloco Vomit played Brazil in 2000. He was a very sweet, witty, perseverant and uplifting friend, and I'll never forget him or his idea(l)s.
My sympathy, respect and best wishes for his family and band.
Pedro Serra
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sally Stevens né Kemp <sally.kemp-at-yahoo.co.uk>
i am finding it hard to write anything about i-at-n still i missed his funeral and have not had the chance to talk to people who knew him although it is wonderful to be able to visit this site i knew him at college (crazy unique caring charming and tormented by hangovers!) and more recently re-connected with him in brasil (oh that dress!) please email me and share memories i am planning to visit edinburgh at the summer solstice if anyone would like to remember him wherever he now lies
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Gordon Reid <gordon-at-reidsville2.freeserve.co.uk>
It is with some regret thet I have to say I never met Ian in person, having only communicated with him by e-mail. I enjoyed reading his pages on Scottish Anarchism. I enjoyed the music he made with Bloco Vomit. My condolences to his family and close friends.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Z <recwiz-at-hotmail.com>
At this right moment, I can only feel very happy that Ian's ideas and ideals are still around, and that he is very much alive in our hearts and minds.
I also am happy that he gave me the opportunity to welcome him at my house during the Caipirinha Overdose tour, together with the whole of Bloco Vomit for a couple of nights.
His face at that Abril Pro Rock gig and on many occasions on these few days he spent in Olinda showed some kind of spiritual happiness that I've seen on very rare moments in my life, but are nevertheless an image that I'll keep with myself for ever, and I would not be surprised if something very close to this is the ultimate image most people will keep of our dear Old Spice.
To infinity,
Z
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mitzi <infobahn-at-teleport.com>
What a shock--I'm about to move to the UK and had been trying to look up my old friend Ian, who I knew through Spunk some years back. We had fallen out of touch after I left the collective and he had his run-in with the idiot press. I'm incredibly sad ... what a great guy he was! We met in London at an anarchist conference after emailing for a couple of years, and he had such a terrific sense of humour and an excellent mind. I was looking forward to hooking up for a pub crawl. Damn!
Please convey my thoughts to his family...and for the rest of us, he was proof positive that one person can make a difference by touching many lives.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sarah White <sarahdwhite-at-hotmail.com>
Probably like many people who didn't know Ian really well, but whose lives were touched by Ian, I would like to of had the opportunity to of got to know him better. Whenever I had the opportunity I was one of many b.o.v. groupies. Not really into punk, but delighted to jump around hedonistically to b.o.v. for short spurts (until my stamina ran out). Like Deidre said, you could rely on Ian to always be friendly and warm and make you feel he was delighted to see you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jenny Hoy <jennyhoy-at-yahoo.com>
I first met Ian when I joined the Edinburgh Samba School in 1996 and my lasting memory of this first time at TESS was meeting Ian.
I still smile when I remember some of our first conversations together about how shit-hot The Vom's were (and are!) and his endless energy and enthusiasm never failed to amaze me.
Ian will live on in my memories of TESS, which are some of the happiest times I can recall.
j x
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Gordon Taylor <Gordontaylor01-at-hotmail.com>
I met Ian at The Tap in Edinburgh just after a BV gig. I was in a band starting out in Dundee (DR Yeehaa) and Ian was more than pleased to get us a support slot in Edinburgh with them and we absolutely were delighted to manage to get BV to Dundee twice. Never a more friendly bloke you could hope to meet, always a warm welcome and a place to stay when visiting Edinburgh. He instantly made you feel as if you've known him for years, he truly was great. And as such a great loss.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Barry Ratcliffe <barry.ratcliffe-at-btinternet.com>
Just wanted to pay my respects and be present amongst the many friends Ian made. I met him only two or three times but immediately clicked with his passion and drive. Great man, great shame.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:JJ Arnold <jj-at-burbs.co.uk>
I met Ian only twice, both in his capacity of Bloco Vomit member - and what nights they were! We exchanged regular e-mails as a result of our mutual involvement with the first BURBs (British Unsigned Rock Bands) compilation album. Ian always came across as upbeat, enthusiastic, full of ideas and willing to contribute, and his input on that BURBs project was invaluable. I should like to pass on, from all at BURBs, just how highly he was thought of - he is much missed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Guy Gumbrell <guy-at-dominopartnership.co.uk>
I am writing having learned (through the latest edition of St Peter's School alumni newsletter) of Ian's death. It may seem strange to you to receive a message like this some two years after Ian's death, but I not only wanted to express my sadness, but to say how moving and appropriate I found the website and the comments within it.
Ian and I were at school together from 1968 to 1975 so I can count on seven years of friendship and shared experience though it is a real regret to me now that we hadn't kept in touch more since then. However, as I read the stories and tributes on his website, I smiled in recognition at the characteristics and qualities that people enjoyed in Ian and which I was half aware of when we were growing up together. The regret stems partly from the realisation that he was obviously damn good fun to be around and I wish I had had more of it!
I suppose one of the strongest memories I have of Ian is his sheer academic brilliance. We were all in awe of him to some extent, and I include the teaching staff in that - as witnessed by Miggy Biller's comments. From the age of 11 until A-levels, I cannot remember one internal or public examination that Ian did not come top in and although in hindsight Maths was his natural choice of subject, he could have chosen History, Classics, or any combination of science and arts subjects and still have excelled. Yet Ian rarely attracted the label of 'school swot'. In my experience, I have never met a person who combined such incredible self reliance, intellectual focus and drive with such anti-establishment emotion, wackiness and sense of fun. He presented a unique dilemma for the school authorities with this! Would they tolerate his rebellious behaviour, or not? How could they impose the ultimate sanction on someone who not only had the top scholarship at the school but who was fully expected to get the best academic results the school had seen in a decade?
Needless to say, Ian found several opportunities to test the school's resolve. I vividly remember being carpeted with Ian in the headmaster's study after we had both been involved in some truly bacchanalian binge at the end of our first year in the Sixth form. The drinking had continued for hours and had ended in unconsciousness. I had been mopped up by friends and hidden somewhere in the school until I sobered up, but the salvage squad had missed poor Ian who was discovered by a housemaster face down in a riot of bottles and glasses. Anyway, to return to the Head's study. After I received my lecture, the Head turned to Ian and said, "You've been caught smoking, and now this. Honestly Ian, one more incident and we won't want to know any more..." The full seriousness of our situation dawned on me when I realised that the school was actually contemplating expelling ... Ian!
On that occasion the school won and Ian conformed but his warmth and rebelliousness were not extinguished. From the many wonderful comments on the website, it would seem that this side of his nature is one of his greatest legacies and perhaps it is no surprise. My only surprise has been to find out about his talent as a samba player. Having shared a study with Ian, I can honestly say that this future talent remained hidden from me. I took every effort to dissuade Ian from singing along to his (then) beloved Sabbath and Deep Purple LPs!
Although I had not seen Ian for over twenty years, I kept in touch with
his movements and accomplishments through Roger, our mutual friend. Ian
was an exceptionally gifted person and this might have caused him to be
aloof and unable to relate to others. However, he was also a sincere,
warm and generous person and it is on that Ian that my fond memories are
based.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Louise Milne <LouiseMilne-at-compuserve.com>
It's been a few years now and it is still extremely hard to believe that
he is gone... Many times I have thought of him and conjured up that great
anarchic presence... when we went to see the Stranglers in Glasgow, when
Television played the Liquid Room in Edinburgh - these were gigs he would
certainly have been at, where you could almost see him dancing, always
right up in the thick of the mosh pit.
Ian had a unique dancing style - formed presumably in the early days of punk and two-tone, when it was de rigeur to keep your jacket on, no matter how hot the temperature in the club. He would bounce in the air, arms and limbs flailing, his whole head and body in the music, face contorted into that wild gleeful grin....
Two memories of Ian dancing: once we were at an Iggy Pop gig at the Barrowlands in Glasgow, a great black barn of a place. We arrived pretty early on the train from Edinburgh, winding our way by instinct through the black wet streets (I followed Ian, he found the way by recognising belltowers and pubs en route). We congratulated ourselves on getting there in time to find a good spot, with a view of the stage, but not jammed up against the PA... The place seemed strangely empty - was every one at the bar? - OK, the Barrowlands is huge. It was even possible to sit down, had the floor been in any reasonable condition. Ian had (of course) efficiently equipped us with two huge brimming glasses of lager, telling me, with the air of an old hand, that the bar would be mobbed by dedicated drinkers & we would never get through to get another drink until the end. This was Glasgow after all. So we were standing with these plastic litre tubs, about four feet from the stage, & Ian was regailing me with anecdotes about previous Iggy concerts (I had never seen him live). Finally, the lights went down, and a few guys came on stage and started tinkering with the guitars etc... Muffled roaring, but still there was loads of space around us. There was a further wait, then simultaneously, Iggy took the stage to a massive roar and we were suddenly hit from behind by a solid wave of fans and bulldozed up to the stage - like a tsunami! The big glasses of beer went straight up into the air all over us - and all over the surrounding crowd - as the first amazing chords of Neighbourhood Threat thundered from the vast speakers. To say I was startled doesn't begin to describe it - I had not even noticed the crowd forming behind us, never mind its size, depth & intensity - Ian just roared with laughter, the beer all over his face - checked that I was OK - and started dancing...
Another occasion - we had been down in the Vaults - the catacomb clubs in Edinburgh - this would have been some time in the early '90's - clubbing with a bunch of people. I was not enjoying it - it was all tedious techno & a boringly loved-up crowd... Ian always enjoyed everything but he shared my view about this music.. suddenly the DJ changed and the air was filled with the great opening riff of a Joy Division classic, Ian grabbed both my hands & started to whirl me about - this was our kind of music and we knew how to dance to it - the energy level zoomed - a fantastic throwback - we were in our element. We went faster & faster in a centrifugal mania, exactly in time - laughing our heads off with delight - the lethargic crowd wisely backing off - ah I can see his face split in that enormous grin, that enormous energy, cackling with glee... oblivious to all but the music
I have not said something really important about how he took care of
you - Ian and I did not talk a lot about our emotional lives - the friendship
was based on doing things and talking about the world at large - the Silk
Route, the Spanish Civil War, Chomsky, music - but you always knew that
he knew when you were down - he was sensitive to these states of mind
- he was a great comrade. That dance would lift you right out of whatever
was going wrong - into that state of ecstatic enjoyment which was his
natural element - that great curiousity and passion for living which made
him such fun to be with.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Eric Dickson <e.dickson-at-nls.uk>
Ian was a lovely, warm man. It pains me greatly to have to write the word
"was". I knew Ian in 1980 when we both worked for Scottish & Newcastle
in Edinburgh. I was considering changing my life - giving up my boring
job and going to study. Ian was always encouraging and helpful. I remember
our discussions of the writers we liked - particularly Kafka. I was in
Prague this year and thought of Ian, not knowing he had died. I searched
his name on the net and found this memorial site - I am grateful for the
chance to do this and I read the other tributes with great interest. Ian
always walked the walk. It is no surprise to me to know he led such an
energetic and unique life. I reread his letters to me last night; even
back then he was involved in squatting and challenging the status quo.
I will always remember our pub crawls up the Hight Street after work with
great affection. I can hear him now on the phone spelling his name ("as
in, Heavens above!") In his last letter to me he signed his name with
the anarchists' A in the middle. That's a fitting way to see him, and
a life dedicated to change. Thanks Ian. Peace. Eric
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Anna Winston <annawinston_3-at-hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Friday, May 6, 2005
Time: 11:13 PM EST
Comment: I owe Ian a lot. I have so many happy memories of my times in Edinburgh with Ian and his wonderful family and he still just seems to pop into my thoughts every now and then... Thankyou Ian.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
