Having only met Ian in the last few years – when Chris married our daughter Tessa – it is regrettable that we didn’t get to meet him earlier in our lives. We have heard tales, hints and echoes of a fascinating, dedicated and pioneering life, but our memories are more recent and prosaic, though still of laudable achievements: high quality craftsmanship of grandchildren’s toys, a Rod Stewart-scale model railway and an Alan Titchmarsh-scale fruit and veg garden. Stuart and Lin Doughty