I remember the day that my son, Alistair, first told me about Ian.  It was the day he started at Manchester Grammar School -  apprehensive  about making new friends at such a large school yet proud to be attending such a fine establishment.  On his return home from school that day he told me,  excitedly,  that he had made friends with a nice boy in his class called Ian ... "who is just like me”.  He explained that Ian, like himself, was half Chinese (Ian was in fact, half Japanese) and not merely looked just like him but was also a serious violinist and enjoyed mountain biking like him too.  Alistair and Ian did indeed become good friends and joined the school orchestra and choir together.

Eighteen months on,  whilst Alistair was away for a week at residential training orchestra, we were informed of the terrible news of Ian’s death.  Needless to say, breaking the news to Ali on his return was extremely difficult and, as expected, he  was devastated.  I remember how he sat in his bedroom playing music tapes that Ian had given him and how I watched him cry and shared his tears.  

But time does eventually heal (and I wish this especially for his loving and devoted parents and sister) that we can look back more positively and be grateful for having known Ian who left a lasting impression on our lives.  Ian’s memory, I am sure,  will live on forever in the hearts of everyone that knew him.  Beautiful inside and out with a warmth, personality, sense of humour, kindness and charisma that melted hearts ... his beautiful smile is testimony of that.  
 

I include Ian's Obituary written by lower school Head, Rodger Alderson, to say the rest ... far better than I ever could.