Ian Stow (12 Jun 1950 - 10 Mar 2019)

In loving memory of Ian Stow who sadly passed away on 10th March 2019

Ian was born on the 12th of June 1950 in Hull. He was one of four children born to Betty and Don along with his siblings, Chris, Sandra, Alan and Andrew. Hull was where Ian grew up and went to school until he was sixteen before going on to study in York.

On leaving school Ian joined the Royal Air Force where he served for eleven years, first as a Telegraphist then working on rescue boats out of Bridlington, with his service taking him all over the world. After the RAF he then went offshore on Seismic Survey ships until he became a Consultant.

It was while he was in the RAF that Ian met Jill and they married in 1973 in Devon. They set up home together and soon became parents to their daughter, Karen but as is the way sometimes things didn’t work out and Ian and Jill went their separate ways.

It was in Bridlington that Ian met Freda in the late nineteen seventies. She was singing in a local pub. They hit it off and became a trio with Freda’s daughter, Marie and Ian and Freda married in 1979. In 1983 they moved down here to Norfolk with Ian following the work and they set up home in Belton. Ian worked offshore and after a few years he and Freda left to go and live and work in Holland for four years before coming back to Belton for a while and then they were on the move again,. This time they went to live in Egypt and they were there until 200 when they came back to Belton once more.

He loved lots of different pastimes such as golf, boxing, dining out and of course, riding his trike. He was a drummer and a very good one. He even played at the World Latin American dancing Championships in Bridlington many years ago. He loved the blues and rock and roll with his favourite artists being Buddy Rich, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Pink Floyd. He also taught himself to play guitar and he could sing a bit too. Throughout his life he played in a few different bands and with his friends, Dave and Richard.

Ian and Freda were great travellers and they have been all over the world and it’s far easier to list where they haven’t been than where they have been. Their last big holiday was a world cruise on the Queen Mary back in 2013.
Karen and Marie had grown up and gone their own ways in life and in due course Ian and Freda would become grandparents twice-to Ellie and Nancy. They were to inherit brilliant grandparents and the coolest grandad ever. How many grandchildren can say that their grandad rode a trike and had his long grey hair blowing in the wind!
As I said earlier it was in 2015 that Freda passed away and that was a big blow to Ian but he managed to pick himself up and carry on with his life. He was ably supported not just by his family but by good friends such as Pete and Jill, Diane, Maureen and Terry.

A year or so ago Ian was diagnosed with cancer of the lung. He underwent some treatment and had a short spell in hospital but sadly there was little that could be done. He went home and that was where he was to stay.
On the 10th of March he lost the fight when he passed away in his bed at home and his life really came to a close far too soon.

Losing Ian has left a gap in so many lives and it’s a gap that would never be filled but while his physical presence has gone, the memories remain and he’s left you a huge amount of those to remember him by.
Wherever you go and whatever you do though Ian will be with you. He made a very special place in your hearts and minds so he will always be with you and only ever a thought away.
The sadness that he’s gone will be there for a long time to come and it will be hard. Time will only dull the pain a little but you have the memories to fall back on. He has gone far too early in his life but when you look back he probably crammed far more years of living into his life than most will do in a much longer lifetime. Ian made his a very full life, he lived it and he lived it well.

As time passes you’ll find that you don’t think of Ian all of the time but when he comes to mind remember the good times, raise a glass to him and smile for him. He would be happy to be remembered that way. Through your sadness, be glad that he was here and that you were lucky enough to have shared some of his life.