September 26, 1946 – August 3, 2014. Ian died at the Sussex Beacon on a beautiful summer’s day with his soulmate and much loved former partner Christoph sitting by his side holding his hand. On Saturday, August 16, a celebration of Ian’s life was held at Brighton’s Brighthelm Centre, attended by his
Ian died at the Sussex Beacon on a beautiful summer’s day with his soulmate and much loved former partner Christoph sitting by his side holding his hand.
On Saturday, August 16, a celebration of Ian’s life was held at Brighton’s Brighthelm Centre, attended by his sister Helen and his extended family and friends and loved ones from the local community in Brighton and Hove and from London, Germany and Denmark.
Ian was a long term survivor of HIV, having been diagnosed 32 years ago. His courage, strength and fighting spirit are a lesson to us all.
Ian had been an active and highly respected member of the BDSM community across the world. Very active in the Chicago Hellfire Club and former trustee of Spanner, he was highly regarded as an educator and mentor and was well known at events, meetings and training courses in the USA, Denmark and Berlin. He was affectionately called the ‘Daddy’, such was the love and respect he developed within the community.
He stood up for right against wrong, and always spoke his mind. He was a fighter for LGBT and BDSM rights. Just last year he travelled to London to protest for LGBT rights in Russia at Downing Street in London.
His was a life that was lived open and proud.
In his final years, he moved from London to Hove and developed yet another family. Within days of arriving he joined the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, shocking family and friends who thought him totally ‘non-musical’.
I thought it would be a nice way for him to develop new friendships and build a new life here in Brighton and Hove, but thought he wouldn’t stay long with the chorus. How wrong could I be. He sang with the chorus for the rest of his life. He rarely ever missed a rehearsal, workshop or event, no matter how small; if it was a good cause, and particularly involving any aspect of LGBT rights, he was there.
Only weeks before his death, clearly ill and against the wishes of his doctors, he decided to travel to Dublin with the Chorus. He was determined to represent Brighton at Various Voices, an event held only every four years for LGBT choirs around the world, and he sang with us for the very last time.
His commitment to, and love of the Chorus, and the men who make up its ranks was reflected at Ian’s Life Celebration on Saturday. The chorus turned out en masse and performed in his honour. Watching the choir and its MD melt with emotion during the final song ‘Go West!’ will stay with us for a very long time.
Gerry Carter, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
