The notice below was emailed to Ian Watson's friends and email contacts by his daughter Fiona. She's currently on Lamma, handling Ian's funeral arrangements and estate. She's asking Ian's legion of friends and acquaintances for stories, anecdotes, eulogies and photos for a memorial book.

A Scotsman at the age of 77 riding his bike daily through the village, in short trousers, a veteran journalist, editor and media relations specialist; more recently Chief Sub-editor for Asia Asset Management who was also involved in the launching of a brand-new print magazine for expat Scots, Ian was an inspiration to us on how to age gracefully and actively.

I've been listening to some of his wealth of fascinating stories from a colourful life and have seen his ex-soldier-in-Africa picture on his Blackberry, while chatting with him outside Lung Wah Rest., accompanied by Ian's former SCMP colleague and octogenarian Vernon.<HR>
"It is with great sadness that I am writing to tell you that my father, John Bissell (Ian) Watson passed away on Thursday, 8 December.

Late that night, Ian went to bed contented after a typically full day – working, socialising and being with family - to refresh for the challenges of another day. Just as he was about to go to sleep, he suddenly slipped away.

Ian wasn’t alone when he passed, as he spent his last evening with Josephine and his granddaughter, Kyla. Both accompanied Ian on his last journey from Lamma island in the helicopter to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.

We believe that Ian left this world in a peaceful way, which thankfully didn’t involve suffering.

You may have already learned of this tragic news, and we appreciate your patience and sincerely apologise for the delay in getting in touch as we are still struggling to come to terms with this tremendous loss.

I will be in touch as soon as we have finalised the funeral arrangements - so that we can gather together to celebrate Ian’s very colourful life and remember him for what he meant to each one of us as a father, friend, confidante, colleague, grandfather, fellow Scotsman...

I invite you to send any anecdotes, snippets, stories, shared experiences and pictures that you may want to share to plani@iinet.net.au or contact me on +852 9144 5549.

You are in my thoughts.

Fiona Plani
Ian’s daughter"<HR>
Funeral this Sat, Dec 24, and wake in the second week of Jan. 2012, tba.

Fiona will select some of the submitted materials and has requested me to publish a eulogy and tribute to Ian in the Lamma-zine.

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

A lovely friendly man. He will be missed

Submitted by Ian's daughter:

John (Ian) Bissell Watson

1934 – 2011

Ian’s funeral service will be held on 24 December 2011 at Cape Collinson Crematorium, Chai Wan, Hong Kong. Please join us to remember and pay respects to Ian.

Private transport has been arranged and coaches will leave from the Star Ferry Pier, Central at 13:15.

Meet : 14:00 at Cape Collinson

Service : 14:30 - 15:00

We will have a short gathering at 15:30 - 16:00 for tea/coffee following the service. The arrangements for this will be provided as soon as possible prior to the service. As Saturday is Christmas Eve we are appreciative of you making time to attend the service and fully understand if you have to leave promptly.

Kindly RSVP to facilitate transport and other arrangements to plani@iinet.net.au

Donations in lieu of flowers most welcome in support of the St Stephen’s Society, Hong Kong. Donation cards will be available at the service.<HR>
Robert Burns (1786)

A Bard's Epitaph

…“Is there a man, whose judgment clear
Can others teach the course to steer,
Yet runs, himself, life's mad career,
Wild as the wave,
Here pause-and, thro' the starting tear,
Survey this grave.”…

Best regards

Fiona Plani
Ian’s daughter
Tel: +852 9144 5549

Family members:

Fiona Plani - Adrian Plani - Kyla Plani
Iain Watson - Audrey Watson - Andrew Watson - Lauren Watson
Josephine Yuen

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

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Hong Kong Underground Music Scene:
http://undergroundhk.com
Thinking Out Loud:
http://thinkingoutloud.com.hk
Guitars & Panties:
http://guitarsandpanties.com
Sisters of Sharon:
http://www.sistersofsharon.com.hk/

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

Submitted by Fiona, Ian's daughter:

Many people were not able to attend Ian’s funeral service on 24 December which was on Christmas Eve, and - in addition, lots were travelling over the holidays.

On Saturday 14 January 2012 we’re going to gather at Hung Sing Yeh Beach on Lamma to have an afternoon BBQ near one of Dad’s favourite water holes where he swam regularly up to end of November 2011, shortly before he passed away. In the little bag of tricks that he carried with him when he cycled for his swim, I found Ian’s swimming goggles, slingshot, some marbles (no he hadn’t lost them) and a couple of other interesting artefacts…

Please join us if you can:

When : Saturday 14 January, 1pm

Where : Hung Sing Yeh Beach, public BBQ pits (opposite Herboland)

To bring : Meat to BBQ, Salad or whatever, Drinks

Afterwards you might like to drop by one of his other favoured watering holes – at the place where Ian was last spotted with his favourite cuppa on his last night with some Lamma pals – at the Fountainhead, or you might want to visit the Waterfront, or Banyan Bay Café and have a toast to Ian.

Look forward to seeing you if you can make it.

Best regards,

Fiona, Ian’s daughter, +852 9144 5549

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

sorry i went on this thing tonight ,long after but sorry to hear also of ian's passing
he told me about "tipping"

gone to that big zeit in the sky