Thank you to everyone who's words and deeds, however small they may have seemed to you at the time, have made this sad time a little more bearable. THANK YOU.
The familys eulogy:
IN MEMORY OF IAN TREVOR FORBES
08.07.1954 - 12.07.2020
Son of Edith and Alex Forbes.
Ian leaves elder brother Kevin, sisters Carol and Diane and his niece Holly.
Ian has lived in Dartford all of his life, where he grew up and attended Temple Hill infant and primary school, Downs secondary school for boys, where he was year prefect and excelled in all the academic subject’s - most notably maths, science and English language.
Ian was a keen member of the Downs school brass band and choir - where on occasions the band would perform at the local elderly care homes.
As a young teenager he did the usual milk and paper rounds, further to that he would spend many a weekend helping his elderly grandmother Dorothy Bristow whom he had a great fondness of.
One of Ian’s keen interests was the science fiction series - ‘Dr Who’ - he avidly followed every episode until his later years, when his interest waned somewhat, unfortunately the format of the programme had changed, where in his opinion, not always for the better-he would follow the blog on Digital Spy.
His musical tastes were eclectic - amongst his favourites was a fondness of classical, never missing the programme ‘last night of the proms. ‘
Always one to favour music of the eighties, Ian expressed a distinct distaste for today’s music - simply as “shocking”!
Ian always loved helping people - right from a young boy, all the while this continued into his adult life yet was typically Ian; he was our personal agony aunt if you like, offering very sound advice to colleagues’, friends and his family alike, possessing a natural ability of putting the world to rights. In fact, Ian was a selfless person despite being in constant pain the last year of his life-he only thought of others wellbeing and how to please them - never himself.
His continued dry sense of humour always amazed me, never faltering along the way - he’d always be the one to have the last word with a witty one liner.
Ian was always fiercely competitive in life whatever he put his hand to.
He left school to work as lab technician at amalgamated Oxides followed by Thames Polytechnic as grade 5 technician where his main role was teaching and assisting students.
Last but not least his final work destination, right to the end of his life was Colorcon as senior Quality assurance officer.
He was also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Ian was dedicated to his work where he had gained some lifelong friendships; enjoying the camaraderie with friends and work colleagues,
Ian would participate and excel at badminton with his work colleagues where he was fiercely competitive, often making judgements on line calls, but he was dogged and sure he had got this correct, much to the amusement of his colleagues, they would deliberately disagree to stoke up a battle.
Whatever Ian’s goal he resolutely worked and played hard as I am sure his friends and work colleagues will testify to that!
Ian was never one to sit around, always preferring to be active wherever or whenever he could. He mostly avoided using the car, either cycling or walking to work.
Ian was a gentle soul;
When Holly his niece was growing up he always sought to keep her happy and stimulated, in everyday life he became and remained, (in later years much less involved in physically active roles) a strong and influential participant of Hollys day to day life.
From playing games at home to activities such as local walks, fun days out to London, trips to the cinema, pop concerts and skating on ice. Ian proved to excel in being a superb mentor and teacher in all they pursued together; in swimming, cooking, driving, school subjects and projects, to name but a few. Ian was a natural, he would amazingly be able with ease to fulfil Hollys thirst for life – (patience of an angel).
Ian had never learnt to swim in his life, so for Holly his niece to now switch roles and teach him during a holiday one year in Florida was a great fulfilment and joy for him.
His favourite place in the world in the last 11yrs was the exciting yearly trek to Florida Disney with Diane, Mike and Holly. During this 2-3-week holiday he loved to go out and explore the sights, to partake of all the best events – one of those being the Disney Electrical parade where he would regularly attend – 2-3 times during the holiday stay, sitting for hours before the show began to get the popular spot, never tired of spectating and revering the magic of the Parade.
Before the holiday would begin, Ian would be totally dedicated to planning and organising the trip months in advance - typically Ian would book for the following years holiday ensuring he booked all excursions and meal plans well in advance.
Unselfishly Ian’s ultimate goal was to ensure the family had a good time, he would marvel at the family’s delight as they participated in events, and excursions he had organised.
Although his mother Edith was unwell in her last few years of life, Ian was dedicated to help take care of his mother at home, he would still thankfully manage to get a well-earned respite break to his beloved Florida.
Prior to this as a young man he would enjoy yearly visits to Scotland where they he would share the long drive with his Father Alec visiting distant relatives and seeing the sights.
Ian was a loving, caring brother that has evoked such fond memories of childhood and beyond;
He wished to please everyone by doing whatever he could do for them, nothing was too much trouble. Ian revelled in his brotherly role demonstrating to be a ‘model’ brother, a true friend and ally, that continued into the latter years.
As a young adult, Ian would get involved with accompanying Diane his younger sister on Saturday shopping and cinema trips. Diane would be amazed and delighted to be able under Ian’s brotherly wing – ‘allowed’ to be viewing films such as ‘Jaws ‘- albeit her being slightly underage!
During the senior school years, Ian would collect Diane after school to assist with dreaded maths homework.
It was Ian who would then advise Diane with purchasing her first car.
After his father’s passing - Ian loved to spend his holidays in America, Diane, his sister would gladly join him.
During the last 5yrs of his life Ian particularly enjoyed eating out; specifically, he would look forward to celebrating with family and friends’ birthdays - part of the game would be to explore the possibilities and availability of venues; perusing the extensive choices of menus before trying out different pubs or restaurants and traditionally, the birthday girl/boy would foot the bill!
Since the passing of Edith his mother, he was never really well and had succumbed to illness - in 2018 he was diagnosed, and despite being successfully treated for bowel cancer - never fully recovered from this.
Tragically in 2019 he sustained life threatening injuries following an accident whilst on holiday in Florida - again full recovery was not forthcoming, leaving him somewhat disabled.
Despite all this he remained resolute towards his quest to return to work - and had just returned to work some 2-3 months before his passing.
Ian never lost his sense of humour and his ambitious disposition in work and in his personal life.
Whoever knew Ian as a friend would have been shaped into a better person for knowing him!
Ian you have left us alone too soon, but we know you’ll be our forever guardian angel
Simply the best, dear one.
“The feelings that go deepest are the hardest to express and for that very reason, can only hope you guess how much it really means to me to have you for a brother and to know we will always have a special friend – each other!”
Taken from a verse of an unsent birthday card.
Posted By David
(Partner of Ians eldest sister Carol)
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