Ian Clark-Simpson R.I.P.

Ian Clark-Simpson (20.09.1943 - 20.10.2007)

Following last week's Blog on Ian's Carrapateira Walk, and the note of his terminal illness, I report with great sadness that Ian Clark-Simpson passed away in hospital in France on 20th October.

His funeral was held in France at 1530 hrs on Wednesday 24th October 2007. Pam wrote a tribute to Ian which she read at his funeral. As is our custom, a group of Algarve Wednesday Walkers were out walking at that time and we paused at the same time, and I read out a copy of the tribute, which is set out below, and we held a minute's silence to remember Ian and what he had meant to us.

Lindsey had arranged for some flowers to be sent to the funeral on behalf of the Wednesday Walkers, and Pam extracted one yellow rose and threw it in the grave.

Pam and Ian AWW 01.03.2006

Pam's Tribute to Ian.

I was in my late 40’s when I met and married Ian – that shows you what a very special guy he was – I waited a long time for the right man. He had all the qualities I had been looking for: he made me laugh, he had a great zest for life, he wanted to travel, he wanted to sail and he had a lovely smile.

He gave me a hectic 11years of togetherness. We bought and sold four properties, bought 5 and sold 4 boats (there is still a dinghy in Arcachon), bought and sold 4 cars, bought and sold a caravan, and latterly bought a campervan in which we had planned to explore France, our new home country. We’ve lived in three different countries where Ian’s warmth and openness made us many friends, many of whom have given me invaluable support during the past difficult months, and all of whom are thinking of you now, Ian. During the 3 years that we were liveaboard boaties on our favourite boat, called Happy Daze, our exciting long distance sailing travels took us into the Mediterranean, to the north coast of Africa and out to Madeira and the Azores in mid-Atlantic, meeting some amazing people along the way.

Now that Ian has finally found peace and tranquillity after his 11 months of suffering, far too early in his life, my lasting memories of Ian will be 11 years of happy days.

Pam has been in touch since , and after the funeral back at her home, 220 euros was raised for cancer support by raffling off a frozen leg of lamb that had been sitting in Pam & Ian's freezer for some time!

We all wish her the best for the future and would like to let her know that she will always have friends in the Algarve, particularly among the Algarve Wednesday Walkers, and perhaps some day soon we will meet her again.

Obligatory Trig Point Photo March 1st 2006