OBITUARY: Muir of Ord community hit hard by loss of Ian Bremner whose welcoming smile and kindness are fondly remembered by many
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The normally cheery village of Muir of Ord was saddened recently as the news filtered round the village about the tragic and sudden death of Ian Bremner at his home in Tarradale Gardens.
Born in Cambuslang, Glasgow on February 26, 1949, Ian’s parents Johnny and Isa faced bringing him and his siblings up in the difficult years after the second world war. It was not long after this that Johnny decided to move the family from the suburbs of Glasgow to the Highland town of Dingwall.
Ian attended St Clement's Primary school before progressing to Dingwall Academy. He left the Academy to join William Low at the age of 16 in 1965 but he always had a goal of getting an apprenticeship as an electrician and joined the Army in 1966 where he qualified as a time served electrician.
Ian remained in the Army for 23 years and came out of the service in 1989 with exemplary conduct as a Staff Sergeant. He was involved in many projects on leaving the Army and worked mostly in the oil industry with Jacks, Brown & Root and various offshore companies.
Ian retired in 2015 as his health had deteriorated considerably after undergoing major heart surgery in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in June 2005, but took on a part-time job as barman in The Royal British Legion in Dingwall, which he enjoyed for several years.
Ian was a keen bowler and golfer in his youth, sports he continued to participate in throughout adulthood. He has been club champion bowler at Muir of Ord and won may other open trophy competitions on the north bowling circuit, where he was well-known for his skill and sportsmanship.
He was also a member of Muir of Ord Golf Club for many years until ill health prevented him from playing two years ago. He concentrated his energies on reducing his handicap in all the club competitions, however he enjoyed nothing better than a bounce game with his friends. Ian considered himself a “Dingwall Gadgie” and was a keen supporter of The Staggies. His father Johnny was a former legend of the great Ross County team from the fifties.
Other great interests of Ian were music and poetry. He particularly liked Country & Western music and played in the Dingwall-based band The Pedestrians during the 1970s. He was also a very enthusiastic member of the Strathpeffer Burns Club.
Ian’s first marriage produced three children, Mark, Scott and Jamie. Tragically Scott passed away in 2002 and this loss was borne with great dignity and humility. He was also a proud and loving grandad to his eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Ian married Liz in 1993 and they set up home in Muir of Ord. He took great pride in all his family and became a loving stepfather to Donald and Trena and was a devoted grampa to David.
Throughout his life, whether it was at work or play, Ian’s welcoming smile, his sense of humour, his kindly nature and patience endeared him to all.He was an ever-obliging neighbour with an ever ready word of encouragement for the less fortunate. All in all he was a man of sterling character whose passing in such circumstances must be deeply regretted. For those of us who were privileged to know him better than most there will be a sense of something lost, something that can never be replaced.
DM
