Use the map - thats what its for!

They say you dont miss something till its gone, and many will say that of Ian, in hearing of his passing firstly of shock and sadness I can say this but it wasnt always so.

Ian was his own man, he was opinionated and somewhat set in his ways he was there to give his advice when requested or not and he believed that scouting had something to offer all.

Ian and I didnt see eye to eye I thank Bill Currie for his kindness and his fatherly advice when we first started out as Venture Scouts all those years ago, he was a mediator between to different camps his own little UN force, As a young man I didnt see the bigger picture

I loved my time with the JNI I met many friends who though I do not see daily weekly or even once a year will remain deep in my heart as friends each bringing into my life a friendship that I relish today and everyday. The likes of Roger, Alan and Fuzz young leaders who were in the shadow of Ian all had their part to play in my own shaping to adulthood.

My reason to write is to the "wee man":

I have no words to say thank you I have now words in my head or heart to say how as a person you have been one of the biggest influences in my life, I write this small comment with a tear both in eye and heart.

I have been in scouting since the day I met you, I have tried to be the traveller with my scouts as you requested us to be. I have tried to be not like you but have your openness and understanding of different ways to see the path ahead in my working with young scouts and adults.

Ian was a person that reached you though you didnt know it then, he had his way which as I am older I see in its full respect.

- I remember your words of "their is a cafe at the top, and there was"...
- In Sardina at the point of a gun on top of a mountai: "if we dont come back run", where I asked?, "well use the map thats what its for"
- Tending to a young motor cyclist who later died from his injuries at Lapwing and working to your best to keep him alive till ambulance came.

comments that keep me and remind me of the man he was.

All I can say as many others have done is that we have lost our leader, we have lost a friend.

But we have all been privilidged to say Ian Barr, yes we were one of his boys!

Ian always my thanks.

My thoughts with those JNI past and to those who have yet to folllow.

Dougie McPhee