The trips with Ian were not only memorable, but life changing events

Memories from former Geog-Ex pupil John Liddell

Ian was not only a great teacher but a conveyor of knowledge both inside and outside of school time, taking spotty inept kids and carefully and considerately moulding them into some semblance of responsible adults, he engendered an enthusiasm for all things geographical and the great outdoors which I carry with me to this day. 

The trips away with Ian were for me not only memorable but life changing events - Skiing in Italy and Switzerland and the day trips to Glencoe meant that he was not only a teacher but someone who was also a friend who could be relied on to offer guidance and advice when requested.

Our trips away were, very much, high points of my life, the trip to Cape Wrath, our exploration to the Arctic Circle and our overland trip from Glasgow to Crete and the Gulf of Sumaria bring back many memories. 
(I still have the Geog-Ex flag and a cutting from the paper about the Arctic trip).

Ian once told me that I should try to be a traveller and not just a tourist in this life, I could never get enough of his recounting events from his adventures (dog sledding across Greenland etc.)  He was a true gentleman, our own intrepid explorer in typical Blashford-Snell style.  In my heart I shall always remember him with his battered deer-stalker and his pipe clenched between his teeth striding across Glencoe as he prepared for yet another adventure.  In my eyes our 'Wee Barr' always was, and always will remain, truly a giant of a man!

The world is a poorer place without him

Ian  helped me immensely during my secondary school days. His extra curricular activities gave me such a boost when I needed it most – having been bullied by my ‘best friends’, the friendship that Ian shared with all his pupils (and I am certain with all the other voluntary youth work he was involved in), helped me survive in what can be a very cruel world. I will always be in his debt.

The world is a poorer place without him.

- Former PGHS pupil

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

When I climb the hills today, I always give a little nod to Ian Barr...

I have been an active hillwalker for as long as I remember. I remember my first climb, Ben Lomond in Scotland on Remembrance Day when I was about 12 with my local scout troop (7th Paisley JNI) run by Ian Barr (John T.K. Barr) who, unfortunately, passed away a couple of years ago.

When I climb the hills today, I always give a little nod to Ian Barr as he was the one who inspired me to start climbing the hills all those years ago. This first climb was the start of a long love of the Scottish countryside that has never left me.

During my scouting days, I found a book in my early teens by the Scottish mountaineer Tom Weir called Highland Days which inspired me even more, so after my Scouting days, I yearned to continue my adventures into the mountains. I continued my hillwalking with various clubs around the local area, including the Paisley Ramblers and The Paisley Hillwalking Club.

Dave McGuinness

www.davemcguinness.com