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Ian Turnbull - walker, runner, cyclist, timekeeper, treasurer, tombola organiser and auditor was part of the backbone of the sport for so many years. Sadly he passed away on Saturday. He is pictured timekeeping at the Sound in 1976, yards from where he won the End to End Walk two years earlier, and manning the drinks station during the 2008 End to End Walk. Unassuming was a word that could have been made especially for Ian.
Once again the Island has lost another well known character in the sporting fraternity, writes Robbie Lambie. Ian Turnbull sadly passed away in Hospice on Saturday 7th August after suffering from a cruel illness for several years. But not only has local sport lost a very dear friend and fellow competitor, the Isle of Man in general has lost a great person.
I had the pleasure of knowing Ian for 45 years or so. I make no apology for writing so much when paying respect to Ian as he was a very special person in so many different ways. However, I have to say this is also a summarised account of his life with regards to what he did and achieved in his 67 years, but I just hope that I have done this proud Manxman justice. To cover his working career and his involvement in sport, both as an official, timekeeper, working on committees and other societies would require a book.
Ian was an extremely intelligent man and based on what I recall him telling me many years ago went to St Ninians High School where he passed 8 GCE ‘O’ levels and 3 ‘A’ levels. He then went on to Liverpool University where I think he gained a degree in Chemistry. For what it’s worth, he was at Liverpool the same time as Geoff Kneen (ex school teacher and footballer) and Alex Maddrell, another ex teacher and Island footballer (both taught me) and who is now a big name with the Port St Mary Lifeboat Institution.
Ian joined the Civil Service around the early 1960’s and soon climbed up the promotional ladder. He soon occupied one of the top managerial positions with the Water Board (as it was known as then) and I know many people who worked under him have said during that period that he was a rare breed insofar as he treated all the staff as equal. He was a gentleman, always polite, competent, efficient, and would do his utmost to never pull rank or be officious. That wasn’t his style and he was just as happy engaged in a conversation with the cleaners as he would be talking to his contemporaries or politicians. He later moved on from the Water Board to the Economics Section and worked alongside John Webster where he was equally respected and admired for his efficiency and fairness and the way he was never affected by his grade. I think it was around the mid to late 1980’s that he joined forces with John and left the Government and worked down at the Freeport near Ronaldsway as consultants where I think he finished his career.
He was a race walker for many years and probably became competitive in the early 1960’s which was not long after when race walking started in the Island. His father Willie, (a great man himself from Union Mills where the club’s HQ was) was one of the founder members along with Joan Powell, Mike Gray, Herbie Cannell, Allan Corlett, Doc Vernon, Arthur Currie, Terry Crellin and Denis Lace to name but a few. I think this was around the 1961 time. Coincidentally the formation of Boundary Harriers, of which I was also a proud member, happened just after the revival of the Parish Walk and the start of the End to End walks. The above people used to meet in the Quarterbridge Hotel and after much deliberation decided on the name – Boundary Harriers. It wasn’t that long after the club was formed that Ian became the Treasurer for the club. Joan Powell was the secretary in the early days then, who I think (?) was subsequently replaced by Kevin Madigan in the late 1960’s.
Ian became a keen race walker and in the 1960’s and 1970’s went on to finish the Parish on three occasions with his best time in 1974 of 17hrs 06mins 52secs when he came second. He also finished the old End to End walk on more than one occasion. I think his best 10 mile was around 86 minutes and was probably a 52 minute man for the 10km, although in those days the Handicap 7 miles was the distance we used to race. Although never a speed walker as such, it was clear that he enjoyed the endurance events much more and would eventually tackle other long walks such as the TT course and also the Manx Mountain Marathon as time went on. In addition to his walking, Ian would often help Kevin Madigan with timekeeping and measuring distances when the club held Open walking races around the King George V Park which started around the 1968/69 time. These races in the late 60’s to mid 70’s, attracted some great walkers, namely Paul Nihill, Ronnie Wallwork, Bob Dobson, to name but a few.
After serving on the committee of the Boundary Harriers Ian then went on to become the Auditor of the club, a duty he later performed also with the IOM Athletics Association. Ian was an extremely intelligent man and he could argue his case very well and probably would have made a very good advocate had he have chosen that particular career. When the Boundary Harriers moved away from their HQ in Union Mills and disbanded to become Manx Harriers around the late 1980’s, Ian could not bring himself to ‘come on board’ and remained a loyal and staunch Boundary Harriers man, a club which his father had helped form.
In the 1980’s Ian switched mainly to running and would often be seen training with Roy Corlett, Alan and Irene Corlett, Mitch Joughin, Colin Bowen, Brian Goldsmith, Mike Gray and Stan Basnett to name but a few. I think they called themselves the Glen Vine club or something like that. Ian in truth was not the most naturally gifted runner around, and often classed himself as a plodder, though I am sure he finished many half marathons and an odd marathon during his spell in running. Ian also dabbled in cycling probably due to the fact that his son Colin was a keen young cyclist around that period. Unfortunately the pair of them had a reputation (particularly Ian) for falling off their bikes as it happened.
As time went by he seemed to taper his sporting activities and became less competitive, though still running and cycling occasionally. He was then asked to timekeep at Glen Helen alongside Maurice Maudsley for the TT and MGP. If you ever wanted a reliable man who was good with figures then you could do no better than have Ian alongside you. He was a mine of information about the TT and MGP, the riders, the times, the speeds, the years etc. In fact come to that he was very well read in football, cricket and athletics to name but a few sports.
I used to love engaging in conversation with Ian and testing my memory against his as we were both anoraks and individuals who had an interest in statistics. I used to think I could hold my own when it came to recalling times and who won what etc, but Ian was undoubtably The Man when it came to that and I always regarded him as the Godfather or Oracle when it came to knowledge with facts and figures in sport. Moreover, whenever I or anybody else lap scored round the King George V perimeter for a half marathon for instance and we messed up on the laps, if Ian was competing, then you could bet your life on the fact that Ian would know how many laps he had done and knew within a second (computer brain) of his pace per lap. This of course was a help to the lap scorers as we could work it back from where Ian was in the race.
As well as being very popular, an example of this and indeed of Ian’s lovely nature was when my brother Stuart was doing a sports project, thesis, assignment (whatever they are called now) when he was in Didsbury College between 1968 – 1971 and he wanted information on race walking and indeed the Boundary Harriers. Stuart had taken pictures of me walking (hopefully the ones when my legs were straight) and someone from the club recommended that Ian Turnbull could provide some interesting facts and figures on the local walking scene in the 10 years it had been really going for. As Stuart was in Manchester, my mother decided to pay Ian a visit. Though she met him at work, Ian was more than happy to give an hour of his time to assist in this undertaking. My mother was charmed by his easy going nature, sense of humour and helpfulness. Naturally Stuart was indebted and as a result passed his assignment with flying colours, possibly partly down to Ian’s invaluable and fascinating input.
Of course his interests just didn’t end there and being versatile as he was, enjoyed playing bridge, fell walking and rambling over the Manx countryside. He was also a huge Evertonian and would often go away to see his beloved blues.
Ian sadly lost a great friend just over 2 years ago in Brian Goldsmith, who tragically passed away suddenly at his home. Ian gave a great eulogy and tribute to Brian and thanked both him and Sandie’s (Brian’s wife) who had supported Ian in his hour of need when he and his family lost Maureen, a year or two before Brian’s departure. Ian never forgot this and was indebted to the pair of them. However, a year or two after losing Maureen he found happiness again he got married again to Joyce. They actually met through the countryside walking festival held in the Island. Their common interests were rambling and playing bridge.
Though Ian was a very talented man, he remained modest, unassuming and private and didn’t like anyone to see him towards the end of his life when he was ill, as he wanted to be remembered by everyone when he was fit and well. In fact I am sure he would be cringing with embarrassment if he had to read this, though I bet being the perfectionist he was, would also be keen to point out several inaccuracies and incorrect dates I may have stated – but of course in a nice way. Unfortunately I did not have the time to research his life fully.
I think I speak for hundreds of people who have had the pleasure of coming in contact with Ian Turnbull, at any time of their lives and in whatever capacity, that it was an education and privilege to have known him. We will all miss Ian greatly for numerous reasons and I don’t think he had an enemy in his life. He was a top man. Sincere condolences and sympathy is extended to Joyce, Colin and Janice and the rest of the family and close friends at this extremely difficult time.
Respect!
Rest in Peace Ian
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