Ian Bennett

Ian passed away suddenly last week. He is a great loss to all of us involved with IEEP and in enterprise education. He created many friendships through IEEP and his love for life spilled over into the programme infecting those who had the wonderful opportunity to know him.

Our sympathies are with his family. This site has been created to celebrate Ian’s life. Please insert your tributes and upload your photos and captions below.

Ian’s family have requested no flowers. Many have expressed a wish to make a donation. This can also be done below. NCGE will transfer all proceeds to the Sir Geraint Evans Heart Research Institute as preferred by Ian’s family.

"Ian was an inspiration - always able to see the lighter side of things, to take the world with the big pinch of salt that it deserves. His enthusiasm for what others were doing marked him out as a special person. He was always supporting and encouraging others. Despite his self-deprecating humour he had a real pride in what he did and a passion for what he wanted to see happen."

"It was always a joy to be in Ian’s company; he had a heart of gold, took an interest in people was able to strike up a conversation with random people and had such a skill of bringing out the best in people. Ian was full of energy, always looked at the funny side of life and I’m pleased that we were able to share one last joke last week.

I will miss him terribly and can not begin to understand the trauma that his family must be going through, he talked about them (and his beloved dog!) constantly and I just hope that they can find comfort knowing how much Ian was loved and respected by everyone. There will never be another Mr. B."

"This is tragic news. Ian was such a delight. I so enjoyed his personality, his rye wit, and his wonderful sense of irony. He was a fine, classy gentleman. I have not yet even broken the seal on the bottle of Penderyn that he presented me ... and just a few days ago, I was thinking of him (and all of you) as I wore the necktie that he gave me, with the great Seal of Scotland on it, for the first time to a fancy dinner party in New York on November 1st. Ian will be in my prayers."

"Please send our deepest sympathies and condolences to Ian’s family. What a horrible loss, we will miss his warmth and love of life, friends, and fun. When I read your email I instantly thought of him and Orla singing along and conducting to symphonic music in my car, and our karaoke at the Hilton. All wonderful memories, Ian will be deeply missed."

"This is very sad news indeed. I remember Ian’s bright personality, his fabulous voice and kind heart, (I wear the tie he gave me often). Although I only knew him for a short time, I was touched by his kind spirit and his music. The best memories we have had in our home came from his joyful song."

"I met Ian for the first time at the IEEP in Liverpool and was struck by just how friendly and open he was. We had an unforgettable night singing in the bar - probably one of the best nights many of us have ever had on business! Ian was right at the centre of it all and was clearly liked and respected by everyone present. A man who will be sadly missed for many reasons."

"Ian Bennett was a wonderful person. A warm, kind soul who touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with on IEEP. I will remember him for his amazing attitude to life - his humour, kindness and the sincerity he brought to everything we did, and which led to the creation of the best memories of the programme. Although I only knew Ian for a relatively short amount of time, he made a big impression on me as an educator and a human being. I know I will never forget him and offer my deepest sympathies to those who had the privilege of being closest to him. A lovely man."

"Reading the news by email was a shock to us all - but the collective response of warm memories has been an unexpected joy to read and allowed us to remember Ian by all his warm hearted actions and genuine spirit! His helpful and supportive nature will be missed by us all - and by our community - as he truly was a man of great character and one of kind.

My deepest sympathies to his family, friends and those that knew him best - you are in our thoughts."

"An entrepreneur and gentleman who will be sadly missed, our thoughts and sympathies to his family."

"Ian will be sorely missed. In the few months that I spent on the IEEP programme I got to know him as a warm and caring individual. He was such a joy to be with and always made me laugh. I pray wherever he is now, he is still having a laugh. My thoughts are with his family in their moment of grief."

"When you see God, you give him a lickin’

Cause I just don’t know what he was thinking

He must have needed someone who could make him laugh

Or to carry his case

if he fell in the bath

But for us, life without Ian

will never be the same

He of acting, singing,

drinking, fame

Touched all of our hearts in a way we won’t forget

We have memories in abundance

Since the first time we met

So although our friend and colleague

Has sadly gone

His memory, in our hearts, will live on and on

God Bless Ian, no-one will fill your shoes, even your poems were better x"

"Uncle Ian..... looking at what people have wrote about you just shows what a wonderful and well respected man you are!

You will be missed every day by all... no words can express how much your loss hurts!

Love you always, your niece Kate x.x.x.x.x.x"

"Ian was a tremendous person - always full of enthusiam, energy and encouragement. Evr the humourist and a perfect gent! He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. It was such a shock to hear the sad news earlier this week to hear he had been taken from us in such a tragic way. I'll always remember him for his smiling face and his support for everyone. We spent lots of time helping each other through the programme. and laughing through the learning set meetings - particularly our filming day back in May. Thanks for all the fun times Ian - it was a privilege to have known you ....."

"Ian had such a terrific outlook on life from which we can all learn. He had an amazing aptitude to get along with everyone and had the gift of creating a wave of happiness wherever he went. My prayers are with both family and friends."

"Ian,

many happy memories of our time together in Round Table and Inner Wheel - remembering your children when they were small and dragged along to anything that involved children with the Club. Always smiling, always laughing. It was a privilage to know you. May God keep you safe.

Wyn and Chris."

"Ian's very active involvement in the arena of enterprise and entrepreneurship brought him into contact with many of us, and his larger than life personality and energy will be sadly missed by all of us whose lives were touched by those contacts with Ian.

On behalf of Enterprise Educators UK, I and Simon and Alison all came into close contact with Ian over the last 18 months during his participation on the IEEP programme, and we were always inspired by his enthusiasm and passion for life as well as his very human and caring touch and generosity in everything he did.

I am sure those of us who knew Ian will really miss him."

"As you can see from this extract from Ian's application to join IEEP, he had a great love for his family and I know they will have a huge gap in their lives:

"I have a wife and three children, two of whom are studying in University, and it is fair to say that my family are my prime interest".

And Ian must have held a special place in the local community:

"Other leisure interests revolve around two local service organisations which present me with opportunities to socialise as well as contribute to my community. I play an active part in Carmarthen Tywi Rotary Club and was President in 2005/06. I am also a past Chairman of Carmarthen Round Table and a member of Carmarthen Ex-Tablers Club, along with many of my friends".

Ian also had his own ambitions:

"My ambition is to own an E-type Jaguar and use it to tour Europe".

This warmth, spirit and enthusiasm spilled over into IEEP and thanks to Ian the 2007 group will always be very special. Thank you Ian for enriching our lives."

"Ian, I like to think we became very good mates, there was something about you being able to make everyone smile, be the cause of reason and yet be so passionate about and dedicated to your work. I don't think it has settled in but we certainly had some great memories, staying up late for a beer, chuckling at the back of the class, talking about your favorite sheep...

I know you would really be disappointed that i feel so sad, you would much rather we all had a beer and a laugh. But I genuinely feel that the world has lost something special, I only knew you for a year but you have reached out and influenced so many people in that time. As for me, I had a role model and a friend in you, as i am sure so many others did too.

So I feel happy that i had the opportunity to walk at your side, but I am also or angry that you have been taken away, most of all I am sad that so many others wont have the chance to meet you....

You were my mate, and we shant forget you. Rest in peace and save me a good seat at the back of the classroom."

"Well well Iano,

Hard to believe this is where we’re at, it’s impossible to comprehend. My heart goes out to your beloved family.

Not much left to say really but to recall with incredible emotion our admiration and terrible recitation of Leonard Coen songs….

“So long, Marianne, it's time that we began to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.”

You’ll be missed terribly,

Orla"

"Reflections

Smile on lips

Drink in hand

Chortling

Listening

Responding

Supporting

Smile on lips

Drink in hand

Cheers!"

"You contributed right up to the end Ian, though the 'chattering in the back row' may have earned you a cheeky slap on the wrist!

We know how much you've added to the entrepreneurial culture in Wales and will do our best to live up to your benchmark.

You are sadly missed."