Ian was born on 23 March 1921, and was soon adopted by the Templetons, a couple who lived in Pollokshaws. Mr. Templeton was a marine engineer who worked on the River Clyde. Ian describes his adoptive parents as "wonderful". He was the only child of the family.
After leaving Sir John Stirling Maxwell School in Pollokshaws at the age of 14, he followed his father into the marine engineering trade. He apprenticed at David Rowans until he was 21, then went to sea in 1942. On his first ship, he travelled from Cardiff to Spain to bring back iron ore. He came home permanently in 1951, after which he worked as an engineer for various companies such as John Dalglish of Pollokshaws and Rolls Royce.
Ian and his wife married on 30 March 1944 while he was on leave from the shipping trade. His mother-in-law worked for Mrs. Finlayson, who owned the local pub. A storeroom was cleared out in the pub, and became Ian and his wife's first home. When Mrs. Finlayson went on holiday, the couple was allowed to stay in her bungalow.
Later, they were given the council house where Ian still lives after 46 years. They never had children due to his wife's heart problems; they would have liked to adopt, but that was frowned upon by his wife's mother. He views their marriage as the best thing he ever did and refers to his wife as "the most wonderful girl in my life". Sadly, she died of cancer at Christmas 1990, but he gets along with the help of his friends at the Methodist church in Pollokshaws and his very happy memories of her.
Created by
Paula Cuccurullo and Howard
Mitchell
Updated 19 October 1999
© 1999 WEA Scotland
