Largs has recently lost a popular and friendly music mentor in Ian Stoddart, 73, who passed away following a battle with cancer.

Ian learned to play the piano when he was young, and joined a skiff group when he was in his teens, and had a picture of him and his friends performing at Barrfields Theatre at a young age.

He actually started his career as an apprentice printer with J.R Simpson’s shop in Largs Main Street, who used to produce the Largs and Millport Weekly News, and then went on to work at Jimmy Lawson’s fancy goods shop in Bath Street which was always a popular venue with tourists and locals alike.

Ian helped produce the former Gourock Times newspaper and ran the Gourock printing business for many years. He worked latterly in security at Inverclyde Sports Centre.

Ian was also a member of the Largs RNLI when he was younger, and he used to regularly go and help with the Brown family boat stance at the shore during the summer holidays in Largs.

He also ran Largs Judo Club for many years. and tried for the British Olympics team in this sporting discipline in 1964.

Ian loved his music and also learned to play the accordion, and his traditional Scots music was to find a popular home in the Waterside bar in Largs on Sunday afternoons during recent years.

His wife Christine said: “He was like a mentor to lots of people in sports and music, and he also had a love for the sea, and was one of the first crew memebers of Largs lifeboat when it launched in 1964.” He is survived by children Peter, Pamela and Philip, and two grandchildren Dawn and Ian.

His funeral took place last Monday at the Clark Memorial Church in Largs.

Known as ‘Stoddie’ to his friends, Ian started the session in the Waterside pub in Largs, which will be continued to be known as ‘Stoddie’s Session’ in his memory.