My Uncle Ian was larger than life. As children my sister and I woukd always like to visit him and my Nanny. He was always very kind and very funny, making us laugh at his jokes and gifts he gave us. He adored my Nanny and would do anything for her. He loved his books, and pets especially Joe the budgie who would help himself to his spaghetti! He was a true artist and his art and poems were a treat to see. I moved to Australia in 2005, but our family did manage to see him when we came back to the UK.  He would amuse my 3 boys by pretending he was eating spiders which he kept in his pocket, to their delight they thought this was both amazing and horrible at the same time. 
He was defintely one of a kind and irreplaceable, we will miss his emails, blogs, art, wit, poems and most of all his kind heart.   Sarah Tamakuni-Keast