News

Remembering Iby

It was with great sadness that the Sporting Memories family were made aware of the passing of Dunbar Club volunteer Ian Robertson. 

Ian’s Sporting Memories journey

Ian, who was known to all at Sporting Memories as ‘Iby’, started his journey with Sporting Memories as a member of our Dunbar Club over a decade ago, where he joined alongside a friend who had been diagnosed with early on-set dementia, to help him get out of the house and be part of a local activity.

After a short while, Iby became more involved with the weekly sessions and then eventually became a volunteer for the Club in 2017, becoming a pivotal figure in the successful running and development of the Club over the years.

Iby spoke on his enjoyment of being involved with Sporting Memories for our website, noting in particular the friendships and relationships he built with his fellow Dunbar Club members and volunteers over the years.

Bringing the community together

During his life Iby had worked as a joiner and later went on to become the janitor of Dunbar Primary School, but it was through his passion for football that Iby was well-known and well-liked through the local community.

Iby had a strong passion for football and was a supporter of Hibernian and was also heavily involved with his local team Dunbar United, having been President of the Club on no less than three occasions as well as being treasurer for the Club too. With his local connection through to Dunbar Primary School, he played an important role in helping the Dunbar Sporting Memories Club to reach out to the local community.

Iby was influential in getting a number of guests to visit the Club to share their wonderful sporting stories at their weekly sessions, including former Chelsea and Everton winger Pat Nevin, Rangers and Hearts defender Dave McPherson, Rangers and Hearts winger Neil McCann, Hibernian and Sunderland player Neil Martin, and former para-athlete Maria Lyle. Iby was well-known for being able to find interesting speakers to come along to the sessions, making a compelling argument for all guests to make sure they visited the Dunbar members!

Maria became a regular visitor through the Club thanks to Iby and the members saw her as an unofficial ‘Club ambassador’ who they would support through her athletics career.

Aside from finding sporting stars to attend the Dunbar sessions, Iby also supported Club members to engage with students from Dunbar Grammar School to find out more about each other and to share stories about how the local area has changed through the generations.

Reflecting on Iby

Iby will be missed by all at Sporting Memories, and nowhere more so than at our Dunbar Club, where he spent more than a decade tirelessly supporting his fellow volunteers and members, creating bonds and friendships that will be cherished forever.

In the words of one of our team – Ian ‘Iby’ Robertson will forever be a ‘Sporting Memories Legend!’