|
|
| Notices |
| Read or add comments |
|
|
| No: 452 | | From: Graham Whiteside | Posted: 2-1-2025 |
 | | Farewell Ian Frank |
| | Colin Woodbridge contacted us with the sad news of Ian's death.
Frank passed away this morning 2nd January.
Funeral details:
Friday 3rd January at 1:30pn
Rainsclough Cemetery
Butterstyle Lane
Prestwich
M25 9UL |
|
 |
| Comments |
| 1 |
From: Paul Southworth |
Posted: 05-01-2025 |
|
An absolutely top bloke, probably more famous for his weight-lifting, booming laugh and 'crusher' hand-shake than his cleaning skills, and as far as I know and I might be wrong one of the driving forces behind getting the very unofficial gym in the basement cable chambers in Dial House started in the 1980's. |
| |
| 2 |
From: Paul Southworth |
Posted: 05-01-2025 |
|
I first met Ian when I moved from trunk auto maintenance in Rutherford to Manchester PW's on 5th floor Irwell and 1st floor Dial in May 1987. Not wishing to visit the shops or the pub in my dinnertimes, someone told me to speak to Ian about 'joining' £10 for life membership the gym, so in September 1987 I did... I have been going to the gym ever since. |
| |
| 3 |
From: Paul Southworth |
Posted: 05-01-2025 |
|
Ian was a very inspirational bloke both in the gym and out of it, plagued by eye problems all his life, he had the heart of a lion and a great sense of humour which he needed with some of the stuff which happened in the gym!, and even when Ian retired he would continue travelling into Dial the good old days, when you could still get away with doing such things! to continue training. A keen runner he completed at least two marathons, and carried on going to the YMCA gym after Dial was no longer allowed into his 80's!!! and I think still running up to maybe age 80?. |
| |
| 4 |
From: Paul Southworth |
Posted: 05-01-2025 |
|
Ian was also a very talented musician, both on the keyboard and the gob-iron, regularly performing in old-peoples' can I say that?! homes and, even in 2024, in local cafes.
I was very fortunate to re-make contact with Ian in the past couple of years thanks to Chalky White, and Ian, Chalky and I would head to Noshers cafe for a good feed before wandering back to Ian's for a chat about old times. Even in hospital, just a few weeks ago, Ian retained his smile and his crusher handshake. He was massively inspirational to me in terms of exercise, and I am sure a LOT of previous gym-goer in Dial who knew Ian would say the same. Sadly I couldn't make Ian's funeral as I was 200+ miles away at the time. A lovely bloke who loved his family. RIP Big Fellah. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
