Today we look at the life of Ian Stuart Lee, in the second of a series of articles remembering those lost to coronavirus over the past year. We’d like to thank the families and friends who have been in touch with the Stray Ferret to share precious memories of their loved ones.

Ian Stuart Lee was born on October 8, 1951 in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. He died aged 69 on January 9, 2021 at Harrogate District Hospital.

Ian was loved by his wife and family and became a committed member of the community in Pateley Bridge after moving to the town five years ago.

One of two sons, Ian went to school in Heckmondwike and left at the age of 18 to start his career in hospitality.

At 20 years old he worked as assistant manager at The Old Manor House in Knaresborough.  Little did he know the young woman that started as a waitress over the summer would be his fiancee seven months later.

The pair married in Beeston, near Leeds, in 1975 and moved to Oxford a year later to work in the newsagent industry.

His wife, Theresa Lee, said "he was the love of my life", a man with a sense of adventure always holding Yorkshire close to his heart.

Ian and Theresa worked in the newsagent industry for a long time, working behind counters and as stocktakers. Even running their own newsagent in Oxford during the 70's.

The pair didn't have children but were close to their eight nephews and nieces, who now live across the world.

Their shared love for adventure took them to every corner of the globe. The pair visited all seven continents during their time together - even Antartica in 2018. Theresa recalled celebrating Ian's 65th birthday in Abu Dhabi in 2016.

Theresa said despite their travels, and time living down south Ian never lost his Yorkshire twang, he was known for greeting anyone with a "Ow do?".

After 10 years living away from Yorkshire in Oxford and Liverpool. The pair moved back up to West Yorkshire and lived in Cleckheaton for the next 30 years.

During that time Ian continued in stocktaking and achieved a goal of his to run a fish and chip shop. The pair ran one together in Armley for seven years.

Five years ago, in 2016, the married couple came and settled in Wilsill, near Pateley Bridge, and got stuck into the Pateley Bridge community.

This included the Pateley Playhouse - Ian took on the role of theatre manager and Theresa worked backstage in props. Ian even made his stage debut as a dwarf for the society's February pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs last year.

Ian was instrumental in the renovation plans currently underway at the Playhouse to install a lift. A total of £2,200 has been donated to the lift project in Ian's name.

Ian also volunteered with the Nidderdale and Pateley Bridge Men's Shed, an initiative spreading across the country to encourage men to talk and tackle loneliness. He was also the health and safety officer for the town's Memorial Hall Committee.

Towards the end of his life, Ian went into Harrogate District Hospital on December 23 after feeling unwell.

Theresa was able to be with Ian at the end of his life alongside a friend. She said "it was a comfort to be with him but hard not to hug him".

Ian died on January 9, 2021, aged 69.

Theresa and Ian had "one hell of a good life together" and she hopes to travel one day to see her family abroad and continue ticking off the countries they had planned to visit together.