Vale Ivan Durran
President in 1985-1986 and a Paul Harris Fellow (1993), Ivan was an Honorary Member of the Club at the time of his death. Ivan was never a "knife and fork" Rotarian. In every sense, he was actively involved in the international, community and vocational fields of Rotary initiatives.
He was convinced of the benefits of International Student Exchanges and in the era of his Presidency in particular, he was the Rotary District Secretary for student exchanges that were then being organised worldwide.
His sometimes blunt exterior camouflaged a knowledgeable and sensitive inner self. Some suggested that the bluntness was a protective mechanism to stop people getting close. But this was simply Ivan being Ivan - well read on most issues and saying it as he saw it.
Ivan was a caring and generous man and seemed uncomfortable in the limelight especially if praise was pointed in his direction. That having been said, none of his colleagues would ever die wondering what he thought! But at the end of the day, isn't that being no more than honest, albeit sometimes blunt?
His health had been impaired for many years with respitory and ocular issues of some magnitude. He had an aversion for hospitals and specialists (except for a favoured few).
He was a stoic man who faced more that his fair share of crises over the years but he always seemed to bounce back. That resilience was part of the man. And he also had the support of a great family.
To Jean, Christine, Neil and Fiona, our condolences and prayers.
Vale old friend, it was always an interesting journey.
