Ian Hosack 17.6.1905-21.8.2010: tribute from Jim Mather

Grand Old Man of Argyll & Bute SNP, the sudden death of Ian Hosack in Dunoon Hospital on Saturday after a fall in his home at Lochgoilhead will come as a shock to his many friends and admirers in Argyll & Bute and beyond.

Ian was a tower of strength in the growth and development of the Scottish National Party in Argyll but his contribution to the life and work of Lochgoilhead was also considerable and covered many facets of this delightful and determined man.

That was emphasised when his community celebrated Ian’s 100th birthday with a party in the Lochgoilhead village hall in 2005.

This well attended event revealed, to those who might not know, the extent of Ian’s contribution and the regard that he was held in by his adopted village.

He was a long serving  Elder of the Church of the Three Brethren, one time Session Clerk and still fulfilled his door duties long after celebrating his centenary. As a retired banker he often performed the function of treasurer to village organisations.  As Honorary Treasurer of the local branch of the RNLI over many years he was praised as the most meticulous bookkeeper that organisation had encountered, according to tributes paid him by their Scottish chairman.

Ian was born on the very day that Norway achieved her independence from neighbouring Sweden and he often cited the significance of that date and the successful process that had emerged from his day of birth.

Ian and his wife, Maisie, retired to Lochgoilhead in 1967 after Ian, who was born in South Africa of Scots parents had spent a career in banking in Southern Africa. He was always conscious of his Scottish roots and heritage and had travelled the length of Scotland on his motorbike as a young visitor to the land of his people..

He started up a local branch of the Scottish National Party in Natal in 1946  by writing a letter of criticism about Scottish aspirations to the local newspaper. He then collected the names and addresses of those who contacted the paper to protest and invited them to meet with him, forming an overseas SNP branch

A brief notice in the Post Office in Lochgoilhead in 1968, seeking out those of similar mind, led soon after to the formation of the Lochgoil branch of the SNP and that played its own part in the election of Nationalist MP Iain MacCormick in two successful election campaigns in 1974. Ian was deeply involved in branch and constituency work over very many years and retained a keen interest in the political process.

Only hearing problems curtailed his meeting attendances latterly but he was always asking for news and views about the situation in Argyll. Only last week he was enquiring about what could be done about preparations for the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May 2011/

He was in South Africa when the first free, post-apartheid elections were held in 1994 and he proudly queued in the open with others to cast his vote on that historic occasion. That was the mark of the man.

Ian was a truly inspirational figure to his many friends. We will remember his example and hold true to his vision. We extend our deepest sympathies to his daughter Elspeth and son Neil.