William (Ian) McLernon, BSc (died 3 December 2020, aged 78)
Obituary provided by Lady Victoria’s Rowing Club
Ian McLernon came to Queen’s in 1961, despite having a successful rowing career at Methody he decided to opt for a more military "pastime " and joined both the OTC and the Air Squadron, contrary to regulations, and after being found out he stayed with the Air Squadron until 1963 when he returned to rowing and secured a place at 4 in the Senior VIII for the 1963 - 64 season which he retained the following year, rowing at Henley in both years, complete with his ever present camera, frequently calling for re-enactments of events no matter how trivial.
After graduating in Civil Engineering he then married Thelma Hopkins, an Olympian Gold Medallist, and departed to North America where he settled in Edmonton, Canada where he remained, apart from trips in latter years, to the States and Tijuana, Mexico for treatment for a cancer which he bore with fortitude for the last eight years of his life.
He frequently returned to Belfast to renew his acquaintance with his former rowing colleagues and was always interested in what was happening in the Queen’s rowing world.
He passed away on 3 December 2020 and will be missed by those who rowed with him and knew him.
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