Mourners pay final respects to Ian Ebbs
SCORES of mourners converged on a city centre church yesterday to pay their final respects to a popular engineer killed in a horrific work accident.
SCORES of mourners converged on a city centre church yesterday to pay their final respects to a popular engineer killed in a horrific work accident.Father-of-two Ian Ebbs died earlier this month after becoming trapped in machinery at Peterborough magazine publisher St Ives Web – a tragedy which is still being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.
The 43-year-old grew up in the city but lived in Morton, near Bourne, with his wife Jackie and teenage children, Matt and Zoe.
Relatives, friends and work colleagues – some wearing shorts as a tribute to Mr Ebbs's habit of never wearing long trousers in any weather – packed into a service at St John the Baptist Church in Cathedral Square, Peterborough city centre, as moving tributes were paid to the devoted family man who "lived for his wife and children".
Sixteen-year-old son Matt bravely read a eulogy to his father at the ceremony, with tributes also coming from brother Christopher, who shared Mr Ebbs's passion for motorcycles, as well as other relations and work colleagues.
His coffin was carried from the church to the sound of Chesney Hawkes's hit The One And Only, with football anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and Queen's You're My Best Friend played at a cremation service at Peterborough Crematorium afterwards.
His wake was held at Gaston restaurant and bar in Broadway, Peterborough.
Tributes from Ian Ebbs's family and friends left on PeterboroughToday.co.uk
OH, Ian. Where can I start? I have read so many wonderful comments about you and the number of people whose lives you touched in so many ways is overwhelming.
The best of it is that you really had no idea, because you were so modest – just working hard to provide a fantastic life for your family in the simple way only you knew how. No pretence, no airs or graces – just you. You had no idea, I'm sure, just how much you were my rock, my best friend and the other half of my whole. I know I will never ever be whole again without you and this is one very long dark road I must walk without you, but I must do it for the sake of our children.
We always knew we had some great friends around us, Ian, but never ever could you or I imagine we would need to call upon them to help in this way. And yet they have all been such a support to me and the children you just can't imagine. I am so grateful to them for that but I ache so much without you. The only thing I can do now is make sure an accident like this never happens again, to make things safe for your workmates (your mini-family) & to help Steve through his trauma in whatever way I can.
Dad said the other day that if tears could bring you back you would be swimming back to us now & how right he was. I can't accept that you have been taken from us yet, so for now you are away on your bike with your brother (best friends in France laughing so much in McDonald's that time that it hurt).
Until we meet again my darling. I will never ever stop loving you with all my heart. I just hope & pray you knew just how much that is.
WIFE JACKIE xxxxContinued: Tributes from Ian Ebbs's family and friends left on PeterboroughToday.co.uk
MY Dad was the greatest man to have lived. Always smiling, always happy. I say that, he could be a grumpy git at times, but he never held a grudge, and we'd soon be chatting again. Thankyou for all the wonderful things you've all said, he would have loved them if he saw them. I don't think he realised how popular he was. I know, in some ways, he was with me today, singing happy birthday along with the rest. It'll be hard without him, but we'll get along.
Thank you Dad, you were the best, I'll miss you so so much.
SON MATT
Thank you all for your kind words. He was a wonderful brother, son, dad, husband and lovely kind but mostly funny man. We will all miss him .x x
Can I just say thank you to the men that tried to save my brother, my thoughts are also with you at this tragic time.
SISTER BEC. X
I WOULD also like to thank Ian's work colleagues that tried in vain to save my brother. Along of course with the emergency services.
Ian was an amazing character, one that I am so proud to call my brother. He would lighten the room with his witty humour and put a smile on everyone that came into contact with him. Ian, we love you, and miss you terribly.
BROTHER JAMIE
IT'S so lovely to read the kind comments. I know lots of people were in shock when they saw Ian in the paper and will be reminissing about some time or another when they knew him. He was a unforgettable, funny bloke and a great brother.
When the sadness eventually subsides, we will all have some fab memories of him and he will be with us all in our hearts forever as we all remember his sense of humour, silly dances and many other things.
My condolences to his workmates that had to witness this terrible accident and as Bec said, thank you for trying to help him. RIP big bruv
SISTER KALA x
I cannot thank Ian enough for being a great stepson. I will miss his sense of humour, and yes his silly walks.
Thank you to everyone who tried to help, and the lovely messages people have sent. Siobhan, Steven, Gary, Georgina, Jade, Callum, and Rhys, send their condolences to all the family.
STEPMUM CHRISTINE EBBS
I WOULD also like to thank the friends at Ian's workplace who tried to free him. I take comfort knowing he was with people who cared for him. I also lost my best friend when Ian died, we shared so many happy times and I thought we would have so many more. Our bike rides and trips away will be a source of comfort when the pain subsides. Millau will always belong to us. I love you, Ian, and will miss you forever, MUPPET
Love from Ebbi xxx
BROTHER CHRISTOPHER EBBSContinued: Tributes from Ian Ebbs's family and friends left on PeterboroughToday.co.uk
THANK you for all the wonderful things you have said about my son Ian. A special thanks to those who tried to help Ian – it must have horrible for you to witness. Ian was a wonderful son and brother who we will all miss.
DAD EBBO
OH, Ian, you were the best son-in-law anyone could possibly wish for – I am going to miss you so much. All the times you would help me out with a problem when really you should have been concentrating on one of Jackie's lists – you did love those lists didn't you?!?!
We will always be there for Jackie, Matt & Zoe – the family you loved so much, and who are hurting and miss you so badly. Bless you Ian – we will always love you.
MOTHER-IN-LAW DIANE
And woe betide anybody who came between him and his packup, yet curiously, he loved to share the odours of his previous pickups and last nights dinners.
Ian was also very funny humorously with his funny walks, his funny accents and his funny jokes. I was describing him to another friend whose children go to the same school as Matthew and Zoe and she said 'yes I know him, the man that wears shorts all the year round even when it's minus 12 degrees!'
As an engineer, Ian was the best I have worked with, taking a pride in his work that is rarely seen these days, whether it was making a repair to a machine or fabricating a part for a machine, it was all done with a fierce pride. 'if a jobs worth doing its worth doing well.' I've heard him say on numerous occasions. On the shop floor everybody liked his cheery nature and he was the one everybody brought their stuff in from home for him to repair. Once somebody brought in a garden strimmer for me to look at and I just wanted to put some electrical tape to cover over a bare wire but no, he nagged me to strip down the handle and wire the lead up from scratch and do the job properly, which I did and I felt better for doing so. When he helped me at home to repair my broken fence posts, he even did that to perfection showing me the right way too do it just as his father-in-law Derek had taught him. He was brilliant.
I have written this from a works perspective so it goes without saying that he lived for his family and worked hard and long hours for this family. And as I man, I don't mind admitting that Iloved Ebbo and his death has left a gaping chasm in my life, which no one else could possibly fill. But I am proud that I've known him and his family and am proud that they trusted my family and me to look after Simba when they went on holiday. I am also proud that Ebbo regarded me as a friend.
GARY MEDLER, MARKET DEEPINGContinued: Tributes from Ian Ebbs's family and friends left on PeterboroughToday.co.uk
As a very close friend of Ian's sister Kala, I am very saddened by this news, it is such a tragic loss. My thoughts are with you all at this terrible time
ZOE G. March
I never did thank Ebbo for my garden tool rack that he made out of a bit of scrap metal, it is perfect and I think of him every time I go in the shed.
JUNE SMITH
I read Gazza's comments dare not mention the night of the dry ice, loved him to bits my thoughts are with Jackie and family.
ALAN SMITH
Ian you were one of the funniest guys around, nothing seemed to get you down. You also have the most amazing family anybody could wish for, rest assured they will all be cared for no matter what.
You're also probably the only person that could forget his passport and yes still get to France, unbelievable but true and When most would be distraught you laughed! You will sadly be missed by all of us but at least we had the truly great privilege of knowing you. RIP fella..XX
THE ELDERS, WHITTLESEY
Uncle Ian, what do i say? Theres nothing really i can say to make this any better. its amazing to read all of the comments about you and how you had an effect on so many peoples lives. everyone that knew you, knew you was a great, wonderful and funny man. you was always the person first on the dancefloor at any family do' doing the funky chicken or the ymca. it will be very hard at the next family get-together without you there.
The news of your death has brought distress to so many, you will be so very missed by everyone who knew you. thank you for always managing to make me smile and laugh at every possible chance. the saying "you never know what you have until its gone" springs to mind.
I didnt see you very often but i was always greatful to have you as such an amazing uncle. its the hardest part right now, coming to terms with what has happened to such a remarkable man, our memories will stay with us forever and always. you have left a space in so many peoples lives, that can never be filled by anyone else.
Thank you for being there, for making me laugh at nearly everything you did and for being a magnificent uncle. lots of love
DANIELLE MASON, MARCHContinued: Tributes from Ian Ebbs's family and friends left on PeterboroughToday.co.uk
My father-in-law used to work with Ian at St Ives...I heard about this on Tuesday....such a tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
AMANDA THE SHEEP, BOURNE
I went to school with & lived on the same street as Ebbsy as well & was only talking about him with another school friend on Friday last week. Not seen Ian since I left school but my condolences go to his family & he will be in my thoughts.
IT'S POSH UP NORTH
Ian was a great man he shall be sadly missed wont be the same without him around. RIP Ian shall miss you around can't believe your gone so sudden :(
TWINKLETOES 90
Haven't seen Ebbsy since we left school, but he was a good lad, bright witty and a great athelete. My thoughts are with your family and close friends mate.
EZZER, LONDON
Email to a friend
Print this page - Popular
- Most comments
- Most shared
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Local pages
Looking for a...
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 20 March 2010
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 3 C - 13 C
Wind Speed: 19 Knots
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 3 C - 13 C
Wind Speed: 10 Knots
Wind direction: South west
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.