Ian played for North House in House competitions. He had fond memories of the boys making the oval by clearing ‘the paddock’ of rocks and stones to build the bank.
Ian left school aged 15 to help in his family’s pottery business, R. Fowler Ltd. Twice rejected because of his poor eyesight, in 1943 he enlisted in the Australian Army and was involved in the production of the Australian Beaufighter aircraft. He married Karitane nurse Margaret Devenish-Meares and later became General Manager of Marson Industries Australia. Ian’s association with Knox continued throughout his life. He had an extraordinary memory and contributed many highly detailed recollections of the early school years for the Knox Archives. He was an early president of The Senior Knoxonians, then known as the Over Seventies, and an active and a life member of the Old Knox Grammarians’ Association.
His son Robert Ashley (OKG61), grandsons Robert Iain (OKG88) and Donald Lindsay (OKG90) and great grandson Robert Edward (OKG21) also attended the school. His daughter-in-law Dr Cecile Ferguson OAM was a member of the School Council from 1991 to 2001. She had been in Ferguson House at PLC Croydon, which was named for Ian’s grandfather, past Moderator-General the Rev John Ferguson, who had conducted Knox’s first Anzac Day service at St Stephen’s in the city in 1924.
War Service
1943-1944 - Australian Army NX200589, Private, 1 AEME REC TRG BN
1924 First School Group Autumn Term
