Tributes paid to Ian Jamieson
The man who compiled Shetland’s rolls of honour and service from 1939-1945 died at the weekend, aged 78.
Ian Jamieson took on the job as researcher on behalf of the Shetland Council of Social Services (SCSS) after he retired as head teacher at the Dunrossness school.
Mr Jamieson, who was well remembered for his meticulous attention to detail, spent five years drawing up the memorial listing all Shetlanders who fell while serving in the armed forces during the Second World War.
His work was considered a way of complementing the pictorial record which had been compiled of those who fell during the Great War of 1914-1919.
However the challenge was never an easy one – not least because 40 years had lapsed since the second war ended before work began on the World War II listings.
Retired councillor Jim Irvine, who worked with Mr Jamieson during his years at SCSS, paid tribute to him as a man who dedicated himself to the task of drawing up the list.
“When he retired as head teacher he applied for the post as researcher to try to produce the rolls of honour and service,” said Mr Irvine.
“It was a very exacting job.
Ian was the successful candidate for the role and I don’t know who else could have done it.
There was a tremendous amount of research required, and Ian’s conscientiousness came to the fore.
“We knew it was a very big project for the Shetland Council of Social Services to take on. It would have failed had there not been the quality of researcher that we had.
“I was the executive officer of Shetland Council of Social Services and we became very good friends as a result of this particular project. It is really sad to hear of his passing.”
Although he was originally from Unst, Mr Jamieson made his home in Quendale in Dunrossness.
Mr Jamieson was a church elder and lay preacher, as well as captain of the South Mainland BBs.
“He was a well-known man at the Ness and very popular,” said Mr Irvine.
