Memorial to be held for 'much-respected' production manager Ian Paton

A memorial is set to be held for the "much-respected" production manager Ian Paton, after he died in April this year at the age of 80.

Throughout his publishing career he worked at Dorling Kindersley, Hamlyn (later Octopus Publishing Group) and The British Library.

Paton was born in London, and later raised near Fort William, eventually leaving for Edinburgh University to study mathematics. Like many students he found new and interesting subjects for study, finally graduating with an honours degree in philosophy.

He then left for Malaya as a VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas volunteer) to teach science where he spent three pleasant and adventurous years. On his return he joined the Civil Service (the Department for Overseas Development) but he had so enjoyed teaching in Malaya that he decided to retrain as a teacher. Firstly, in Hephaistos School for physically handicapped children and then in schools throughout London. In 1973, he married Celia, and together they bought a house in London where there raised their two children, Eleanor and Ruari.

After a year at the London College of Printing, Ian went into book publishing, which was a good fit for an avid and widely read person. He subsequently worked as a much-respected team member with a meticulous eye for detail until he retired fully in 2014. He will be remembered for "cooly managing the delivery of many critical book orders across the globe and helping to keep the wheels turning".

He loved choral singing, attending theatres, concerts, museums and in retirement he kept his enthusiasm for climbing and hiking that had first awakened in his youth. His love for Scotland brought him back each year, often to The Cuillins on the Isle of Skye.

Ian married his second wife, Diana, in 2016 and had a decade of great happiness until the "shock of his sudden illness".