Funeral of former Lord Mayor of York, Ian Gillies

The beautiful All Saints Church in North Street was full to bursting on Friday (December 27) as family, friends and those who knew Ian Gillies turned out for his funeral.

Ian Gillies’ family follow his coffin into the church (Image: Haydn Lewis) As The Press reported at the time, Ian died aged 78, earlier this month just over a fortnight after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Recommended reading:

Mr Gillies had been a Conservative councillor for Rural West York, for 12 years when he retired in 2019, twice serving as Conservative group leader, and also as City of York Council leader.

The current Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Margaret Wells arriving with the Civic Party (Image: Haydn Lewis) The service, which was presided over by Glyn Hamilton Webster, the former Bishop of Beverley also heard from his granddaughter Mollie Ovenden, childhood friend Phil Calvert and Ian’s son-in-law Steve Ovenden.

Ian Gillies pictured during his year in office as Lord Mayor Reliving fond memories, Phil said: “Way back in 1967, over a pint in Betty’s Bar, Ian said to us ‘You know, one day I’m going to be Lord Mayor of York’. Well I believed him, because he was pretty resolute even then, and had a cheeky way of getting involved and making things happen.”

Mr Gillies was utterly devoted to his family – wife Pat, daughters Kirsten, 54, and Cathie, 51 and his five granddaughters Mollie, 20, Isobel, 17, Lillie, 19, Rosie, 16 and Blossom, eight.

In the service Mollie, speaking on behalf of all his granddaughters, said: “We can all remember fondly the year grandad spent as Lord Mayor I have a distant memory of the ceremony in which a speech was given by a gentleman who said: ‘The greatest thing about Ian is that despite being a proud Scotsman if you broke him in half like a stick of rock you would see York running straight through the middle’.

“This is something that we whole heartedly agree with apart from the fact that another word should be added and that word is family. Everything grandad did was for us, he always stuck by us, gave us the best advice, gave us the best hugs and most importantly always reminded us of how much he loved us.

“Whilst it kills us to have lost him, we are so grateful to have had him.”

Ian Gillies with his granddaughters Rosie Railton, Mollie Ovenden, Isobel Ovenden, Blossom Railton and Lillie Railton (Image: Supplied) After education, Ian worked for a time in the offices at York carriageworks before joining the Metropolitan Police in London, serving in the Borough of Chelsea before transferring back up north to serve with York City Police.

Son-in-law, Steve, said Ian went on to become coroners officer and left the police in the mid ‘70s to pursue business interests of his own before becoming  national sales manager for Reliance Mutual – a job which led to he and Pat travelling the world.

Steve finished his speech by summing Ian up as: “An incredible man who has left his mark on this city and on his family. A legacy we are truly proud of.”

Donations on the day were in memory to York Against Cancer and St Leonard’s Hospice.

• The Press attended the funeral at the kind invitation of Ian’s family.

The funeral was held at All Saints North Street (Image: Haydn Lewis)