Ian Arthur Wayland Cleveland 1924-2012
Ian Cleveland was born on 15 May 1924 at Monk's Horton, Kent.
He was the only son of Eric and Audrey Cleveland (née Wayland). Eric Cleveland served in The King's Regiment (Infantry) and won a Military Cross during the First World War. In his early years he travelled a good deal as his father was a Regular Army Officer retiring as a Commanding Officer.
His mother died prematurely of meningitis in 1931 while on a posting to Egypt with her husband. His father remarried in 1933 to Beatrice Mitchell and Ian eventually gained two half sisters, Angela and Louise, and a half brother, David. His sister Jane (first marriage) was tragically killed in a road accident in 1935 and Ian felt the loss of both his mother and sister all his life. In 1942 Ian had completed his education at Tonbridge School, Kent, and followed his father into the Army. After initial training he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery and without delay was posted to Italy where he fought in some of the difficult battles as Allied troops fought their way northward towards France.
Ian remained an Army officer after the war and one of his first duties was ADC to the Head of the British Services Mission to Burma and was present, in Rangoon, when Burma gained its independence in 1948.
In 1953 he married Elizabeth Gascoigne and they made their home in Hornchurch, Essex. Shortly afterwards Ian was posted to Korea as part of the peace-keeping phase of the Korean conflict. Their son, Christopher, was born in 1954 and later travelled with his parents to his father's various military postings including Hong Kong and Malaya. Eventually, after several more years travelling abroad, Ian left the Army with the rank of Captain, for civilian life in 1959.
His civilian duties were concentrated on administrative posts within professional bodies and associations and he was for many years Secretary to the Royal College of Nursing, London. Later he became Secretary of the Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry and held this position until his retirement in 1987. He worked for the Sue Ryder Home in Nettlebed and continued to help raise funds for the Reading School. He became very active in local issues centred on Goring and Streatley where he lived and became secretary of Goring Gap News Association and remained so for 25-years. He was a member of the Streatley Parish Council and of St Mary's Church.
Ian entered Freemasonry in 1979 when he was Initiated into Berkshire St David's Lodge on 9 October 1979. He progressed through all the Lodge offices and became Master on 11 April 1989. He served as Almoner for several years until he was unable to attend meetings due to his deteriorating night vision. He was promoted to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2003. Ian was also a member of Etonian Chapter of St John 209 and was Exalted on 16 October 1989. However, his attendance was not good and he resigned, in good standing, in March 1993 having been made Steward and 1st Assistant Sojourner. He was also a member of the Rose Croix Order and was Perfected into St Cecilia Chapter 811 on 6 December 1991. He became Most Wise Sovereign on 21 February 2000 and a Knight Kadosh on 10 July 2001. Apart from his Masonic interests Ian was also a long serving member of Probus and enjoyed country walking, gardening, shooting, field sports, reading and, more recently in his life, genealogy. He was granted the Freedom of the City of London in 1993.
Ian had lived a full and serving life to his country and local community and is remembered by all as a professional, dedicated and courteous man with an engaging personality. Ian Cleveland died of leukaemia on 24 November 2012 and is survived by his wife and son. His funeral service took place on 7 December 2012 at St Mary's Church, Streatley, where he is buried.