A PROMINENT East Lancashire businessman who bravely fought bone marrow cancer for nine years has died at 48.

Accomplished cricketer Ian Scothern, a company director at the family-owned electrical retailer Harry Garlick, passed away on Sunday surrounded by his family.

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The popular Barnoldswick-born wicketkeeper was diagnosed with multiple myeloma – a type of bone marrow cancer – and had undergone three stem cell transplants in an attempt to beat the disease.

But soon after the third treatment Ian’s health began to deteriorate and he passed away at St James’ Hospital in Leeds.

Since his death tributes have flooded in from all over the country with heartfelt messages of condolence even coming from as far afield as Australia, his family said.

Ian’s 19-year-old son Tom Scothern, who is a singer and guitarist, said: “He was a true inspiration to many and his death is a huge loss to his family, friends, the company, Barnoldswick and beyond.

“He’s made me the man and musician I am today and I can’t thank him enough for the life he has given me.

“Now is a tough time for us but we will stay strong and do him proud.

“Thank you for everyone’s kind words, and support.

“We all share amazing memories of him and he will never be forgotten.

“What an amazing man.”

Ian had lived in Barnoldswick all his life and was educated at Gisburn Road Primary School and Park High School in Colne before going on to Nelson and Colne College.

He completed a business degree at Preston Polytechnic before going to work for the family business around the age of 19.

The father-of-two’s family said everyone who knew Ian will remember him for his ‘kindness, generosity, and hard-working nature’.

He ran Harry Garlick alongside his two older brothers, Mike, 53, and Dave, 52, and also leaves behind his wife Kathy, and his 16-year-old daughter Hannah.

Paying tribute Mike Scothern said: “We have around 50 employees and I’m sure they’ll all be devastated.

“Ian was an incredibly popular guy.

“He was as a younger man, before he was ill, a keen sportsman, a footballer, a cricketer, and a massive fan of Everton.

“He’s been so courageous through this illness, he’s been inspirational in the way that he’s tackled the battle he’s had.

“And he was so proud of his family, particularly Tom and Hannah.”

Ian played cricket for Barnoldswick and represented the Ribblesdale League on numerous occasions.

Brain Woodhead, chairman of the Ribblesdale League, said: “It’s extremely sad.

“As a player, he was a top class amateur cricketer.

“He followed in his dad’s footsteps as a wicketkeeper for Barnoldswick and even though he was unable to play when he was ill he still kept Barnoldswick’s interests at heart.

“Even though he was struggling with his health, he still found time to work for the club.

“He was a very keen player, he was very much a team player, but equally a very good individual player.

“He was a good batsman, an excellent wicketkeeper, he represented the League with great distinction.

“As a player and as a person I had utmost respect for Ian, he was always very straight with you.”

Friend and fellow cricketer Ian Clarkson, who runs West Craven Insurance in Earby, said: “I’ve known him for years through cricket and through business.

“He was a good lad, one of the nicest guys there was.

“He was a good cricketer too, I spent time with him at Nelson and played against him when he went to Barnoldswick.

“He was a nice guy and he will be sorely missed.”

Despite his illness, Ian continued to put others first by fundraising for the Anthony Nolan Trust, the organisation that helped him to receive his stem cell transplants.

Together with his brother Dave and Dave’s wife Andrea, he organised a fundraising cricket tournament to raise awareness of multiple myeloma and money for the charity.

Players past and present from Barnoldswick, Earby, Edenfield, Great Harwood, Padiham and Settle took to the field for the eight-a-side tournament in August.

His brother Mike also raised more than £4,000 for Myeloma UK last year by competing in a triathlon.

Mike said: “He was well-loved, well-liked, he did so much for other people that we’re only finding out about now.

“People are writing hundreds of tributes on Facebook, commenting on how he’s helped and inspired them.”