Because of the stringent precautions required to control the coronavirus epidemic, it wasn’t possible to recognise Julian’s passing in a way similar to what we did for Magnus [11 years ago]. Since Julian's family and friends were not able to meet to afford each other comfort, to share memories of Julian and to celebrate his life, we decided that Julian's body should be Cremated without Ceremony, with no mourners in attendance. This took place at around 8.30 a.m. on Monday April 20th, at which time members of Julian's family and a few close friends, each in their different locations, spent a few minutes remembering Julian's life. Fittingly Diana and Magnus did this in Harlock Woods, having spent the previous night in the Shepherd's Hut.

With coronavirus restrictions having been eased somewhat, and Diana, Magnus and Diana's daughter Nadine able to visit Rousay, it was possible to hold a small-scale memorial event on Saturday September 5th, attended by family and a few Rousay neighbours. After walking round Wasbister Loch to the graveyard, some daffodil bulbs were planted on Julian's brother's grave, by Magnus, Evie, Nadine, Diana and Clare, and some of Julian's ashes were scattered there by Bryan. Magnus then uncovered a small cast bronze plaque which incorporated the lotus-flower/spanner symbol from the cover of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. This book not only had a strong influence on Julian when a mid/late teenager but the symbol aptly represented both the artistic/musical/philosophical side of Julian and his practical ability to fix almost anything [including motorcyles]. The following, less windy, day some more of Julian's ashes were taken out by canoe and scattered by Diana on Burrian [the crannog in Wasbister Loch].

On Sunday September 20th [close to the date of Julian and Diana's birthday on September 22nd] Diana, Magnus and friends mainly from South Cumbria met, with the consent of the police under the coronavirus funeral regulations, in Harlock Woods for a 6-months-belated memorial event to mark Julian's passing [notably by the scattering of some of his ashes] and to celebrate his life [including a performance by Deatbeats, the Ulverston drumming band of which Julian was a member]. Julian's parents and his sister's family from Orkney, though not able to be present in body, were nevertheless present in mind/spirit.

Photographs of the above memorial events are at the end of the Picture Gallery.