I built a 30ft yacht in my back garden to bring Christmas cheer

Ian Rankin has always enjoyed building miniature model boats but, after being diagnosed with cancer, the 82-year-old set himself a new challenge.

The great-grandfather has spent the past 12 months handcrafting the 30ft yacht in his Bearsden back garden in the hope it will “bring joy” and “make people happy” during the festive season.

The boat and its 33-foot mast are decorated with hundreds of Christmas lights, which can be seen by passers-by on Milngavie Road.

Ian says people often say it puts a smile on their face, with one neighbor telling him it “brightens up his Christmas”.

He says the project has also served as a form of “therapy” for him, while undergoing treatment for bowel cancer.

“It’s done me good,” he says.

“It’s given me a purpose to get up in the morning and do something.”

Ian is a keen sailor and had a small model boat in the garden.

When a passerby told him they were happy to see him, Ian was inspired to build a full-sized yacht.

His daughter, Lucindi, 52, who is also battling cancer, told the BBC how her father went out “in all weathers” last year to complete the boat by Christmas.

“One thing about my dad, nothing gets him down,” she says.

“Having a stoma bag; battling bowel cancer; age 82 — he continues.

“To say he’s one in a million for me.”

Local children often describe the yacht as a “boat in the sky”, Ian says, because of its mast and high perch on a hill in its back garden.

He hopes his presence will show young people that despite old age and poor health, you can create amazing things.

“I want to expand the imagination of the younger generation,” he says.

“If an 82-year-old man can do it, he can do anything.”

Ian Bateson is encouraging people “thrilled” by the boat to donate to a cancer charity, which he says has made a “tremendous” amount of money for his family.

Her daughter Lucindi was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, and given just two years to live four years ago.

Ian’s wife Vera is also battling breast cancer at the Bateson Center and his brother Donald died of prostate cancer in 2023.

“People have put in the time, effort and money to donate to this cause in tough economic times – and that doesn’t encourage me,” says Ian.

Ian’s garden now has a permanent home for the boat.

“It’s a thing of beauty. I love watching it,” he said

“It makes me happy, and I hope it makes other people happy.”

After Christmas, Ian says he’s looking forward to turning the boat into a “man cave”, where he can get back to building his miniature model boats.