Ian Gardener on his earlier south east Asia tripTRIBUTES have been paid to an Aldbourne man killed in a skiing accident.

Lawyer and adventurer Ian Gardener, 36 died on April 2 after falling 300m at the Swiss resort of Verbier.

Yesterday, his friend and travel companion, Justin Wateridge paid tribute to a man who was always keen for a challenge.

Mr Wateridge who runs a travel firm in Cirencester knew Mr Gardener for eight years.

In 1999 the pair spent five months on a cycling expedition in south east Asia travelling from the mouth to the source of the Mekong river through Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam.

Through the trip Mr Gardener raised £18,000 for disability charity Motivation, to which he was closely linked.

Mr Wateridge said: "You can learn a lot from somebody when you spend five months together.

"We were close friends and kept in close contact. We were even planning to go to dinner with them this Wednesday.

"He was an adventurer. He loved travelling and he was always keen for a challenge. He recently went to Bolivia and went off the beaten track exploring.

"He would also do a bit of climbing and he was an excellent skier, and a good friend."

Mr Gardener went to school in Canterbury and later studied Geography at University College London.

Four years ago Mr Gardener moved to Aldbourne and worked in the litigation department of mobile phone firm Vodaphone in Newbury.

He leaves behind wife Vivien of four years and two-year-old son, Tom.

Vivien is said to be devastated by the loss.

Mr Gardener's funeral was held at Aldbourne last Friday and around 400 people attended.

Mr Wateridge said that the poem If by Rudyard Kipling, which was read out at the funeral, could not be "more apt for Ian."

"He is going to be sorely missed by all his friends and family," said Mr Wateridge.

As a result of his travels, Mr Gardener also appeared on television, on the National Geographic channel show, Game For It, following his trip to south east Asia with Mr Wateridge.

The pair would cycle some 110-miles a day in good weather but when the climate turned bad they could only manage about 18 miles a day.

Extreme weather forced them to cut their journey short by 100km.

Anthony Osborne