I built a 30 foot yacht in my back garden for Christmas

BBC Ian stands in front of a 30ft long yacht. She is wearing a sailor hat and waterproof jacket with a knitted jumper underneath. He has a full white beard. — Ian says he hopes the Christmas boat brings happiness

Ian Rankin has always enjoyed building small 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 hand-crafting the 30ft yacht in his Bearsden back garden, with the hope it will “bring joy” and “make people happy” over the festive period.

The boat and its 33 feet high mast are decorated with hundreds of Christmas lights, which can be seen by people passing along Milngavie Road.

Ian says people often say it has brought a smile to his face, with one neighbor telling him it “lightened up his Christmas”.

He says the project has also served as “therapy” for him while he was being treated for bowel cancer.

“It’s done me good,” he says.

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

Ian used his skills in building 3ft model yachts to create a 30ft yacht

Lucindy Rankin A man, Ian, stands in front of a partially built boat. — Ian used his skills in building 3ft model yachts to create a 30ft yacht

Ian is a keen sailor and used to keep a small model boat in the garden.

When a passerby told him that seeing it made him feel happy, Ian was inspired to build a full-size boat.

His daughter Lucindi, 52, who is also fighting cancer, told the BBC how her father had been out “in all weathers” over the past year to complete the boat by Christmas.

“One thing about my father is that nothing gets him down,” she says.

“Having a stoma bag; battling bowel cancer; aged 82 – he’s moving on.

“For me to say he’s one in a million is an exaggeration.”

Ian Rankin spent 12 months building a boat in his back garden

A large boat covered in white fairy lights. It's sitting in front of a dark sky — Ian Rankin spent 12 months building a boat in his back garden

Local children call Ian’s boat a flying boat in the sky

A photo of Ian's house with a lighted boat shining in the night sky behind it. The house is a white brick detached house. The light in the front room is on and you can see a figure holding a small model boat — Local children call Ian’s boat a flying boat in the sky

Ian says local children often describe the yacht as “the boat in the sky”, due to its high mast and location high on a hill in their back garden.

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

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

“If an 82-year-old can do that, they can do anything.”

Ian used to make model boats which were very small

Ian in his living room with a model yacht that's only 3 feet long — Ian used to make model boats which were very small

Ian is encouraging people who are “excited” by the boat to donate to the Beatson Cancer Charity, which he says has done a “tremendous” amount for his family.

Their daughter Lucindi was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer four years ago and was given only two years to live.

Ian’s wife Vera is also fighting breast cancer at the Beatson Centre, and his brother Donald died of prostate cancer in 2023.

“During tough economic times people have put in time, effort and money to donate to this cause – and it impresses me no end,” says Ian.