This article was taken from my local paper, the Dundee Courier, from January 5th 1999. I always knew Stu was Scottish, like me, but I never knew he came from the same area:
"He was born in the picturesque village of Pittenweem at a time when most local boys looked forward to life at sea on their father's fishing boats.
But Ian Stewart who was born at Kirklatch, Pittenweem, in 1938 was to follow a very different path. He went on to become a founder member, then road manager, of the Rolling Stones, before his sudden death in 1985.
Yesterday his distant cousin Harry Watson, who lives in Edinburgh, said he reckoned many people did not realise The Stones had a Fife connection and said it was time this heritage was recognised.
Harry, who is a senior editor of a Scots dictionary based at Edinburgh University, said he had only recently discovered details of his own musical ancestry and would be delighted to hear from any Courier reader in the East Neuk who could shed some light on the early years of Ian's life.
Ian Stewart was born at his grandparents' house in Pittenweem more than 60 years ago after his parents, John Stewart and Annie Black, travelled to the Eust Neuk on holiday from London. Ian and Harry's grandfathers, Rob Stewart and William Watson, had fished together on the Cellardyke-registered fishing boat the Fisher Lassie not long after the turn of the century.
Ian grew up in Surrey and is credited with founding the original Rolling Stones band in 1963 along with Brian Jones before Mick Jagger entered the frame.
Within a year the band was taken over by a 19 year old whizzkid called Andrew Oldham, and unfortunately for Ian, he was removed from the line-up.
According to Harry's research, he was kept in the band as a backroom boy and became road manager and backing musician - playing piano or organ on most of their records during the height of their fame. He toured with them until December 1985 when he died of a heart attack.
News of his death brought Mick Jagger back from a Caribbean holiday for the funeral. The band said 'Without Ian there would have been no Rolling Stones.'
'People think of the Stones as being from London - but there was this guy from Pittenweem who was part of it all', added Harry yesterday.
'I know it's a long shot but I would be grateful if East Neuk folk might be able to help me out in my quest to accumulate some more background information about his life.'
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Harry Watson at 14 Braehead Grove, Edinburgh."
The first map above shows Great Britain, the red square highlighted is the area shown in the second map, the region of Scotland called Fife. The 'X' marked is where I stay, the red ring is circling Pittenweem, where Ian was born. It only takes about 20 minutes by car. It's quite weird to think the Stones now have a link to Fife!!