 Sir Ivan was the son of Major William Basil Ewart (the son of Oxford educated barrister F. W. Ewart) and Rebe Annette Grindle.Born into an Irish family of linen industrialists, their firm employed over 2,500 people, making it one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of Irish linen in the western world.Born at Derryvolgie House, Lisburn, where he resided until 1970, he was educated at Radley.