I came to know Alan at first, via Carl Bray’s 2004 G-Scale Society Trip to Austria and Germany. We subsequently developed a firm friendship which extended to my family.
The 2004 trip was Alan’s first real Holiday outing as a widower having lost his wife Ruby in 2000. They were married in 1953 having a son Lindsay in 1956. He and Ruby had travelled much of the world. It was clear to see at his funeral how much Alan had enjoyed the Respect and Friendship of a wide spectrum of society by the large varied attendance.
A Rotary and a Mason, a former Grand Master of the Preston Lodge. A BSc. Physics Graduate of Cardiff Univ. Alan was born in Deri, Glamorgan, served with the Royal Signals. He began a teaching career at Bargoed Grammar School. He there met his best friend Norman Harries, one amusing tale to relate here. They had great fun building Rockets in the lunch hour, finding the lab chimney to be a good launching pad. A large soot fall scuppered the fun.
His career led to his being Principal of Aberdare Tech. College, then Principal of Ashington Tech. College, Northumberland. Principal of Queen Elizabeth 6th Form Coll.
Darlington, then in 1973 the Principal of the new W.R.Tuson Tertiary College, Preston at which time he moved into his home in Longridge, Lancashire. He also re-vamped the education system with Preston and Liverpool Prisons. He retired in 1986, he had been a keen Go-Karter, areo-modeller, railway enthusiast.
On retirement Alan began to lecture on a variety of topics to many interest groups in the area, local history, warfare, Masonic etc. He became a keen G-Scale enthusiast, his interests spreading to other scales. He travelled throughout Britain keeping in touch with members met on the Carl Bray trips etc. Managing to help organise exhibitions, Garden Parties, school visits.
Alan was good company and I like many of his many friends will miss him. He was preparing for a talk on the Welsh. A Rugby shirt spread out. [He was keen Rugby Union player in his youth winning Caps for his School and County] He left us sadly on Monday 22nd March.
Above Alan is pictured with Glyn Chave and then with Bill O’Brian,