Alan was originally a joiner by trade. He delayed his National Service until he had completed his apprenticeship and married Joan on January 2nd 1960, with a brief honeymoon in London, just before joining the army. He became a successful salesman, selling everything from ice cream to cockles and vacuum cleaners to toupees, spending a lot of time on the road following leads around the country. His varied career also included spells as a taxi driver and as a private hospital administrator. He worked hard all his life and eventually achieved his dream of retiring in Ridgeway in the countryside. In retirement, Alan cared for his wife, Joan when she became less mobile. He started to become forgetful with early dementia but never lost his cheerfulness and cheeky sense of humour. He thought the world of his sisters Jean and Christine and his children, Debbie and Paul, and was very proud of his grandchildren, Siobhan, Berni & Adam. He was a kind, gentle man and would do anything to help his, family, friends and neighbours. Alan was strong and healthy all his life - he never complained or took time off work. He became ill with a chest infection & was later diagnosed with untreatable lung cancer. He became very poorly in the short space of just a few weeks. He was well cared for in Chesterfield Royal Hospital and later transferred to St. Luke's where he received excellent compassionate care from all of the staff, but sadly passed away after just one night there. He will be greatly missed.

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