Alan was a remarkable man and his talents were many and varied. He must have been a joy to teach with his enquiring mind and application to detail and hard work. It is no wonder he became Head Boy at school and a Music Scholar at Oxford University.
His interests were far ranging from Science to Music to Football. He worked in Physics and then teaching, en route tobeing engaged in education at the highest level. His contribution to the latter earned him an OBE.
In his early twenties, with a beautiful tenor voice. he was looking for a partner to sing duets with; and this is when Christine came into his life.
Later lsobel and Ian entered the scene and when they were teenagers and Alan was Principal of Paddington College the family moved to Abingdon. It was a full life for them; Alan had a daily trek from Didcot to London and back, so evenings were short and busy, but they had already settled at Trinity Church having a firm Congregationa/URC background. Obviously they gravitated to the Choir!
When retirement came Alan's energies were poured into Trinity and the Church in Abingdon. Alan was a great inspiration and the wide reaching success of 'Abingdon Alive' was partly powered by Alan, then secretary of the CiA. His energies benefited Trinity in many ways. He organised Home Study Groups; was an Elder; hosted, with Christine, numerous parties for the Choir and the visiting 'Ginger Group' of young people. He became Church Secretary and in that role kept a firm hand on Church Meetings, Committees, notice boards, weekly notice sheets and, dare I say it, even our Ministers.
He wrote numerous letters, especially to visiting preachers during Interregnums, all meticulously handwritten as the art of computers hadn't quite reached him. With Isobel's and her family's help he didn't feel the need of such technology. They had moved to North Leigh some time before and he revelled in his garden and the nearness of Isobel, her husband David and their three sons.
But increasing immobility due to arthritis was taking its toll, and he became more dependent on Christine for transport and on Church Members to help inside the church. But all this did not stop him from taking a very keen interest in the details of life at Trinity. He still had his finger on the pulse. Even if his trips to watch Southampton Football Club play had ceased, his trips to Concerts and Covent Garden had not. It was in preparing to go to one of those that he had a stroke.
Alan's faith was steadfast, but not inflexible. He was a seeker after truth and a stickler for detail. Trinity was greatly blessed by Alan being among us.