Tribute to Alan from Marilyn and Steve
Created by Marilyn 2 years agoTribute to Alan
By Marilyn Reed and Steve Jones
I first met Alan when he joined the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) in the early 90s and he quickly became part of the General Office team. Although, I left the JSB in 1993 I had made a firm friend in Alan and this led to meeting up with Alan and Flores on numerous occasions and places over many years.
Alan and Flores were always happy to travel outside of London and would travel to us in Aylesbury by train. We would go for lunch with them to a variety of places – usually a local inn and they also enjoyed a trip to Waddesdon Manor. We also met them in Oxford and recall going to a favourite café of theirs called ‘The Nose Bag’. There were also numerous lunches in London in another of their favourite cafes in the Strand. We also had the pleasure of accompanying them to the RAF museum at Hendon. Both Alan and Flores had an interest in many different things and were really interested in the architecture and paintings in a behind the scenes tour of Steve’s former courthouse in Parliament Square. In 2009 it was an honour for us that they were able to attend our wedding when Alan was one of our witnesses.
After Flores passed we continued to meet with Alan and on one visit to Aylesbury we went to Waddesdon Manor to see a Roman mosaic exhibition which he found fascinating. We also went to Hughenden Manor and he was particularly interested in the talk about the RAF unit based there during the Second World War as he was in the RAF for his national service. Alan having worked in bookshops in his younger years was very interested in the visit to John Milton’s cottage in Chalfont St Giles. In particular, he was fascinated by Milton’s influence on the English language.
After we moved to Norfolk we still stayed in contact with Alan and finally when we heard that Alan was in the care home in Ruislip we visited him. Although Alan was in need of their support, it was lovely that he remembered us straight away and took great delight in the visit.
Alan was a wonderful, kind hearted, thoughtful and generous man who never had a bad word to say about anybody. His mind was very active and as a well-read man he took an interest in many different things and had an amazing memory.
It is hard to believe that nearly 3 years have passed but we both still have some very fond memories of Alan.
By Marilyn Reed and Steve Jones
I first met Alan when he joined the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) in the early 90s and he quickly became part of the General Office team. Although, I left the JSB in 1993 I had made a firm friend in Alan and this led to meeting up with Alan and Flores on numerous occasions and places over many years.
Alan and Flores were always happy to travel outside of London and would travel to us in Aylesbury by train. We would go for lunch with them to a variety of places – usually a local inn and they also enjoyed a trip to Waddesdon Manor. We also met them in Oxford and recall going to a favourite café of theirs called ‘The Nose Bag’. There were also numerous lunches in London in another of their favourite cafes in the Strand. We also had the pleasure of accompanying them to the RAF museum at Hendon. Both Alan and Flores had an interest in many different things and were really interested in the architecture and paintings in a behind the scenes tour of Steve’s former courthouse in Parliament Square. In 2009 it was an honour for us that they were able to attend our wedding when Alan was one of our witnesses.
After Flores passed we continued to meet with Alan and on one visit to Aylesbury we went to Waddesdon Manor to see a Roman mosaic exhibition which he found fascinating. We also went to Hughenden Manor and he was particularly interested in the talk about the RAF unit based there during the Second World War as he was in the RAF for his national service. Alan having worked in bookshops in his younger years was very interested in the visit to John Milton’s cottage in Chalfont St Giles. In particular, he was fascinated by Milton’s influence on the English language.
After we moved to Norfolk we still stayed in contact with Alan and finally when we heard that Alan was in the care home in Ruislip we visited him. Although Alan was in need of their support, it was lovely that he remembered us straight away and took great delight in the visit.
Alan was a wonderful, kind hearted, thoughtful and generous man who never had a bad word to say about anybody. His mind was very active and as a well-read man he took an interest in many different things and had an amazing memory.
It is hard to believe that nearly 3 years have passed but we both still have some very fond memories of Alan.
Pictures
Alan and Flores at Marilyn and Steve's wedding
Flores, Alan and Marilyn at Waddesdon