Alan was born in 1943 in Bristol. He always claimed to come from Gloucester, (he supported Gloucester Cricket Club). He was a loyal Bristol Rovers supporter. He hated Ikea because he believed in to be build on the hallowed Ground of 'The Gas'. He felt Bristol City Football Club was crooked for some reason I can't remember. Alan was a very intelligent your man and went to the local Grammar school(Kingswood)where he achieved a dozen or so 'O' Levels and I think 3/4 A Levels. He then went on to study Chemistry at Sheffield University and graduated in the early 60s.