Alan joined the Association on 20th March 1974 with the Victorian branch then moved over to the Western Australian branch in 1978 and soon became part editor of 'Branchline'. It was not long before he became branch Treasurer (June 1980), a position that he still holds today. He is also an honorary life member, clubman of the year, holds a meritorious award, and has held a position on the WA branch Committee of Management for twenty one years.
Many of Alan's tasks have included - branch registrar, show manager, stores supervisor, publications coordinator, house officer (maintenance and development), plus many more menial tasks that he has taken on over the years to help keep the clubrooms running in a business like fashion.
Alan can and does talk about many aspects of Railway Modelling particularly his love of the LMS. This has led many to believe that he is of British birth. This could not be further from the truth as he is a genuine sandgroper. He is well travelled and spent a considerable number of years in England and this is how he has been considered as English. He has promised himself that one day he will model Subiaco WA station and also Kingswear in the south of England. There is a suitable layout at the WA branch clubrooms on which he can run his trains so the possibility of these two layouts being built is becoming more and more remote. He has a special interest in private owner wagons and is particular in getting the right loads in the right wagons. He has given many talks and practical demonstrations on the above as well as weathering, painting, loco and rolling stock maintenance etc, and the proper way to run a model railway. If he had been allowed to run a real railway, it would be interesting to know the result.
He has an extensive library, a very retentive memory, and has probably helped up to 50% of the WA branch members with details that they need to complete a modelling project.
Alan has the ability to see both sides of a story, (he has also seen both sides of the library ceiling by stepping through it) and is able to use this to sort out some of the problems that we have from time to time.
As branch Treasurer he has been able to control branch finances by looking at the short, medium, and long term needs. There is no doubt that without his financial ability that the WA branch would not have their present clubrooms.
Alan proves the saying that if you want to get something done, ask a busy person. He has always one or two projects on the go but will still be one of the first in line when volunteers are called for for any project. It is difficult to write on one or two special things as he has done so many. He has built the library shelving commencing in the early days at Meltham railway station and soon may have to build more. He produced the plans for laying new (secondhand) carpet throughout the WA branch clubrooms and then got stuck in with the physical side as well.
Many members could benefit by watching what Alan does, learning from him and then following his example by getting out and doing what needs to be done.
