Alan Whittaker (31 Oct 1950 - 19 Sep 2024)

Alan died suddenly on 19th September 2024 from pulmonary embolism and deep-vein thrombosis.

Alan was born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1950, which at that time was a cotton mill town. Both his parents worked in the cotton mill, though his mother left when she had children. His father, Harold, died young from a cancer-like disease which comes from inhaling cotton dust. His mother, Alice, died of Covid in April 2020 at the age of 95. Alan's younger brother Chris went into the army at an early age and served in Northern Ireland and Germany. Sadly Chris died of heart disease in 2021.

Alan learnt to play the trumpet as a boy and joined bands and orchestras. On leaving school he went to the Royal Northern College of Music to study trumpet, but quickly decided it wasn't for him and instead went to teacher training college. He had a twenty-year career as a school teacher, teaching music and science. He remembed the Downs School fondly and was full of stories and anecdotes about his time there.

After leaving teaching, Alan worked as a salesman for the calendar company Rose of Colchester, which involved building relationships with small businesses all over Kent. Every year, when the time came to meet one of his business contacts for a calendar sale, he'd say "Right, I'm going to have a cup of tea with..." whoever it was. Alan's capacity for cups of tea was legendary.

In parallel with his work for Rose of Colchester, Alan taught brass and other instruments as a peripatetic teacher, and music theory. In his spare time he played trumpet and cornet in bands all over Kent. He composed a number of pieces for brass bands.

Alan was a talented singer and actor. He sang in many amateur musical and operatic groups and choirs. When he moved to Kent in the 1970s he was one of the earliest members of Swanley Light Opera Group and the Darent Valley Choir. He was always popular because of his outgoing, friendly nature and great sense of humour. He played the role of the Pirate King in Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. Later, with the South London Opera Group, he played Aeneas in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

For much of his adult life Alan sang bass and baritone, but at the age of 50 Alan discovered his true voice, an outstandingly good operatic tenor. Unfortunately this was too late for an international career!

Alan enjoyed fishing and would often spend several whole days and nights fishing in all kinds of weather.He was also a keen naturalist and had a wealth of knowledge about animals, birds and insects. After retiring from Rose of Colchester, he developed a new career as a wildlife photographer, spending many hours visiting nature reserves and other natural areas. He leaves a treasure trove of wonderful photos, many of them published on his Twitter (X) account @BigAlStrood.

Alan was married to Alison, with whom he has a daughter, Sarah. In 2000 the marriage broke up. Alan met Frances at South London Opera Group. They lived together from 2002 until his death.

Alan was a big man with a huge personality and many interests and talents. He was also a kind, sensitive person and a good friend. We will all miss him.