Alan Richard Higlett (24 May 1941 - 31 Dec 2016)

In loving memory of Alan Richard Higlett who sadly passed away on 31st December 2016

We are here today to celebrate the life of Alan Higlett, although many will know him simply as ‘Popa’.

Alan was born in Warwick in 1941. He lived at 15 High Street taking turns with the tin bath his brothers John and Gordon and five sisters Betty, Valerie, Shiela, Dot and Olive before moving at 7 to Shakespeare Avenue. His early years were bit of a competition with sister Shiela on who attend A & E the most times. Once when aged 3 and 4 they conspired to ignite the gas oven, the resulting explosion throwing Alan across the kitchen, knocking him out and singeing his hair and eyebrows out.

At Oken school developed more as an athlete than an academic, winning many accolades with the school running team. Alan was a long distance runner and as his good friend Neil (a sprinter) recalls on foggy days they would complete one lap of the school field before disappearing in the mist to run a circuit along the Myton Road and into Warwick timing their run to catch the girls coming out of Kings High school, chat and dash back before being noticed as missing. Alan went on to get into weight training and recalled often of the time be spared with boxer Randolph Turpin.

Leaving school he became a painter and decorator fro Crosby and Atkin before working as a polisher at Cape Engineering.

In 1964, he married Jean French from Lillington in Warwick Registry office. Followed by Richard born in 1966.

A devoted dad, Alan turned his hand to crafting toys for his son with his own make do with whats available style. At the height of skateboarding in 1976 he made Richard a skate board from a short plank and three castors, a kind of Reliant Robin of skate boards. More successful, Richard recalls a visit to Priory park where Alan selected wood to make a bow and with arrows from cut down runner bean cane, had archery contests in the garden.

After 22 years at Cape Engineering, Alan transferred his skills as a polisher to a job as a conservationist at Warwick Castle, working there for 12 years. Under taking repairs in the State Rooms and working on displays, Alan was happiest polishing suits of Armour and discovering more about their history. This lead to him meeting Rick Hagan, a Ghost hunter from Minnesota, supporting him on recording sprites in the castle, their experiences leading to Alan featuring in Carl’s publications and lectures in the states.

At the castle, he met many TV celebrities and with wife Jean, featured in a television series, “Great Estates” who even came to their allotment to film them amongst the Runner beans.

Alan loved a laugh and was always a joker. Many a time he pretended to be a waxwork in the castle rooms; staying completely still before casually scratching his nose; sending groups of Japanese school kids to scatter in shock.

Alan was a Coventry City Fan. One definition of the term ‘long suffering’ is ‘supporter of Coventry City’. Be he experienced the Jimmy Hill years when the Sky Blues we on the rise with his friend Ken Hall and when Richard was 6 he started taking him too on the double decker that collected fans from the Millwright Pub in Coten End. Sports Report, the tune which you entered the chapel too is very resonant of the three of them coming home from matches on the smoke filled bus, soaked through from being on the terraces, listing to the results on transistor radios. As with all Coventry Fans, despite the misery of the past 20 years, he had his day in the sun at Wembley in 1987, when the Sky Blues lifted the FA Cup.

Retirement allowed him time to express his creativity. Making doll’s houses and doll’s house furniture, garden ornaments from tin cans such as birds and what he called ‘Ever last-Tin’ flowers, some of which are here today. This was his shed life making things, recycling and fixing and repairing things. He collected paper weights and traveled to Morano in Italy to see them being made. One of many holidays across Europe and North Africa in later years with dear friends such as Colt and Carole.

As a family, Alan especially loved spending holidays in a caravan in Dawlish Warren; returning year after year and forming a special bond with the area.

Alan always had one foot in the fifties, his dancing foot. Billy Fury, Buddy Holly and Cliff Richard would get his hips shaking and dancing of the seats of the Punchbowl Pub way into his 70’s. It was never about growing old disgracefully it was about never growing old full stop. He loved dressing up for the occasion, where adding a boot lace tie when going to gigs at pubs or more disturbingly for his son a certain fancy dress party when his mum and dad dressed up one year as each other. Alan was also Father Christmas at the Christmas social of the Warwick and Leamington Gateway Club for people with learning disabilities and helped out on building their annual float for the Leamington carnival.

Alan lived a long, full and happy life with Jean, gathering years and years of happy and uniques memories together. While his health was poor in his latter years it never dented his sprite or got him down. Alan had no ego and happy to go with the flow, happy and blessed with the love of family and friends.

It goes without saying Popa will be very deeply missed by Jean, Richard his family and friends but he will never be far from our thoughts as we recall what a simply lovely man he was.

A few Words by close friends Colt and Carole

Alan was one of life’s true gentleman, he never had a bad word spoken about anybody…..unless it was to do with his beloved Coventry City football club when they failed to deliver the right score….then I’m sure there were a few choice words spoken….However I personally never heard him curse or swear ….ever.

He was great fun to be around he had the most dry sense of humour, our domino nights were always filled with joy and wine and one liner jokes and wine, and always a good meal prepared by Jean or our local take out ….and more wine….

We had some great holidays together, Egypt to see the Pyramids, Spain Benidorm
Although we did have to remind Alan that the communal pool was not part of a nudist colony…..we did manage to stop him taking off all his clothes before he entered the pool….Best ask Jean for the full story on that one.

Alan would help anyone and everyone he was very much a people’s person with an extensive knowledge of useless information and indeed useful information. Alan was friend to all, he was a caring Father, a loving Husband and above all he was mine and Carols best friend.

I know that when I say we will miss you Alan I am sure that those words will emanate from everyone’s lips.

If I was asked to sum up Alan in one word I think I would choose “Inspirational”

Why ?

Because When Alan had to undergo a heart bypass a few years ago he came out of surgery/Recovery full of tubes and wires and with his thumb up in the air to say I’m here guys I made it ….don’t worry.

And from that day on through his recovery he never complained he never moaned, he just got up stepped forward and carried on with life and lived it to the full. A true inspiration of true grit and determination….

And finally Alan if your listening? Before you go through those Pearly Gates make sure they confiscate the glue!

Alan we salute you R.I.P Our Dear Friend

We Love you

Colt and Carol.

Richard Higlett Son's words

We see this service as one of Celebration, a celebration of Popa. It is also the last time to thank him publicly for being a wonderful father, my father. I have been very lucky. I’d like to thank him not simply for making me toys, teaching me in value of football or the occasional joke I thought was really funny!

I would like to thank him for giving me the space to become the person I am while be their if needed. Such was and is the unconditional love of my parents that I didn't him to step in. He taught me not to swear but to thing of a better word, respect others and because of the nature of my upbringing I was allowed to grow free of expectation; being offered every opportunity to express myself as I was supported to learn music at 5 which ultimately has lend to an artistic life. Never did he express any doubt in me. Testament to his wisdom he let me grow and find my own path in a warm and nurturing family. I thank him and will miss his physical passing very, very much as I come to terms with the change of our relationship into a spiritual one where dad is never far away. His presence continues as we think of him, when something reminds me of him, through my own actions and gestures and in my very DNA…

Thank you for being my dad