Alan Sharpe (16 Jun 1937 - 10 Aug 2020)

I was another pupil at Pocklington whose life was made somewhat more bearable by Alan's influence on my life.

Along with two other 'misfits', having in common a marked loathing for both three afternoons of enforced sport each week and the then mandatory CCF afternoon (presenting the then school establishment with an apparently intractable problem), we were, in what now seems an extraordinary moment of enlightenment, presented with the alternative of forming ourselves into a small art group under Alan's tutelage. I have fond memories of spending the summer of 1969 or perhaps 1970 being treated as an individual with a personality, combing local junk yards and foundries searching for discarded parts of car exhausts, to be assembled into improbable sculptures. I can still picture Alan scrambling enthusiastically to the top of piles of twisted and rusted metal in local scrap yards, in search of the perfect piece. These were then coated liberally with resin and fibreglass, before being assembled into fantastical three dimensional objects to be spray painted back at base. All the while, we would be treated to discussions with Alan about literally anything and everything.

I have often wondered what became of him, although sadly this question was answered by Mister Google this afternoon when, for no reason, Alan's face popped back into my mind. I am very pleased that he had such a happy and clearly fulfilling life, and glad too that he did not eke out the remainder of his days at Pocklington, as a square peg in a round hole - not that there was anything 'square' about him at all. I am not at all surprised he ended up in France and I hope he enjoyed every minute he was there. I too headed for the exits, ending up in academic medicine in North America. Probably Alan would have been surprised by that, though he was an important part of my life's journey.

So I remember a kind man, a caring man, and a true eccentric. Most of all I remember his smile and his laugh. We are all the better for his having been here and having touched our lives.

Alan made my life worthwhile whilst enduring near total misery at Pocklington School (he was teaching Art)

Although I wasn’t particularly "arty" in any way - he was the only teacher who encouraged me and actually took time to care

He used to take me to school (from Cottingham to Pocklington) for many terms in his car - where we enjoyed long discussions about the current rock, blues or rock and roll.

(in fact, he once asked me "Do you like Gene Vincent?" and such was my ignorance I replied " never heard of her" - Alan laughed for about 10 minutes solid - and reminded me of this often!

I have many many lasting memories of wonderful times...

When he gave Ian Staines and I (aged 14) a lift to York Museum Gardens - where we were all due to watch Pink Fairies and Hawkwind - Ian and I got in but Alans ticket wasn’t valid (or something) - Ian and I ended up hitching back to Cottingham in the middle of the night (I have to add - after Alan had searched for us for hours amongst the thousands of rock fans leaving the concert - there were no mobile phones in those days!)

When I created an etching (under his tutelage) that was deemed to be so good that it was hung in the Pocklington School staff room for a year! (the only good thing I ever did at that school) - thanks Alan!

He was a massive inspiration to many of us at Pocklington - he certainly helped me to overcome chronic shyness and a lack of self worthiness

I am immensely proud to have had the honour to have known him and I am sorry that we didn’t find the time to catch up again

Thank you Alan for showing us that 80 is the new 40.. your passion and curiosity for life made you such fun to be around, we feel we were lucky to know you Alan and thank you for the introduction to early Louis Armstrong, loved bumping into you and Rosie at Village events and meeting up over supper what a great couple and how we all enjoyed your French Pop Up at the village cafe where you raised funds for the little church and also as co-founder, with Rosie, of the Village Book (wine) Club a club whose members ages span 6 decades and we all have such a laugh and that’s down to you two, we’ll miss you Alan, gods speed

We had so much love for Alan and Rosie who joined Raskelf and moved in next door to us.... We had had the neighbours from hell prior to this couple and what a breath of frsh air they were. They knew me and my husband to go from a newly married couple to a family of 4 and the kids would always get chucked over the fence to be entertained by Alan! I can see why he was called the 'Naughty Grandad'!!
He taught me how to look after my garden and certain flowers/plants or shrubs,
Will certainly miss the stories he used to tell us over the fence. Always had a smile on his face........ Have a good drink up there Alan, I am relieved to know that you suffer no more.

Love Reading about his life....... Talk about busy! And to always smile meant he had to be one of the happiest men I know.