Eulogy for Alan Stuart Alan was born Alan, Norris, John Stuart on May 8th 1934, to Harry and Emma Stuart in Ealing hospital, London; the family lived in Sudbury, Nr Wembley. His dad Harry was a toolmaker and his mum Emma kept the home. Alan had three sisters named Marie, Anne and Janet. Janet, who Alan had a special relationship with has unfortunately passed away also. His formative years were spent in Sudbury and he went to school in that area; one of Alans favourite places was Hansingdon Hill, where he would play out with his mates. Alan finished up his education by achieving an H.N.C in Building, and in 1952 he did his National Service with the Royal Navy. After leaving the Royal Navy, Alan worked for a building company for a time, before going on to form and run his own successful roofing business. Alan got married and had three children, Janette, Linda and Gary who went on to produce four grandchildren, Daniel, Corrine, Franchesca and Olivia. Alan was so proud of his children and grandchildren. While living in the U.K, Alan was an active Freemason and rose to become Grand Master of his lodge. I am told that Alan was a sports fanatic… he loved all sorts of sports and as a youngster was involved in playing football, squash, tennis and swimming, As he grew older, Golf became his great love, especially here in Spain. He also loved watching sport on the T.V and was a lifelong supporter of Arsenal Football Club, who are doing so well right now and closing in on Manchester United. Alan had a broad taste in music and enjoyed the likes of Abba, Boney M and Max Bygraves; he also loved listening to Country and Western music too. What were Alan’s dislikes…. Certainly, when it came to food, fish and foreign ---- would top his list. I asked Jill how did he cope with eating here in Spain then – was every mealtime spent at home or down at the Market Tavern? No, she said, I did get him trained to eat Spanish food too. Jill met Alan on May 7th 1981 when he came to fix her roof. They clicked immediately and he moved in the following January. During those early days they would telephone each other every hour and have remained devoted to each other and inseperable since that first meeting. The happy couple finally tied the knot by marrying in Honiton, Devon on Christmas Eve 1998. As a couple Alan and Jill loved to travel and have visited many parts of the world. They did one round the world trip, taking two months, in 1984 and did another one which took them three months to complete, in 1987. Even during the past couple of years they have cruised the Carribean and the Mediteranean. Alan and Jill moved to Spain on November 4th 2002. They came on two viewing trips with Parador, [four days in Spain for 69 Quid… cant beat it Jill commented]. After the loss of their dog in the U.K they were unsettled and it was that event that was the catalyst that eventually led to their move over here. They wanted a bungalow in Spain, came and saw, and fell in love with their casa and even named it the “House of Dreams’….. Alan certainly came and lived his dream here on the Costa Calida and both he and Jill have never regretted their move here – ‘not once’ Alan had a couple of nicknames. Jill called him ‘Angel’ for many years and more recently he became known as ‘Coach’, after adding to his achievements by teaching Karen to swim. Alan was a man who did not hold back from saying what was on his mind. He spoke his mind and said how it was. Apparently he did not like being told what to do either…. Jill told me that she was one of the very few who got away with it. Alan did not have many friends when he lived in the U.K, but that was not the case when he came here to Spain… he made so many new friends and everyone knew when Alan was around… there are not many men who could get away with wearing a pink shirt and white sunglasses. Jill would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped and supported her through her sad loss of Alan… you have all been wonderful. Alan was described to me as a ‘genuinely lovely guy who would do anything for anyone’, also as a ‘gentle giant with a big heart’. He had watched Free Willy nine times and still cried at the same point each time – that was the nature of the man. Once met and never forgotten, Alan, so many will miss you so much, God bless you and happy traveling.