Even after a couple of days - I'm still sitting here with a lump in my throat. And so, I'm now decided to go to Guildford and say 'goodbye old pal' properly....and apologise for delaying my reply to his last(and final) email. He was right again.
I will remember working with him at his TTRA Office, being one of the first FoTTRA members and constructing the first TTRA website.
When he was organising the TTRA Lap back in 1999 he fixed up Ron Haslam to ride my 1100R in the 40 special Hondas - after all, it was the bike that Ron made his name riding. And so, on the Saturday parade Ron rode it around and then announced that he would not be on the Island for the Monday parade.
Rather than let there be a gap - Allan suggested that I should ride it - just fill in the forms and pay up. So I did my first Parade Lap starting from the second row of the grid.....and promptly left the two Montegi Hondas beside me standing when the flag dropped!!
That was the man - he took the risk that he could trust me so that the Show could go on.
And, when he was having tea at my place and helping out at the 1907 Re-enactment only a few months ago, I couldn't believe that he was close to his own chequered flag.
Many thanks my old pal - your style at the TTRA Lunch was unique and brought a smile to my face many times. I will treasure the memories.
Dick H