I wrote this obituary for my father Alan. It was then reworked by Michael Hawkins and published in the Independent on 29th April 2009.

Alan was born in the Scottish Borders on the 23rd March 1922, the second of three sons to Margaret (Greta) and Gerald.

Family home West Mains, Reston, Berwickshire

He grew up with his older brother Charlie and younger brother James on a farm in the Berwickshire village of Reston. The three boys enjoyed an idyllic childhood on the farm, with loving parents in a close-knit community of family and friends. The down-to-earth love of nature, friendship and Christian values that Alan knew in these early years were to remain a touchstone throughout his life.

In 1939 Alan joined the Scots Guards and went to India, where he spent the years of the second World War, later joining the Rajputana Rifles with the rank of Major. He had what has been described as a ‘hard war’, fighting in Burma, Malaya, and latterly Java. He experienced the death of comrades, and personal danger on many occasions. The poetry that he wrote during this time is testament to his desire to find beauty and meaning in the most difficult of circumstances.

Graduation

Following the war, Alan returned to Scotland and went to university in Edinburgh, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

He was soon drawn back to India, however, and lived there for several years, rejoining good friends that he had made during the war years. During his time in India, he was drawn strongly to the sense of the oneness of all creation that he found in the eastern spiritual traditions.

Back in Scotland, in 1956 he married Eleanor, who had spent her childhood in the same area in and around Edinburgh as he had.

He started a career in business, working as a Management Consultant for many years.

In 1958, their son Jeremy was born, and Alan’s work took the family to England, first to Worcestershire and then to Cheshire, where they spent many years. Although he often struggled with the pressures of business life, Alan and Eleanor brought their son up with pride and love.

Father and son developed a close bond of loving friendship, living in and surrounded by the beautiful haunts of the Cheshire countryside. In 1977 Alan and Eleanor went their separate ways, and Alan followed his heart, which reconnected him with friends from his war years who lived in Oxfordshire. Then his spiritual search led him back north to his native land.

With Alex Walker late 1980s Green Room Café Universal Hall

In 1981, he moved to Findhorn, where he was to remain as part of the Foundation for the rest of his life. He enjoyed himself immensely, and soon became a much loved, respected and valued member of the community.

With Mother early 80s

In 1992, Alan’s beloved mother died at the age of 98, and shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with a slowly degenerative illness.

Though physically blighted by semi-blindness and Parkinson’s, his mind was sharp as a blade and he brought an often mischievous eye to every detail of community affairs, serving as General Secretary for a time and even in his early 80’s, answering a call to help out in PR.

Despite his ailments, he made the last part of his life a true testament to the tenacity of the human spirit.

Where the Nepal Trust was conceived

Remembering the Nepalese Gurkha regiment that had fought alongside him and had saved his life during World War II, during a trip to Nepal in 1993 he had the vision do something practical to help the people of one of the world’s most impoverished areas. Using a small inheritance from his mother, and enrolling the help of a few friends, he set up the Nepal Trust.

Within a few years, the Trust had five health posts up and running in the Humla area of north-west Nepal. The work of the Trust has greatly improved the quality of life of many, and is an example of a vision of outreach being put effectively into action.

Alan was always involved and concerned, willing to listen and offer good advice, regarded as a true friend and elder, a bastion of calm, good humour and solid values by virtually all who knew him.

Although his life’s journey is cause for celebration, he will be much missed.

Poem on the card for the Celebration of Life

Jerry Jacobsen

My father became part of the community in 1981, which indirectly led to my moving to the area. I used to work for Moray Firth Radio, and offshore. I am currently a pensioner.