Alan Waterman - A Humorous Man

As a young boy in Australia I remember hearing stories of my Uncle Alan’s feats as a dart player – how he used to go to the showgrounds and win all the prizes with dart throwing; how he used to live next door to the pub and when in there playing darts and having a pint, his wife Margaret would bang on the wall letting him know when dinner was ready.

I had the privilege of spending time with my uncle Alan five years ago when Trish and I travelled to Dorset, the county where my father and his four brothers and three sisters were born. I caught up with not only Alan but other uncles John and Alby. Since my last visit John and Alby have both passed away.

In June this year we returned to Dorset and caught up with Alan in his home in Wareham. Alan is a funny man and we enjoyed his company. He lives with his faithful dog Nico, that he walks up to three times a day. He reckons Nico eats a lot more than him. We interviewed him on film to bring back to my parents here in Australia who are unable to travel at this stage of their life (Dad is 95 and Mum 88). I asked Alan if my Mum was a film star who would she remind him of. Without hesitation he said “Maureen O’Hara.” Must be Mum’s wild Irish looks! I knew he had a picture of Maureen O’Hara there so I said “have you got Maureen O’Hara here?”

“Yes, matter of fact she’s in the next room!” he responded.  We spent most of our time laughing with Alan. He thought my Dad looked like Charles Bronson. At various stages in the interview I would attempt to close it off by saying something like “thanks Alan for talking to us today.” Alan would then continue on with another story which was all very interesting and entertaining.

We returned to Australia in July and sadly we received news that Alan had passed away suddenly on August 14^th peacefully at home. These are a few words that Steve, his eldest son, said at the funeral;

“Alan prided himself on his personal sartorial style; never knowingly being seen without a jaunty hat. With this perceived gift he felt he was suitably qualified to shop for stylish anoraks for his only daughter. These cutting edge fashion items came in glorious shocking pink, bright red and most recently, in the sort of green only safely worn in sporting sunglasses. Shelley has just broken cover and admitted to all, that when she wore one of the said items, it was only from the bottom of her dad’s steps to his front door and then only after checking that nobody was in sight. This of course shows Alan’s kind hearted and generous spirit.”

We do feel fortunate that we were able to spend that time with my fabulous uncle and we have ten minutes video footage of him, that to all of us and especially my Dad, Alan’s brother Cliff, is priceless.