Alastair Porter was born on 28th September 1928 in Glasgow.
Alastair studied law at Oxford University and was called to the Bar in 1952. He spent two years in practice in London before travelling to Northern Rhodesia with his wife Jenny to take up the position of Resident Magistrate in 1954. Alastair and Jenny returned to the UK in 1965, a year after Northern Rhodesia gained independence as Zambia. In 1966 Alastair took on the role of Registrar of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, where he remained until his retirement in 1991. He remained interested in, and involved with, the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions until his death.
Alastair was a great family man. He married Jenny in 1954, and they had a close and loving marriage for almost 69 years. Alastair was also a loving and much loved father, grandfather and great grandfather, and always took particular pleasure in family reunions for special occasions.
He was a keen sportsman throughout his life, with particular passions for cricket and football. As a young man he took pride in having played football for both Oxford University and for Corinthian Casuals. In later life he followed the fortunes of his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion. He very much enjoyed watching England win the third Ashes match at Headingley just before he died. He was also committed to the church, raised in the Scottish Presbyterian tradition but for 50 years or more an active and hard working member of Perrymount Road Methodist Church in Haywards Heath. He was closely involved in the establishment of a partnership between Perrymount Road church and St Paul’s Church in Kaloma, Zambia in 2007, which remains active.
Alastair died peacefully in The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on July 12th, 2023, after a short illness. He was 94 years old. We will miss him.
We invite all who knew Alastair, in whatever context, to share memories, stories, photos or messages here. Thank you.