I first got to know Alan well when we were in competition with one another! Alan worked part time for Harris Bus in Essex while I was the Manager of the Thameside Bus division of County Bus & Coach Company. I would (as I still do) turn my hands to the wheel occasionally and we would bump into each other on the road. We had fun and during this time Alan persuaded me to come along to the local IoTA meetings having become a member in 1991. We got to know one another very well during this time and bounced stories off one another regularly. Alan’s enthusiasm for the industry was passionate. In later years I moved away from Essex to Devon, but we crossed paths again when I took up a role with CPT and Alan and Rena were very active members. As part of CPT’s Operations Team I regularly gave presentations to members and trouble shooting when things went wrong. I had gained a degree standard exemption from the TM CPC back in 1980. Despite keeping up to date with industry developments at CPT, I realised it wouldn’t be long before a member asked when I’d last sat my TM CPC? I decided that it was time to demonstrate my refreshed knowledge by sitting the TM CPC from scratch again in 2010. I was invited to join a PTS group in Coleshill and very much enjoyed Alan’s style. I made many good aquaintances amongst the candidates at Alan’s sessions. Alan inspired me to have a go at teaching myself – something I’d considered many years ago, but never followed through. His advice and assistance was incredibly useful when I set up my own training and compliance business and we exchanged knowledge on many occasions. Thank you Alan for being a good friend and inspirational character in my career. My condolences to Rena who was not only Alan’s partner, but a massive part of PTS. I am sure Alan is already walking to his training bus in the sky with his latest group of refresher training candidates. Take care my friend and make sure they master that pre-selector box and hold on tight to that non-power steering!