Alan Coleman RIP

2011 Hare and Hounds

Just a reminder that Alan's funeral will be held this coming Monday, details below. Brian Gandy has kindly penned a few words about Alan and attaches a poem he wrote about a touring trip on the Kennet which he wrote for the club newsletter. Thank you Brian:

Alan Coleman (1937-2022)

Alan was born and grew up in Pinner, Middlesex. He moved to Fleet with his family in the 1970’s. His wife, Lis, joined the BCCC in 1984 and Alan joined a little later, deciding he might as well join in rather than hanging around on the banks of the canal.

In the 80’s, the club stored some equipment at the RAF Odiham swimming pool and hired the pool on Sunday evenings. It was this that attracted Alan to canoe – the water was clean and warm! Having mastered paddle strokes, especially support strokes he ventured onto the canal, bought his own boat (an essential then as the club had no boat store), and gained his 3-star certificate.

From then on Alan was a regular, took to faster boats, enjoyed the inland touring trips the club organised, entered most monthly Hare & Hounds time trials and raced in the Hasler events. True, he only progressed to division 8 in marathon racing, but he was there for the club and enjoyed the camaraderie of racing in a team. The BCCC qualified for the Hasler Finals most years in the nineties and noughties, and Alan was at most of them, racing first at Evesham in 1993 and over the next 14 years, variously at Reading, Norwich, on the River Wye at Hereford, Windsor in 1998, an event that the club organised jointly with Windsor C.C., and on the large rowing lake in Nottingham.

Alan also completed several longer distance runs. In 1989 the Kit Price ran a touring event on the Kennet & Avon 18 miles from Newbury to the Cunning Man pub near Reading. We only know this from a poem Alan wrote about his trip. It did not put him off longer distances as in 1990 he paddled 25 miles on the river Arun in aid of Arthritis research. Then in 1994 and 1995 he completed the Basingstoke Canal Challenge, 32 miles and 29 locks from Odiham to the Wey. No mean feat which not many in the club have completed.

Alan was a member of the club for the best part of 40 years. He was never a highflier when it came to canoeing, but he clearly enjoyed his paddling and was just the sort of member that all clubs need.

Brian Gandy
2022

A trip on the Kennet & Avon canal on 25 November 1989, inspired Alan to pen this poem.

Kit’s Trip

Meeting out at Newbury,
On a cold but sunny day,
Our eight intrepid canoeists
Started on their way.

There were rather a lot of portages,
Some seventeen they were told,
Not for the fainthearted
Our canoeists need be bold.

Lunchtime came to have a bite
‘Twas then they began to worry,
Only four miles done, hard to believe,
But now they’d need to hurry.

Some stretches were thick as green-pea soup
And others stiff with reeds.
Ice in shade that needed breaking
Combined to reduce their speed.

The sun was setting, the shadows long,
Their canoes were icing over.
Their spray decks froze, glasses misted,
Locks seemed higher and bridges lower.

Then darkness came with miles to go:
Only stars and moon to guide them,
No light to see the banks or way,
The left or right or stern or stem.

Occasionally a cry of alarm,
“It’s crocodiles,” said some.
The trees took on weird menacing shapes,
They wished the end would come.

After miles and miles with frozen hands
And arms that felt liked lead,
The ice so thick upon their boats
It’s good that home’s ahead.

And there at last The Cunning Man
And bridge, the end in sight
Eight weary souls regained their strength
And paddled with all their might.

They reached the bank and then took stock,
No ill effects to none,
They’d all arrived without amiss
The Winter’s battle done.

For canoeing trips without a doubt
There’s lots of wrongs and rights.
But when with Kit you’re out at night
Make sure your canoes have lights.

The Survivors 25.11.89

The funeral service for Alan William Coleman will be held at:

Aldershot Crematorium
Guildford Road
Aldershot
GU12 4BP
Phone: 01252 321653

on Monday, 9^th May 2022 at 10:45 AM. After the service you are invited to join the family for refreshments at:

The Lismoyne Hotel
45 Church Road
Fleet
GU51 4NE

Family flowers only, if you wish a donation can be made to one of the following charities in Alan’s memory please:

British Heart Foundation

https://www.fordmears.uk/funding-page/?fp_id=84275

Alzheimer’s Research UK

https://www.fordmears.uk/funding-page/?fp_id=84274

If the above links don’t work for you, you can go to https://www.fordmears.uk/donations, set the Area to “Fleet – A&W Goddard” and the name to “Alan Coleman”, then click “Search”. Then click Alan’s name and pick which charity you would like to donate to.

Alternatively, you may pay by cheque made payable to your chosen charity c/o A&W Goddard Ltd. You can send the cheque to them at Kent Road, Fleet, Hants GU51 3AJ, or they will accept a cheque on the day as well.

Please dress in any way that makes you happy.

We very much look forward to seeing you and we thank you for all your kind words of comfort and support at this sad time, and for joining us in celebrating Alan’s life.

With warmest wishes

Lis, William, James and George Coleman

Copyright © 2022 Basingstoke Canal Canoe Club (BCCC), All rights reserved.

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