obituary |
Alan passed away on September 25th, 2021 after a battle with cancer. Alan has been
a valued club skipper for many years and has made a huge contribution to BSA.
For Alan
There’s a crossing to be made, in the dead of night And winds will
be howling, though the forecast is light Long watches to be done, and the
sails need to ease Get the provisions aboard but please, don’t bring cheese.
Departure bearings with care, as the land slips to black Lights loom
in the night, as we make our first tack Many times he taught us, in
situations adverse You control them with a question, or action or curse.
The soul of the ancients, resided in him And he sailed with great
certainty, never a whim By chart and compass, and clock and star
Like mariners for centuries, who sailed afar.
As the watches come up, and the watches take rest Never sleeping
just napping, the skipper knows best Keen eyed and wakeful, as the ocean
slips by Grappa sipped from his flask, to help focus the eye.
We sharpen our plot, as first lights are sighted Dawn breaking on
France, with an entry to pilot Long forgotten transits, hidden by nature’s
hand Trust in his knowledge, as we’ll safely make land.
Say Adieu to the sea, as ashore we all roll For a coffee and
Calvados, to reset the soul There’s so many adventures and stories to tell
We all knew him in some ways, but ne'er so well.
Recounting lavishly of exploits, or customs or law But not given to
prayer, at any time that I saw With the slightest of reason, he’d be
climbing the mast Harness clipped to the halyard, upward bound to the last.
We’ve all had our times, when prayer seems to matter As our rigging,
like life, starts to shake bang and clatter We end life’s long journey,
our crew left behind On the shore of their souls, as the memories unwind.
Your crew’s staying land-side, bon voyage my old friend Fish soup in
your pressure pan, awaits watch’s end Sail safely and smoothly, storms
find you no more Alan, we’ll see you again, on that far distant
shore.
Geoff Birkin
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