Eulogy delivered by John at Alastair's funeral service When Wanda asked me to write and read a eulogy for Alastair, I immediately said Yes, then thought what can I say?? Do I mention the nights listening to music (something which was to be a recurring theme) or the nights drinking Carlsberg Special and Southern Comfort (something which we soon got out of the habit of) or the concerts we went to? Anyway, here goes. I first met Alastair in 1972 when we both attended Balderstone Upper School. Although we only lived less than a mile apart, we were from the opposite side of Oldham Road and arrived there from different schools and put in different classes, so until the 5 th Form when we had a common room, our paths didn’t really cross. That all changed when we moved into the 6 th Form, were we had a record player! There was a group of us, Alastair included, who monopolised the record player which is where he found his lifelong appreciation of music. I also have memories of a 6 th Form concert (and photos) with Alastair playing a starring role in a sketch about the communist party - don’t ask, it was a lot funnier then!! I left school in 1975 to start work whilst Alastair stayed on to complete his A levels followed by a degree in Portsmouth. I have to say I did lose touch with him during term time but holidays were again music and alcohol related. 4 th August 1979 is a date he would remember every year. It was when we went to Knebworth to see one of his favourite bands, Led Zeppelin. Many times I would get a cryptic message reminding me of the date. I didn’t see much of Alastair for a few years (remember, this is well before mobile phones), he had his career and steadily moved further south. I would occasionally get a phone call and we would go to the pub when he came back up north. 22 nd May 2016 was another significant date in his life when Alastair and Wanda tied the knot. They were frequent visitors back up to Rochdale and Wanda was introduced to the Pennines and the delights of the Shepherd’s Rest which was a pub we used to visit in the “old days”. Moving forward to Alastair’s 60 th birthday, Wanda arranged a surprise party for him. He didn’t have a clue what was going on. I arrived, just after another of his friends had turned up, his face was a picture, and for once he was speechless, well, apart from a few things I can’t repeat here. Suffice to say, several glasses of wine and beer were drunk in celebration. I looked back at some of the messages we exchanged since 2019, 28 th April 2019, “met Jimmy yesterday (that’s Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin for those who don’t know), if I was 16 again, probably wouldn’t wash my hand for a week!” then a gap of a year due to Covid, 24 th July 2021 was probably the last time they came up 9 th December 2021 I came down to London and we met with another friend from school, Janet, who neither of us had seen for more years than we care to remember. 26 th December 2021 “I’ve spent a small fortune on vinyl in last 24 hrs, hey we only live once.” I know he was an avid vinyl collector. I went to a couple of record fairs with him in Manchester and he was well known by the guys selling the albums. He was even an international buyer, having bought from Japan when on holiday there. One of the last times I saw Alastair was after his diagnosis. He had been through a rough patch, but his love for Wanda and music had brought him through it. They came up to Rochdale and he was optimistic about the treatment he had planned. I want to finish with a song by one of Alastair’s favourite artists, Bruce Springsteen, You’re Missing Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all Everything is everything Everything is everything But you're missing Coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair Papers on the doorstep, but you're not there Everything is everything Everything is everything But you're missing Pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den Your house is waiting, your house is waiting For you to walk in, for you to walk in But you're missing, you're missing You're missing when I shut out the lights You're missing, when I close my eyes You're missing, when I see the sun rise You're missing Children are asking if it's alright Will you be in our arms tonight? Morning is morning, the evening falls I got Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls How's everything, everything? Everything, everything But you're missing, you're missing God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops Over the years I have known Alastair, I always found him a kind and generous person, always willing, with Wanda, to offer me a bed for the night if I was down in London for any reason. I will miss him.

You will be missed Uncle Alastair, sending all our love to Wanda 💛

Alastair you'll be greatly missed. One of the most sociable people I ever met with a real joie de vivre. Keep on rocking' in the next free world.