Denise Noble told me the sad news about Allan some two weeks after the event. I knew that Allan had retired from GQA because I spoke to him on the phone last summer and expected him to enjoy a long and happy retirement. Well, it wasn't to be, and I'm so sorry for Ann and his family. I first met Allan in the summer of 1994 when I joined GTL after 10 years in the container sector of the glass industry. I knew little about the glazing sector and it was Allan who kindly took me under his wing, introduced me to the key players and helped me with advice and guidance while I found my feet. With GTL and GQA I worked with Allan for 10 years and always found him consistently reliable with an impish sense of humour. He was a good man. I was visiting grandsons in Australia when GQA tried to contact me about Allan and didn’t get the communication so finding out about a Allan from Denise was some bombshell. Allan's legacy includes the reputation which he established in the industry, and the range of Glass Qualifications, which in their initial format were very much 'all his own work' Well done Allan. Mike Firkin