Alan Warren 1934-2021

Alan Warren was born on 23 September 1934, the son of a tenant farmer, at West Huntspill Somerset. He was educated at Dr Morgan’s Grammar School, Bridgwater and came to Fitzwilliam in 1953 to read Geography. He enjoyed rowing, winning 2 oars in the bumps, and the Wesley Society, where he met his wife, Rachel. After national service with the Royal Signals he returned to Fitzwilliam for teacher training before taking his first job at Borden Grammar, Sittingbourne. His next move was to Sandbach Grammar then in 1970 to Alderbrook School, Solihull, as head of geography then head of humanities, leading the faculty through the transition from grammar to comprehensive.

Two years after Rachel’s death from cancer in 1985, he took early retirement and lived a full life including learning bell ringing, chair of school governors, Christian Aid collection organiser for the village, producer for Solihull Talking Newspaper and regular reading for a blind lecturer. As probus club walk organiser, the recce trips often involved one of his grandsons to check out the pub. He enjoyed foreign adventure travel, especially South America, as well as walking holidays in Britain, and kept meticulous photographically illustrated records of these trips. Being a good geographer, part of his legacy is 43 years of continuous daily weather observations. His last mountain, Merrick, was at the age of 80, but activity became increasing curtailed during the final few years of his life due to heart failure and low blood count, and he died on 29^th December in Warwick Hospital aged 87. He is survived by his three children and seven grandchildren.