Friends remember big-hearted Alan

3:30pm Wednesday 15th October 2008

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FRIENDS and family have celebrated the life of a man who had time for everyone.

Steve Savory got together friends and family for a bash in memory of pal Alan Russell at the weekend.

The celebration marked what would have been Alan’s 50th birthday.

Steve, 51, from Eldene wanted to pay his final respects to his friend of 30 years, who died from a blood clot at the Great Western Hospital on March 27.

Alan, from Haydon Wick, also suffered from spina bifida, a developmental birth defect causing the spinal cord to be incompletely formed. He also had to have both legs amputated.

Sadly, he was in and out of hospital throughout his entire life.

“He was a bubbly character,” said Steve. “And he especially made time for all the nurses.

“Alan was always putting on a brave face even though he was in a wheelchair most of his life.

“He was generous and wanted to help people when he could.

“He was a good friend and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. I wanted to arrange something after his funeral so I suggested it at the time.

“It seemed right waiting until his 50th birthday and celebrating his life then.”

The party at Moredon Community Centre on Saturday also saw a raffle take place. All the proceeds will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, as Alan was a patient at the hospital as a youngster.

“He always wanted to be in the army,” said Steve. “He was really interested in anything to do with it. He collected military badges and always talked about the services.”

Enough money has already been raised for a commemorative bench, which will be engraved with his name. It will be positioned at Brookdene Lodge, a retirement home Alan stayed in.

Tina Dee and Karen Russell as well as Lyndea Gawke were very close to Alan. All three helped to organise the event with Steve.

Lyndea used to run a shop with Alan in Gorse Hill called Disability – which sold disabled clothing.

The Adver last featured Alan in February 2005 when yobs targeted sheltered flats for the elderly and disabled.

They broke into three cars, damaged disability scooters and sprayed graffiti at Brookdene Lodge. Alan’s specially-adapted car was broken into at the time.