I’ve been friends with Alan for over twenty years and our first connection was the love of Jaguar Mk2’s with us both owning one, his was immaculately restored in which his eye for detail continued into his pinball restorations.
I Had never knowingly seen a pinball machine before let alone play one until he got his TZ several years ago and invited me over for a play. I’ve never been into gaming or arcades and didn’t want to say anything as I didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm. He pressed the start button pulled back the twanger and hit the buttons with such joy, I had no idea what he was doing but he obviously did and was having great fun. He then stood aside for me to have a go, I wasn’t really interested and thought it was quite boring but persisted to have a go to please him. I played my first game witch was over in a flash but immediately hit start again for another go, this theme continued for the rest of the evening.
Fast forward a year or two and he had bought several more machines and every time I was over his way I’d pop in for a play, by this time I was hooked myself. After the first lockdown i bought my first pin which Alan had tipped me off about and within the next couple of months I had bought 3 more. After another purchase I decided to sell a game and offered to deliver it for the new owner. Alan didn’t want me to go alone and meet more pinheads without him so he came along for the ride. I also agreed to pick another game up for the buyer which wasn’t too far from me. There we met
@Dave Bishop and co, and then off to Essex to Chris the new buyer to deliver them to his office. What a fantastic day that was as since that day we both made some very special friends and memories indeed.
Alan is the sole reason I’m into pinball and i will very much miss him. He was a fantastic man with such kind generosity and enthusiasm. He is the most optimistic person I have ever met and it rubbed off on me, I always left his company feeling upbeat.
This is a very sad time but I will play a game on my TZ tonight in his memory.
RIP Happypin