Local Life - St Helens - March 2018

23
Tributes to
Alan
Warm tributes have been paid to a
Billinge man.
Alan Swift, who grew up on Claremont Road, died
last month, and was known to many for his active
involvement in community life.
Born and raised in Billinge, he lived on Crank Road
and enjoyed sport, was involved in his local church
and also in the University of the Third Age. An ex-Up
Holland Grammar School pupil, he helped organise
reunions.
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His former school
friend, David Robinson,
told Local Life: “Alan
was in the year above
me, but we only
became good friends
after he offered to help
me organise our big
2014 reunion which was attended by over 300 expupils.
Through this we raised over £1300 for the
cancer charity at Clatterbridge Hospital, where Alan
was receiving treatment. After that we organised
several afternoon reunions and both of us became
trustees on the UpHolland Grammar School
Education Foundation at Winstanley College, with
Alan taking on the job of treasurer. Alan was an
inspiration; always wanting to help, always jovial,
and had a really positive attitude to life. He loved all
sports, supported Everton Football Club and loved
watching horse racing.
“It was a mark of the esteem in which Alan was held
locally in that at his funeral on January 25, at St
Aidan’s Billinge the church was full to overflowing
with people standing in the aisles and rear of the
church. Alan’s jovial nature, helpfulness, and love of
life will always be an inspiration to me. I will greatly
miss him.”