Alan Brown
6th March 1947 – 3rd February 2023

By Andrew Walker

Alan, who died while on holiday in Grindelwald, was a long-standing member of the club, having joined in the early 1980s. He was the Committee Secretary from 2000 to 2014, when he handed over the reins to me. He had been a member of the Committee for several years before taking over the Secretarial role, and remained on the Committee for a further two years after stepping down.

Alan took early retirement from NatWest bank, after which he was able to devote more time to his passion of skiing, and did the SCGB Reps’ course in the early 1990s. He was for many years an SCGB Rep in Grindelwald and Meribel, and was honoured with being voted a Rep of the Year. It was while Alan was a Rep that he met Caro.

A few years ago Alan and Caro bought a plot of land in Cheshire, and built a hangar where Caro was able to park her helicopter, and Alan busied himself with woodland management, as some of you will know who took the opportunity to visit on two open days.

During his time as Secretary Alan steered the club through the SSE’s (Snowsport England – the sport’s governing body) Snowmark process, a detailed and time-consuming but necessary and important requirement to gain affiliation.

I have Alan to thank for introducing me to the Italian speciality of Cioccolato Caldo, while on a Club holiday to Sauze d’Oulx in 2014. I think he may have been disappointed that I was not a convert. I managed about two teaspoonsful before throwing in the towel.

Alan had two daughters from a previous marriage, Abbey and Hannah, who live in Cheadle Hulme. Our condolences go to them and to Caro.

Alan’s funeral and cremation was in Switzerland on Thursday 16 February. There will be a memorial service in April (the date and location will be confirmed). In the subsequent Newsletter there will be more detailed tributes to Alan and his contribution to the club. If anyone would like to share their reminiscences about Alan via the Newsletter, please contact Chris Fildes.