Alastair W R Allcock sadly passed away on 6 January 2021 aged 86. Alastair was taken to hospital in London at the beginning of January with COVID pneumonia.
Alastair regaled his children with many tales of his and his brother’s (James – A 48-53) time at Bradfield just after the war, including some of the eccentric staff at that time, but evidently none were so terrible as to put off his daughter, Rebekah (J 93- 95), from enrolling at the College. Chronic asthma rather blighted Alastair’s years at Bradfield and he spent a lot of time in the san.
However, he thoroughly enjoyed his involvement in the shooting team and the Swinbank Society. He was an outstanding shot and won the Warden’s Cup three years in a row after which he was given the Cup permanently. The Swinbank Society (Christian Union) was where he found his feet as a Christian and learned to live out that faith; this faith in the God of the Bible deepened and grew throughout his life and directed his energies and affections. And it was his relationship with the Lord Jesus that carried him through the grief of losing his eldest son, Andrew, in 1999 in an Army training accident, at the age of 26.
He had an enduring passion for aviation and qualified as an aeronautical engineer in 1958. He won the prize for being the top student in his year which was presented to him by Lord Hailsham.
His career in aeronautical research and development was varied and he felt almost guilty at the degree to which he enjoyed his work. Initially he was involved in propulsion technology before joining the Civil Service where eventually he became Director of Aeronautical Defence Research.
The highlight of his career saw him undertake two stints at the British Embassy in Washington DC and it was during the first of these that he met his future wife, Rosemary, who was newly arrived from New Zealand to take up a college teaching post. He was the counsellor for Science, Technology and Energy in his second posting in the late 80s and the whole family richly benefited from diplomatic and church life in Washington DC.
On his return to the UK, Alastair built up a consulting business before retiring in his mid-sixties. Retirement was no less busy with teaching and leading responsibilities in his church and care and support of his family as well as numerous others within his orbit.
In many of the kind letters and cards of condolence received by the family he is described time and again as a wise, kind, fun and delightful gentleman whose faith shone through. He will be dearly missed by a great number of people.
His family grieve him with great sadness but also with great hope. They share Alastair’s deep faith in Christ and are greatly comforted by the certain promise that they will be reunited with him.
