EARLY LIFE Alan was born in 1946 and left school at 15 to start work as an apprentice joiner. He qualified at 21 and stayed in that trade throughout his working life and eventually worked for himself until he retired in 2008. Alan was a very keen golfer and also in his younger years was a good snooker player. He met Christine in 1968 and they married in 1970 and had two children, Lee and Ellen. Both Alan and Christine attended Batley Central Methodist Church and Alan was very committed to the youth group that the church supported and he enjoyed many years working with younger people. Alan and Christine also loved to go off in their caravan and they would travel all over the country but Alan’s favourite destination was always Abersoch, Wales. As well as their daughter and son, Alan and Christine can boast of seven lovely grandchildren of whom they were both immensely proud. It was easy for anyone to observe that the Kershaw family are a very close-knit group UKULELE It was in the year 2011 that Alan and I were reunited after a 50- year break having been close friends as children. Alan’s son Lee bought his dad a ukulele as a birthday present. After a search on YouTube for George Formby, Alan fortunately found me and since that date we have been almost inseparable. Alan started to make the journey to The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool and immediately endeared himself to young and old within the concert room. His friendliness and cheerfulness made him an instant target for anyone in need of the best of company and as someone who had led from the front for most of his adult life; he involved himself in all aspects of the Society. He was a born entertainer from the first time that he mounted the stage and revelled in the whole theatre experience that the GFS offers to our playing members. GFS COMMITTEE He eventually joined our committee and served for two years but actually, Alan worked for the GFS almost from the first day that he joined, he was always happy to help and could always be found close by the shop at the conventions selling Vellum magazines and raffle tickets. He just wanted to be involved and loved the GFS and the people in it and also loved to attend the committee meetings. Alan was always a giver and never a taker, he gave the GFS everything that he could in the all too brief time that he was with us and he gave his family the best that any dad and granddad could give. Never a 'show-off' but always the best of showmen, he was a George Formby fan from childhood and sang many of Formby's best, but the song we will always associate him with just has to be "The Auld Triangle" when he would sing, play his uke and his mouth organ to give us all the best in entertainment value. SEPTEMBER 2015 His last appearances at the September 2015 convention were high points of the weekend. On Saturday evening at the Battle of Britain Anniversary concert it was my privilege to perform with Alan as one of two old soldiers singing "Maginot Line" and "Get Cracking". By this time, Alan needed the aid of a wheel chair to get about, but he discarded this to march on stage and although he could no longer play the uke because of his illness, he was armed with a wooden rifle with which he proceeded to shoot members of the audience. When it came to the uke solo, Alan presented arms with his gun, much to the delight of the audience. THE AULD TRIANGLE Late on Sunday evening, Alan went back on stage together with Pat Taylor, his wife Christine and many of the ladies of our Society to sing "The Auld Triangle" for the last time and to give one and all the best moment and a lasting memory of an unforgettable weekend. Alan Kershaw was a dedicated member of the GFS and a friend to all who made the trip to the Blackpool conventions. He will be sadly missed by all and on a personal note, his passing leaves a void within that can never be filled.