Born in Bridlington, East Yorkshire in 1940 in the early days of World War 2. Evacuated as a baby to the safer haven of Harrogate, where he was educated at Harrogate Grammar School, and after a short spell in the retail trade, joined the Inland Revenue Department in 1958. After working in several offices in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Cheshire, he was transferred to Head Office in Somerset House which brought him to live in Harpenden in 1978. He subsequently served as District Inspector of several offices in Bedfordshire and finally in Kensington from where he retired in April 2000.
Allan is a widower and has a son, daughter and 5 grandchildren.
Initiated in Harrogate and Claro Lodge No1001 in the Province of Yorkshire (West Riding) in May 1963, Allan served as Master in 1974 and was appointed to the rank of PPAGReg(YorksWR) in 1984.
Following removal to Harpenden, Allan joined St. Nicholas Lodge No6658 in 1979, where he served as Secretary for 12 years from 1980. He was appointed Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1984, Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1985, Provincial Assistant Grand Chaplain in 1997 and Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1999. He served as Master of St Nicholas Lodge and also of White Star Lodge No8727 in 2002 and as Master of Hertfordshire Installed Masters' Lodge No4090 in 2003.
Allan is also a Past Master of Chequered Cloth Lodge No5569, a Lodge founded by members of the Inland Revenue Department in 1935 and which meets at Freemasons Hall and where he held the office of Director of Ceremonies for several years. In Grand Lodge he was appointed to the rank of PJGD in 1991, promoted to PSGD in 2000 and to PGSwB in 2005.
Exalted in Harrogate and Claro Chapter in 1965, Allan became a joining member of Semper Fidelis Chapter No4393 in London of which he is a Past Principal and where he has recently retired after serving as Treasurer for 10 years. He is a holder of London Grand Chapter Rank. He was also a Founder of Prae Wood Chapter No 8919 in 1996 of which he is also a Past Principal and he is also a member of White Star Chapter No 8727. He was appointed a Grand Standard Bearer in Grand Chapter in 2006.
Advanced in the Mark Degree in 1979 and Elevated in the Royal Ark Mariner Degree in 1980, Allan is a Past Master and Past Commander of the Semper Fidelis Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges, No1473 meeting at Mark Masons' Hall, and also a Past Master and Past Commander of the Harpenden Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges meeting at St. Albans. He was appointed Provincial Grand Senior Deacon in the Province of London in 1994 and to the rank of PAGStB in Mark Grand Lodge and PPGSD in the Province of Hertfordshire in 1996. Promoted to the rank of PGJD in 2001, he also served as Provincial Deputy Grand Chaplain in the Province of Hertfordshire in 2000 and 2001 and is a holder of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank. He is also a member of Hertfordshire Installed Mark Masters and Commanders Lodges No1121, a Founder of White Stone Lodge No1832 and currently Secretary and Scribe of London Installed Mark Masters and Commanders Lodges No1227.
Allan is also a Past Sovereign of The Rose Croix Chapter of St Alban No 336 and of the Hertfordshire Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine No 421 in which order he is currently Divisional Grand Sword Bearer. He is also an enthusiastic participant in visits made by the Hertfordshire Wanderers when time permits.
Apart from Freemasonry, Allan enjoys travel, music, theatre and stamp collecting. He is a Freeman of the City of London, a Vice President of Harpenden Light Operatic Society and a member and Past Treasurer of the Probus Secundus Club of Harpenden. He has also served as Treasurer of the Harpenden branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution since 1986 and is a recipient of the Institutions Silver Badge award. Formerly a District Warden of St Nicholas Church Harpenden, Allan continues to be involved there as a Server and Sidesman.
June 2007