Motorbike enthusiasts saluted 'one of their own' on Monday when they created a special biking convoy in honour of Alan Walker.
Alan - or ‘Big Al’ - was Stalybridge born and bred and, although not an actual member of Stalybridge Motorcycle Club, he was always a big supporter, especially of the club’s annual fundraising charity rock nights.
Club members past and present rallied round on Monday at his funeral to say goodbye in fitting fashion. They assembled at St Paul’s Church, Stalybridge, for his funeral service, before forming a convoy behind a unique Triumph Bonneville hearse to say a fitting farewell to Alan in a manner which certainly reflected his life, with the convoy then making its way to Dukinfield Crematorium following the service.
Alan had been a keen biker all of his life and his very first motorcycle had been a Triumph Bonneville.
Dukinfield councillor John Taylor has been a life-long friend of Alan and his wife Maggie.
“I’ve known Alan and Maggie from my days at the Commercial and Talbot with the bike club in Stalybridge and the annual charity ‘rock nites’,” said Cllr Taylor.
“They always attended, supporting the club and supporting the charities.
“Alan was a really nice man who will be sadly missed by us all, but we will always remember him and thank him for his great support for his home town of Stalybridge. All our thoughts are with Maggie and his family and they can be proud of a great man who everyone liked and loved.”
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Alan and Maggie met when they were just 17 and later married at St Paul’s Church in 1969, having been wed for 52 years. They have one son Billy.
Maggie said: “Alan was an avid biker and had different bikes all of his life. His first one was a Triumph Bonneville which he loved. He progressed on to bigger and faster bikes as he got older and was still riding them to the last.”
Alan, who was 74, was well known especially for his love of rock music and his musical knowledge especially - Maggie saying he had a ‘photographic memory’.
“He was much loved and respected by his family and friends and everyone that knew him and he will be greatly missed,” said Maggie.
Founder of Stalybridge Motorcycle Club Den Whittaker, also a life-long friend of Alan’s, led the convoy of some 20 motorcyclists in Alan’s honour, alongside past and present members of the club.
Den and Alan had met at school and attended West Hill together.
“Alan was a good friend of the bike club, but his real passion was rock music and especially live music,” he said.
Den recalls that Alan was a regular visitor to the former Stalybridge market where there was a record shop which used to sell ex-jukebox records.
“He was a mine of information and just knew everything about all the bands and the music - he was an encyclopedia of music and music was his real passion,” said Den.
Later both worked together for a time at Johnson and Hunt in Dukinfield and Den would give Alan a lift home on the back of his BSA motorbike before Alan bought his own bike.
“Alan’s first bike was a Triumph Bonneville Jubilee edition which was very rare,” added Den.
The Stalybridge Motorcycle Club’s rock night will return this year on March 26 and will be held at the Stalybridge New Labour Club, raising money this time for Barty’s Food Bank.
The following week, April 2, a special tribute night at the Labour Club is being organised in Alan’s memory with bands performing - including a planned performance by his own son Billy.
Images by Nigel Wood
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