Alan was brought up in Edinburgh and attended the Royal High School and Edinburgh University where he studied Music, Classics and History. In the midst of a varied career he worked on the new Lammermuir organs at Paisley, Haddington and Fairmilehead. As organist of the historic Willis organ in St. Stephen’s Church, Edinburgh and then of the Lewis organ in Broughton St. Mary’s, he developed an interest in organ history, leading to articles in the BIOS Journal, which he edited in 2000. He has been an organ adviser for the Scottish Federation of Organists since 1988 and curator of the Scottish Historic Organs Trust. As a manse husband he has been based in Midcalder, Stow, Newtonmore and now Cullen. 2018 saw the publication of Organs in Scotland, a complete catalogue of our pipe organs from the 15th to 21st centuries. He ran successful church choirs at Broughton and Stow and was accompanist to the Badenoch Chorale in Newtonmore. Cycling, swimming and skiing have kept him fairly fit in retirement, despite a complete lack of proficiency in the latter!
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Duror: St Adamnan’s Episcopal Church