Tommy Allan: a man o' many pairts

TRIBUTES PAID AT WICK ST FERGUS CHURCH SERVICE

MOURNERS crowded into Wick St. Fergus Church on Friday to pay their respects to Tommy Allan who died suddenly at his home in the town’s Oldwick Road, a week ago.
Trades folk, the piping fraternity, family and friends heard Rev. John Nugent pay tribute to the 45-year-old as a “special man”, in effect, a man of many pairts, husband, father, master joiner, soldier and piper.
But it was the latter that was his first love, the bagpipes becoming his chosen instrument, at the tender age of eight years. Who better to show him the way, than the former pipe major of the then Wick Pipe Band, Dada Davidson, who marvelled at how such “wee fingers”were able to do justice to the chanter.
Tommy followed in his father George’s footsteps and took a joinery apprenticeship, serving his time, locally. His trade took him to contracts abroad, as did his service with the Territorital Army. But his trusty pipes were never far from his daily life and he had a special ability.
As a former member of the Royal British Legion, Scotland, Pipe Band, Tommy played at the Trooping of the Colours and the 1986 Commonwealth Games, in Edinburgh. He was given the chance, at one point of joining the British Airways Pipe Band but declined, only to discover later that the benefits of membership included, free air travel.
Rev Nugent spoke of Tommy’s love of groups such as Wolfstone, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the Battlefield Band and his affinity with animals, particularly strays. The church collection was donated to the R.S.P.C.A. which he greatly admired. The minister described Tommy as a “sociable, engaging and compassionate man” who would leave behind a wealth of stories and memories.
After the service, Tommy was laid to rest at Wick Cemetery.