Dedicated to the memory of Alan Latham
Alan Latham
To try and put into words all that dad meant to us, all that he did for us and all that he helped us to be would be impossible. So let us offer you a glimpse of our dad and best friend.
Dad was born in Blackley, Manchester in 1937. The youngest of 3 sons to Jack and Hannah Latham. He went to Technical College from age 13 to 15, and was all set to take his exams for leaving school when his eldest brother told him he had got a job for him in printing. Back then jobs were seen as far more important than qualifications so his dad told him to leave school without taking the exams against his teachers wishes. Unfortunately, the job failed to materialise, undaunted he started knocking on the doors of all the local companies next day. At the local wallpaper manufacturer the personnel manager came down to see him (can you imagine that happening now?) and asked him would he like a job as office junior in the buying department. He said yes, and from that day, he moved up the ladder to junior then senior buyer before a move to head office in Darwen. Here he eventually became the company senior personnel manager achieving 40 years service with the same firm!
At 18 he, like all his generation he began his 2 years national service and with both his elder brothers having served in the Royal Navy during The Second World War he was allowed to serve his time on the aircraft carrier The Albion which always made him very proud.
A few weeks before joining the Royal Navy, Alan met the love of his life Barbara Turner at a Christmas Dance in Middleton. In a few weeks they were engaged but had to wait until dad had finished his time at sea before they could get married aged 20. Their
first child, Janet, came along a year later. Dad was working in the office during the day but also worked on the taxis at night to look after his family and try to give them the best he could. This was really the overriding theme of his life. Some have vocations in health or the church. Dad’s true religion was his family and he put them first from day one till the end. Always putting himself and his needs last he was generous with his love, time and money and above all dedicated to us all.
Not counting the Navy, neither he nor mum had been abroad until the early 1980s when they took us to Rhodes, after getting the travel bug and especially loving meeting new people from different cultures. They enjoyed many trips thereafter. Highlights include managing to take mum on a surprise trip to Paris for her 50th birthday which she only found out about just before heading for the airport. Their world trip which they planned and organised themselves to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary which included seeing Duck billed platypus in the wild and travelling through Fiji in dug out canoes to see a traditional village where, much to his embarrassment, the locals chose him to be “king” for a day! They made friends all over which have lasted a lifetime and added hugely to the variety of their lives.
His commitment to family never stopped him being a good and loyal friend as many here can attest.
He was also a man of great integrity. When Crown Wallcoverings, like so many, found they needed to shed many hundreds of jobs during the 1980s to survive. He insisted on seeing each one personally even though it was not his responsibility so they could hear it in person.
After retirement, he found a busy social life first in helping mum who was on various charitable committees with practical help for all sorts of fund raisers. Then as a member of Probus and helping mum to run the Walking Group that she’d set up. He joined the local bowling club and through the various clubs went on many outings. In fact, he had what I now believe to be the rare honour of belonging to 2 Probus groups, The Turton and The Horwich Probus where I know he made many friends. I remember how fondly he would look forward to their trips and holidays, the winter visit to the Ramsbottom theatre, Christmas meals and much more. Even when his many health issues started to mount up he wouldn’t hear of missing his groups!
I started by saying that dad saw his family as his vocation. Janet and I have so many memories of instances of that love. Being awake all night as a young boy with tonsillitis listening to him reading Winnie the Pooh and Wind in the Willows whilst plying me with Ovaltine and toast, never giving a thought to the fact that he had been up since 6.30, done a full days work and more, come home at 9pm and here he was at 2am patiently reading to me, letting me fall asleep for short spells then starting again where he knew I had fallen asleep.
As Janet’s epilepsy prevented her from driving in a village with little public transport Dad proved a tireless and willing free chauffeur. When she was running a business from home and needed to see clients in the evening, he would be there. When she met Danny and fell in love, he was always happy to drive them to see each other and made their love possible. He taught us to swim, to appreciated nature and the countryside, to play chess and a myriad of other things but most of all he taught us to give to those we love selflessly and without stint. When we let him down he taught us to forgive without a sign of rancour and to always try and see the world through the eyes of the ones you love.
He had the enormous good fortune to meet his soulmate in the world early in life and we are comforted by the thought that they are now once more reunited in heaven. Dad was our best friend, many others have said the same over the years including mum. We pray his life will continue to prove the example we need to guide us through the years ahead.
Janet and Danny & Marcus, Nichola and Casey, would like to invite his friends to join them at the Retreat Restaurant (319-321 Chorley New Rd, Bolton BL1 5BP, UK) for the wake, directly after the service. The Family kindly invite you to make a donation in Alan’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Society or The British Heart Foundation. Please note that all donations can be made via Howarth’s (the funeral directors directly via cheque or on this webpage.
Please Note: Due to damaged nerves in neck and arms can we ask you to refrain from shaking the hands of Janet and Marcus.
To try and put into words all that dad meant to us, all that he did for us and all that he helped us to be would be impossible. So let us offer you a glimpse of our dad and best friend.
Dad was born in Blackley, Manchester in 1937. The youngest of 3 sons to Jack and Hannah Latham. He went to Technical College from age 13 to 15, and was all set to take his exams for leaving school when his eldest brother told him he had got a job for him in printing. Back then jobs were seen as far more important than qualifications so his dad told him to leave school without taking the exams against his teachers wishes. Unfortunately, the job failed to materialise, undaunted he started knocking on the doors of all the local companies next day. At the local wallpaper manufacturer the personnel manager came down to see him (can you imagine that happening now?) and asked him would he like a job as office junior in the buying department. He said yes, and from that day, he moved up the ladder to junior then senior buyer before a move to head office in Darwen. Here he eventually became the company senior personnel manager achieving 40 years service with the same firm!
At 18 he, like all his generation he began his 2 years national service and with both his elder brothers having served in the Royal Navy during The Second World War he was allowed to serve his time on the aircraft carrier The Albion which always made him very proud.
A few weeks before joining the Royal Navy, Alan met the love of his life Barbara Turner at a Christmas Dance in Middleton. In a few weeks they were engaged but had to wait until dad had finished his time at sea before they could get married aged 20. Their
first child, Janet, came along a year later. Dad was working in the office during the day but also worked on the taxis at night to look after his family and try to give them the best he could. This was really the overriding theme of his life. Some have vocations in health or the church. Dad’s true religion was his family and he put them first from day one till the end. Always putting himself and his needs last he was generous with his love, time and money and above all dedicated to us all.
Not counting the Navy, neither he nor mum had been abroad until the early 1980s when they took us to Rhodes, after getting the travel bug and especially loving meeting new people from different cultures. They enjoyed many trips thereafter. Highlights include managing to take mum on a surprise trip to Paris for her 50th birthday which she only found out about just before heading for the airport. Their world trip which they planned and organised themselves to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary which included seeing Duck billed platypus in the wild and travelling through Fiji in dug out canoes to see a traditional village where, much to his embarrassment, the locals chose him to be “king” for a day! They made friends all over which have lasted a lifetime and added hugely to the variety of their lives.
His commitment to family never stopped him being a good and loyal friend as many here can attest.
He was also a man of great integrity. When Crown Wallcoverings, like so many, found they needed to shed many hundreds of jobs during the 1980s to survive. He insisted on seeing each one personally even though it was not his responsibility so they could hear it in person.
After retirement, he found a busy social life first in helping mum who was on various charitable committees with practical help for all sorts of fund raisers. Then as a member of Probus and helping mum to run the Walking Group that she’d set up. He joined the local bowling club and through the various clubs went on many outings. In fact, he had what I now believe to be the rare honour of belonging to 2 Probus groups, The Turton and The Horwich Probus where I know he made many friends. I remember how fondly he would look forward to their trips and holidays, the winter visit to the Ramsbottom theatre, Christmas meals and much more. Even when his many health issues started to mount up he wouldn’t hear of missing his groups!
I started by saying that dad saw his family as his vocation. Janet and I have so many memories of instances of that love. Being awake all night as a young boy with tonsillitis listening to him reading Winnie the Pooh and Wind in the Willows whilst plying me with Ovaltine and toast, never giving a thought to the fact that he had been up since 6.30, done a full days work and more, come home at 9pm and here he was at 2am patiently reading to me, letting me fall asleep for short spells then starting again where he knew I had fallen asleep.
As Janet’s epilepsy prevented her from driving in a village with little public transport Dad proved a tireless and willing free chauffeur. When she was running a business from home and needed to see clients in the evening, he would be there. When she met Danny and fell in love, he was always happy to drive them to see each other and made their love possible. He taught us to swim, to appreciated nature and the countryside, to play chess and a myriad of other things but most of all he taught us to give to those we love selflessly and without stint. When we let him down he taught us to forgive without a sign of rancour and to always try and see the world through the eyes of the ones you love.
He had the enormous good fortune to meet his soulmate in the world early in life and we are comforted by the thought that they are now once more reunited in heaven. Dad was our best friend, many others have said the same over the years including mum. We pray his life will continue to prove the example we need to guide us through the years ahead.
Janet and Danny & Marcus, Nichola and Casey, would like to invite his friends to join them at the Retreat Restaurant (319-321 Chorley New Rd, Bolton BL1 5BP, UK) for the wake, directly after the service. The Family kindly invite you to make a donation in Alan’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Society or The British Heart Foundation. Please note that all donations can be made via Howarth’s (the funeral directors directly via cheque or on this webpage.
Please Note: Due to damaged nerves in neck and arms can we ask you to refrain from shaking the hands of Janet and Marcus.
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Sent by Howarth's Funeral Service on 14/11/2022
I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.
Extract from a poem by Henry Scott Holland
