Alan Jackson was born on the 26-06-1931 in Shirebrook Derbshire the son of a coal miner and one of three brothers. Having been brought up in such a poor northern working class background it gave my Father a lust for life and adventure. After leaving school at sixteen he worked on the railways as a fireman. After two years national service in The Kings Dragoon Guards Alan joined the Metropolitan Police. He served in many post's in his thirty year career including D11 firearms, B10 Scotland Yard, and the Traffic division. He retired to Worthing on Sea with his wife Mary and enjoyed retirement to the full and living by the sea. My Father had travelled the world as a young man even wroking in New Zealand for several years. He travelled extensively around Spain in the early 50's and the USA. As with most English men he always loved to come home. He had a wonderful sense of humour and was always laughing and joking.

When my Father was diagnosed with MND it was a very sad time for the family, over the coming months we slowly watched this barrelled chested happy man slowly waste away before our very eye's.

Due to the marvellous help and support in every way from the Motor Neurone Desease Assocition, making the end very dignified for my Father and comforting my Mother and I greatly I have decided to canoe with four close friends the River Wye to raise money for such a wonderful organisation.