Alan Pedder 1956 ~ 2007

There will be a service at Stevenage Crematorium on Saturday March 24th at 12.30.

This on the road between the A602 and Knebworth. This a link to the crematorium details www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/birth2y/bcrema2y/878658

Watton Road
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG2 8XT

Following the service there will be a wake at the Priory, Ware. This off the High Street in Ware. Details at this site: http://www.warepriory.co.uk/

I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to attend ~ it will be a sombre day but a fitting farewell to a much loved friend

Steven Nelson
 

Members at Gosling Squash Club have been coming to terms with a very sudden death of one of their most active members. For many years Alan Pedder has been a player and captain in teams in Divisions 3, 4 and 5. Over the last few seasons Alan led a team from Division 5 through to Division 3 and was really pleased to see it doing so well. Many players across Herts will have come across Alan through his energetic support of Squash and he really was the sort of person that every club needs more of. He would support and captain a team, play in every competition, join in at club nights, be in the Leagues and if someone cancelled at short notice he’d help out if he could. Somehow he managed to play at Broxbourne as well where I am sure they will also miss him greatly.

Alan was immensely cheerful and positive about everything and had been looking forward to a challenge this February when he flew off to Argentina to climb Aconcagua ~ climbing to an altitude just short of 7,000 metres. We know that Alan did not make it to the top and had decided to descend with others in his group when he had a heart attack which proved to be fatal. I am not sure of the precise date but believe it to be around February 24th 2007. Alan’s sons travelled to Argentina to meet their father’s travelling companions, guide and medical staff. Alan was returned to the UK on Saturday March 10th and final details of his funeral arrangements will be known very soon.

Personally I’d known Alan for about 15 years and find it very unsettling that Alan, enjoyed getting the most out of life, should die so unexpectedly. In recent years he has skied, learned to become a very proficient Scuba Diver and taken in Kilimanjaro and Macchu Picchu ~ Aconcagua was just the next challenge.

Alan’s many friends were truly shocked and stunned to hear of his tragic death so far away and we want to send our support and thoughts to his family who are shattered by his untimely death.

The great memories, like the sadness of loss, will last for a very long time.

The funeral will take place at Stevenage Crematorium on Saturday 24 March.

Steven Nelson