Alan Yeo, AKA oldtuckunder

[Nick Jones]

It is my sad task to tell you that Alan passed away on Thursday night after a long illness.

I shall miss his dry, cynical wit, insatiable curiosity, eye for detail and generosity.  The forum, the Triumph world and the world in general is poorer for his passing.

RIP Alan.......

My thoughts are also with Helen, his partner

[yorkshire_spam]

That really is sad news Nick. As you say, our thoughts are with his family and RIP Alan.

[TR5tar]

Very sad to hear this news. I spoke with Alan a few weeks ago on the phone and he explained the situation and said he knew that he didn't have long. He was incredibly stoic. I hope I could be as so, if faced with the same prospects. Despite the fact that I knew it was on the cards, it still comes as a shock. I wish I'd had the opportunity to know Alan better. 

My condolences to his family and everyone who will miss him. 

RIP Alan. 

Edited August 17, 2019 by TR5tar

[thebrookster]

That is sad news indeed.

I always looked forward to his posts on here, and he will be missed. My condolences to his partner and family.

RIP Alan.

[Nick Jones]

Yes.  It's a bit of an odd story.  The original tumours were found by chance.  Although only small, the location of one made it potentially very lethal and he was warned it could all be over very quickly.  They told him he might only have three months or less.  That was in about November 2017.

He was feeling absolutely normal and fine and in fact continued to feel fine until earlier this year when the problem with his left arm surfaced.  He was on a treatment trial for quite a large part of last year.  Whether it made any difference one way or the other is unknown, but he found it absolutely fascinating as he got to meet all kinds of interesting specialists and it meant that the progression of the disease was very closely monitored and Alan being Alan, wanted to know all about it.  In fact it barely progressed at all for a very long time and one of the specialists told him that there was no way of knowing whether it would progress as apparently they are beginning to understand that some people have tumours that go undiscovered (except through chance scans for other reasons) which either never progress or are beaten by the immune system.  He told me that the thought that he might actually go on for years, but with the the threat of sudden death hanging over him, was messing with his head more than the original prognosis.

His calm acceptance and just cracking on with life, first getting his affairs in order, then setting out to enjoy his remaining time to the max, was inspirational.  He did observe on more than one occasion that the threat of an imminent visit from the grim reaper did his hill-climb times no harm at all....... so now you know Hamish!

[rogerguzzi]

Hello Nick

                  That is sad news but not unexpected but still a shock.

I was only thinking this week I must email Alan and ask if he wants any help(but got wrapped up in my own things as usual) but that is no excuse and now I feel bad

When you next speak to Helen tell her I am more than willing to go and help sort out stuff or meet people that may want to buy cars or stuff as I do not live far away

Roger

[Nick Jones]

46 minutes ago, TR5tar said:

I wish I'd had the opportunity to know Alan better. 

I too.  Though I'd known him "virtually" on here for longer, we first met in person only in April 2016, at Gurston Down hillclimb, when in typically generous fashion he sent me free entry tickets.  We clicked instantly.  However, living 125 miles apart meant that we didn't see each other that often although I've been there more often in recent times, our time together has been too short.

 

13 minutes ago, rogerguzzi said:

That is sad news but not unexpected but still a shock.

I was only thinking this week I must email Alan and ask if he wants any help(but got wrapped up in my own things as usual) but that is no excuse and now I feel bad

When you next speak to Helen tell her I am more than willing to go and help sort out stuff or meet people that may want to buy cars or stuff as I do not live far away

I will Roger. I've been in two minds as to whether I should have let you all know how serious things were getting, but Alan has always been quite private about this.  Not so much because it was a big secret, especially since symptoms started, but more that he found it very hard to deal with the concern and sympathy that inevitably follows people finding out.

I've been trawling my archives looking for pics and find that (typically for me) I've taken more of the car than the man and can't find many where he's not wearing his "hat"

Gurston April 2016, waiting for the off

April 2018, in full flight

[richy_rich]

Sorry to hear that, I didn't really know him well but I was in contact with him a bit after he bought the red spitfire and he was asking about the history and so on.  Seemed a very nice chap, condolences to his friends and family.

[PaulAA]

That is indeed sad news.

I corresponded with him on several occasions in The Other Place and was in his debt not only for sharing his wisdom and forthright opinions, but also being (correctly) admonished for, if I recall correctly, overstepping the bounds of civility in an exchange with another member At The Bar.

Condolences to his family and friends.

[Sidescreen Ben]

Sorry to hear this news. We only met once when he came down to Badger's Holt last October to cheer on the  nutters taking part. My condolences to his family. 

[RedRooster]

Sad news to loose another Triumph guy, fear we are about lose a king pin guy over here shortly too. Life is too short for the good guys.

RR

[Mark]

Very sad news.  Alan has been in my thoughts since he mentioned his situation on this forum. He will be sadly missed. My condolences to his friends and family.

[Hamish]

Such sad news indeed. 

I started the TRR sprint and hill climb champs in 2017 and Alan was instantly welcoming and full of advice even though we were in the same class - in theory anyway as he could guide his Vitesse with skill and gusto so  that I could get nowhere near. 

This fist year I was driving to and from all the events. So at loton park when my car “failed to proceed” up the hill on the last run I was stuck for getting home. Alan was in first with ideas and spanners sticking at it to try and help me long after others had rightly given up to pack up their own paddock stuff to get home. 

In the end we loaded my car on to Alan’s trailer and took it to a local pub car park where we unloaded and tried to de race the look of my car ( numbers off etc) so the Rac could ferry me home. 

Alan retuning to loton to pack up his own stuff. I happily thanked him later with a bottle of something nicer than my usual coke. 

That year he finished 3rd over all which was an amazing achievement.

he has been missed at events this year, but always asked after.

even up to a few weeks ago he has been contributing to my knowledge and pointing me in faster directions. 

Alan thank you. You will be missed in the paddock mate. 

Hamish

 

the man himself. 

 

 

Edited August 17, 2019 by Hamish
Added link

[Sidescreen Ben]

A lovely tribute Hamish, thanks for posting. 

[GT6MK3]

Really sad news Nick.

Alan had a knack of combining wit, curiosity, tenacity and generosity with his commentary.  He was part of our fabric here. 

I’m really glad I got to meet him last year, he took the time to barrel a couple of hundred miles down just to say hi to a jetlagged and shellshocked fellow nerd.

He’ll be missed.

Vale Alan.

[RogerH]

That is sad.

I didn;t know he was poorly.

At least he will not have to suffer the consequences of Brexit that he so detested

 

RIP Alan

 

Roger

[RedRooster]

+1 thanks Hamish, nice to see him in action, makes it easier relate to Alan and what he did.

[TR5tar]

As I mentioned above, Alan got in touch with me a few weeks back. He had remembered that at one time I was looking for a Vitesse and because he wanted to put his affairs in order he wondered if I'd be interested in his. Sadly, the timing wasn't right for me, as I'd have dearly liked it, but looking at Alan in action in it, I know that there's no way that I could have done it justice. I hope it goes to someone who will drive in the spirit Alan did. Thanks for posting the film Hamish. 

Darren

[Nick Jones]

I believe that I am now in charge of finding the Vitesse a suitable home.  Please contact me for details...…..

[triumphlux]

Very sad news, his humor, technical knowledge and attention to detail will be sadly missed.

RIP Alan

JC

[Rod1883]

I'd like to add, belatedly, my condolences and best wishes to his family and close friends.

I didn't know Alan, other than from his thoughtful and extremely useful posts here - the Triumph family has lost a key member.

RIP

Rod

[PeterC]

Sad news. We never met but I recall posts on the other place where Alan dissected the problem with razor precision. When he replied to a post of mine I knew I was in trouble. I hope his Vitesse goes to a home where the work he has put into its development continues to be seen on the hills. Peter

[Chris W]

Just got back from holiday 'down under', check into Sideways and find this very sad announcement.  Like others, I never met Alan but appreciated his thoughtful posts on a variety of subjects, both here and the 'other place'. 

Condolences to his family and friends, he will be missed.

Chris

[Nick Jones]

As Alan donated his body to medical science and was not one for religion, there has been no funeral or memorial service.

Instead there is to be an informal gathering to celebrate his life next Thursday the 26th September commencing @ 2pm.

This is to take place at Welland Court very close to his home.  Those who knew him are invited to come along, just please let me know via PM so I can pass an idea of numbers on for catering purposes

Nick

[JohnD]

Nick,

I regret that I can't be at that gathering, and expect that many others in Triumph will feel the same.    Would it be possible to record the names of those who knew and appreciated Alan, but cannot come, in the book of condolences?    Or, is there an address to which or whom, to send our sympathy?

John