Alan Lovett  

Kim and Gary Webb

Alan was a very special person. I have lots of lovely memories of Alan and shared many laps of the track during training sessions at cricklefields, and Saturday afternoon cross country sessions up at Chigwell row. Ilford A.C was his family and his life. He will be sadly missed by everyone at the club. Rest in peace Alan. With love Kim Gary and family.

Len Ruddock

Alan was a another one of Ilford's kindly gentlemen and I have fond memories of him when I competed regularly for Ilford.

Dave Ainsworth

Alan Lovett has passed-on at the age of 80 after a lengthy period of declining health. Alan, Ilford AC Club President in 1989/90, initially joined in a bid to get in some additional fitness prior to enlisiting in the Army. He's seen an advert for a novices' cross-country run at Hainault Forest, turned up, ran and was "hooked" to both running and the friendly promoting club. He went on to become an accomplished runner and a true Club stalwart. He's served long honorary spells as Membership Secretary, Trophies Steward and track layer - as well as his duties behind the counter at the Club's tea counter. Alan was well known in his community, for after retiring he was a popular school "lollipop man" - indeed often wearing his yellow coat when marshalling - though didn't bring his pole on such occasions! Alan, a resident of Dunspring Lane in Clayhall, was truly a lovely man. When a most active Club President he took part in some Essex League walking races to show support for the Walking Section. Walkers who took part in Ilford's many Chigwell Row events (before risk assessment rightly ended them) will have often followed Alan in his role as a cycle pilot, and then seen him after racing when returning to the Club's tea room..

Tony Nixon

It is so sad to see the loss of Alan, one of the nicest people anyone could wish to meet. He was a real gentleman who was so encouraging to me in my early years, but also a very good athlete who I only saw the back of in many races! He was Ilford AC through and through and was there for the club over the years in whatever way he could help, whether in a committee post or freezing his socks off as a martial in the club cross country races. But my lasting memory of Alan will be of him in his suit in the Cauliflower with his lifelong friends Fred Plum and Alec Tiffin having a pint on a Sunday morning. God bless you Alan for the friendship and kindness you showed to me and Pat and everyone else at Ilford AC.

Mick Herring

Alan was a fine man and a fine runner.
I will never forget him.

Gordon Crouch

How sad to see the passing of Alan, yet another Ilford Athletic Club gentleman. Quiet in thought, word and deed...a life long member and activist. He was always prepared to support the club through thick and thin...Well done Alan. Rest in Peace. Gordon.

Martin

Its characters like Alan that give me confidence Ilford AC will continue to exist for ever. Lets not forget the drop of the hanky to start the session, his marshal post at the corner of the Club 10 in full hi vis, the particular attention to detail such as providing a receipt for payment when paying your subscription, the resolution of the sandwiches containing mayonnaise problem at a presentation disco a few years ago that nobody quite understood. But above all the gnome in his garden regaled in full Ilford AC kit. It says it all for me.

Ernie

Yet another Ilford legend lost to us Alan was a great club man and he will be greatly missed regards Ernie

John Batchelor

Another one of life's great gentlemen gone! Alan sacrificed a lot of his own training to help Fred Plumm as coach to our Ladies, pacemaking them through their interval sessions, but still a great runner as evidenced for example by his 1:55:25 in the 1967 Essex 20 on a hot, sticky day amongst very many races, year-in and year-out. A good friend, team-mate and supporter to all of his club colleagues through the years and a pillar of Ilford AC.
RIP Alan

Michael Hinton

SO SORRY TO LEARN OF THE PASSING OF ALAN LOVETT,WHAT A LOVELY CHAP HE WAS.HE WAS IN THE SAME MOULD AS ALSO SADLY PASSED ALEC TIFFIN,BOTH LONG STANDING LOYAL CLUB MEN,ILFORD AC RAN IN THIER VEINS.
I REMEMBER ALAN WELL WHEN TAKING MY SON RICHARD TO CROSS COUNTRY OUTINGS AND RACE WALKING EVENTS OVER THE YEARS FOR THE WELCOMING CUPPA AND CAKE AFTERWARDS.
REST IN PEACE ALAN.
MIKE HINTON.

Brian Armstrong

When I joined Ilford in 1962 Alan was one of the people that made me feel welcome. Always changing in the same corner at Cricklefields he was very much part of the furniture in everything he did helping to make Ilford AC great. Many times he gave me a lift home after training, a real gentleman in every way. God bless you Alan.

John Mackenzie

"C'mon Ilfoooooord" was Alan's distinctive shout of encouragement at races where he stood as a marshal or jogged as a spectator in his later years.Ever-present as a Chigwell Row 'caretaker' and for many years keeper of the Club's medals, Alan was a selfless individual who always put other people first.The Club provided him with an alternative family which he loved dearly.Polite, smart and talkative with a penchant for brylcreem and talc, may he rest in peace after his rapid decline in health.

Iain James Knight

A good friend and always a gentleman.

Andy Catton

Alan was a true gent. Proper old school in running and in life.
Another in the Alec Tiffin mould always interested and wanting to know about your racing, training and family rather than anything about himself. Trained with Alan in my early days at the club as a kid and he was always full of generous advice. He was of course a very talented middle long distance runner and performed incredibly well as a veteran right up to the onset of his illness.
Lasting memory of Alan always smiling and smartly dressed in shirt and tie and trousers just for training afternoons at Chigwell.
Andy