Dozens turn out to say a last farewell to former world caber tossing champion and radio presenter Charlie Allan
FOR WEEL-kent Charlie Allan's funeral the 19th century Methlick parish church was thronged with farmily, relatives and friends.
His musical talents were marked by violinist Paul Anderson playing some his favourite airs.
To finish the service family members accompanied by Paul sang one of his best-known songs Its lonely in the bothy
Born in Stirling in 1939, Charlie Allan was the son of educationalist and poet Jean Mackie and writer John R Allan and lived with his grandparents near Tarves when his parents “were busy with the war”.
Studying economics at Aberdeen University he met Fiona Vine, who worked in the university laboratories and they married in 1961 with daughter Sarah born later that year and son John in 1963.
Engaged as an economics lecturer at Dundee University where second son Jay was born on Tayside, Charlie gained a formidable reputation on the Highland Games circuit winning the world caber title in Aberdeen in 1972.
Moving to Methlick, he became one of the first to import Simmental cattle and was a regular on BBC Aberdeen in the early 80s before a family move to Kenya for several years.
Returning to the family farm, he continued his writing and was a founding light in the creation of Methlick Cricket Club.
Methlick Church - December 29, 2023 for Charlie Allan
On and on and on they came
Farmers, writers, folks of fame o say Fareweel to Charlie
Sportmen,artists, journalists young and old recalled with fondness tales he told
And said Goodbye to Charlie
Griselda McGregor
