firbeck 859 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 This one passed me by, someone just told me, he died last Sunday just before his 93rd birthday. Sad loss to us old trainspotters and a passing totally ignored by the media, which has really surprised me. For more information and details of his life go to www.daily telegraph.co.uk-news-obituaries. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Merthyr Imp 729 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Thanks for the news about that - I hadn't seen anything about it. The 1950s were the great days of the trainspotters movement, I suppose I just got in on the end of it, joining the Locospotters Club in 1961 when its organised activities had begun to tail off. I've still got my badge somewhere. He was a good businessman, not afraid to follow the popular trends in railway book publishing, nor to change tack or diversify into other areas than transport books. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barclaycon 569 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 In the world of Railway books and memories based on train travel, Ian Allan was a giant. He has left a tremendous archive and a massive following for steam trains and railway history in general. The obituary in the Daily Telegraph was most interesting. I knew that he was a prominent Mason and had a shop which sold Masonic regalia in Covent Garden opposite the Grand Lodge. I didn't know that he'd lost a leg. Some of the books he published created quite a stir and proved that he was 'in the know' about a lot of transport and defence subjects. A most interesting man. R.I.P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,466 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 One of those names which seemed to be around a lot when I was younger. For some strange reason, I still have this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Ian Allan the number one publisher or railway(& other transport)books untill the likes of Wild Swan came along. A sad loss to all railway fans.......RIP Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Merthyr Imp 729 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Don't forget David & Charles (both now also deceased). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Very sad indeed,Ian Allen was one of my heroes!! Met him when I was young along with my Dad and John Proctor. He made railway accessible to schoolboys like me.RIP. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 A big thank you for changing my life. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilbraborn 1,594 Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Life would never have been the same without those ubiquitous ABCs. Thanks Pete for letting us know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.