Community
29 August, 2026
Alan turns 90 in fine fettle
VERY rarely do I write the ‘Goss’ with a story of a personal note, but this week it was difficult not to with my very own father and Port Douglas local hitting the big 90.
As with anyone reaching this milestone, there are many stories to be told and as with anyone of that vintage and generation, they possess the ability to remember and reflect on many interesting experiences, including the war years. Obviously, I refer to World War II.
Alan McIlroy was born on 18 November 1936, three years prior to the start of the war, so therefore grew up as a youngster during this scary period of history.
Being in Battersea, just south of the River Thames in West London, this was a prime target area for German bombers, especially during the Blitz.
A favourite pastime for kids, of that era, was to rummage through bomb-damaged buildings, climbing up on the piles of bricks looking for secret hideouts and bits of shrapnel.
As a self-confessed banana addict, the man of nine decades tells a great story of discovering that the local greengrocer had bananas for sale one morning. Not a great story to tell, in this day and age, but during this unusual period of time, with ration books and limited fresh fruit and vegetables, this discovery was huge news.
In his excitement to go home and tell the family, Alan ran out of the shop only to be knocked over by a car.
The story does not end there, however, as the vehicle in question was a chauffeur- driven Rolls Royce.
Feeling bad about the situation, the chauffeur of the luxury limousine picked Alan up each day for a hospital visit to get his wounds dressed,
Straight from leaving Sir Walter St John’s Grammer School, Battersea, in 1951, Alan joined what was at the time the General Post Office, now British Telecom (BT).
Shortly after this, like many youngsters at the time, he was called up for national service and after the dreaded ‘square bashing’ introduction to the forces, Alan found himself maintaining jets and other aircraft in Aden, in the Middle East. Part of that period he experienced what was called ‘police action’ interacting between Turkish and Cypriote armies at war.
After returning to normal life, he spent just over 40 happy years back with BT, maintaining mechanical telephone exchanges, eventually becoming a manager for the company.
He had the opportunity to retire early, just before the age of 56, and from that time, as he has always said, “became busier than he had ever been,” especially in the Shire.
Over the last 60 years, Alan has been an avid golfer, his golfing idol being South African professional Gary Player. It seems that I acquired my name as a result of this.
Not so many years ago, my dad said that one of his ambitions was to be playing golf at 90. He is now the oldest member at the Mirage Country Club, playing regularly.
In 2019 both Alan and his late wife May, (my mum), made the brave decision to sell up in Surrey, UK and make the move across to Port Douglas.
This they did at the age of 83, and my dad still believes it is the best thing they ever did, “moving to paradise.”
Never wanting to do things by half, the 90th celebrations extended into a week, with a party at home, plus arriving on a high-powered trike for a meal at his favourite restaurant, a midday trip on a catamaran from the Crystalbrook Marina and a flight over the Douglas Shire by helicopter.
As a very young man, Alan told his grandmother that he would live until 100 years old and by the looks of things, he will most likely make that with some ease. Maybe his new challenge should be 110.
Well, I’m off to join the celebrations again, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
