Vale Big Al
What a bloody senseless death of a true gentleman. As others above have said, Big Al, short on stature but huge of heart, was universally liked and respected. Many of his former colleagues at NJS are immensely saddened at his death, as I'm sure are the multitude of colleagues from his other lives.
I am one of those forunate enough to have shared a flight deck with Big Al, and find it difficult to come to terms with the realisation that he will not show his smiling face again.
Irony of ironies, driving enroute to Cairns today on leave with Mrs Claret, we were able to stop at the Hotel Mourilyan, in Mourilyan, just south of Innisfail, and toast Al's memory.
My condolences to Al's wife and children
RIP