Alan Bovelt

[4Greens]

There was an item on Channel 9 news Monday night about an early Ansett pilot called Allan Bovelt who had died. Apparently he was in poor circumstances.
Any knowledge?

[Fris B. Fairing]

4Greens
Allan Bovelt passed away back in June. It was one of those sad situations where neighbours noticed he hadn't been seen for a while so they got the Police to break into his flat where they found that he had passed away, apparently from natural causes. Since then the Police have been trying unsuccessfully to trace any next of kin. Allan was well known as an aviation historian specialising on the DC-3. To make a sad situation even worse, the authorities took it upon themselves to clean out his flat and all his possessions, including his DC-3 files, books and photographs went into a skip. Fortunately an alert neighbour noticed and we were able to save these items which are now safe at the Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown. It is understood that this is where Al wanted his things to go anyway.
In recent weeks it emerged that Al was likely to be buried in a pauper's grave but there are a few of his mates who are determined to see that this doesn't happen. It is likely that the AAM at Bankstown will be setting up a fund so that Al has a decent send-off. If it's ok with the moderators I will post details when known.
Needless to say, if anyone knows of any next of kin please come forward.
RIP Al.

[4Greens]

Thanks for that. Av Museum has now been in contact with me. To get the best coverage it may be best to post on both Dunnunda Forums and maybe Aviation History and Nostalgia.
Rgds

[Fris B. Fairing]

4Greens
As discussed with the Mod, I'll post further details when known. Hopefully there will be some positive news soon.
Regards

[Torres]

Sky News tonight:

Al Bovelt's sister has been located in New Zealand and family will attend his funeral in Sydney. A funeral home in Sydney has offered free funeral services.

His ashes are to be scattered from a DC3.

Al was 78 years old.

[PPRuNe Towers]

Further to the post by Torres a very kind lady called Cherie has been in touch with us at the Towers and wants us to pass on the following:

Hi,

Regarding the notice re Alan Bovelt. Sadly I'm the neighbour who found Alan and since his death have Googled his name in the hope of something popping up! Tonight Channel 9 did follow up to the segment on Alan aired on Monday!

Alan's sister has been located in Christchurch NZ, but she is unable to travel.

A funeral service has generously been donated by Euro Funerals, 890 Canterbury Road, Roselands. I called them and as yet the logistsic's are not in place. A service for Alan will be held next week, with possibly a memorial at the Aviation Museum, Bankstown and Alan's ashes will be scattered from a DC3.

In the just over a year that Alan lived here we were mates and I so hope that someone might take the landlord, the NSW Dept. of Housing to task over the way they dealt with Alan's possessions! I cared for and found a home for Alans' much loved three legged cat, Matey aka One Down, who is living a charmed life in Newtown.

I trust you will forward this information on to anyone who knew Alan, I knew him as a quiet, private, kind and caring man.

Kind Regards,
Cherie

[4Greens]

The Australian Division of the Royal Aeronautical Society is willing to help out and has been in touch.

[Fris B. Fairing]

To all Allan’s friends and relatives, please be advised that details of his funeral are as below :
Date : Monday, November 19, 2007
Location : The *Main Crematorium, West Chapel, Rookwood Cemetery
Time : 3.30pm
Funeral Service : Euro Funerals (who are kindly offering their service free of charge)
* There are 2 Crematoriums at Rookwood. One is the Catholic Crematorium, the other is known as the Main Crematorium. The latter is where Allan’s funeral will take place.
Please pass on these details to any known friend of Allan’s or anyone from the aviation fraternity interested in attending.
Most of you will know that with the permission of Discovery Air Tours and Chief Pilot Jack Curtis, I intended to scatter Allan’s ashes from a DC3 shortly after the funeral.
Regretfully the aircraft in question, VH-DNA, blew an engine in flight while on parachute dropping operations. However, Rebecca, a grand niece of Allan’s has promised to take care of his ashes until such time as VH-DNA is repaired.
Kind regards and hope to see you all at the funeral. I will post a tribute to Allan on the Museum web site (www.aamb.com.au (http://www.aamb.com.au)) later today.
Trevor Dean
Curator
Australian Aviation Museum
http://www.aamb.com.au