Alan Howe

[ewk]

Oh dear that's indeed bad news. All the best wishes, Alan, for best possible recovery!

[terry martyn]

Bad news indeed, and we are missing his incisive comments.

I hope we will get a positive update really soon.

[Mark Thomas]

I'm pleased to say that Alan is now back home and recovering, but it will take some time.

[adcsound]

Many thanks Mark for keeping us up to date with this very good news!
I wish him the best of recovery.
Fred

[Mark Thomas]

I'm sorry to pass on the news that, having returned home, Alan's condition did not improve as hoped. Rather, it has proved impractical for him to be cared for at home and he has returned temporarily to hospital, pending a permanent transfer to a care home, hopefully near his daughter. She has confirmed that "he also has low level capillary damage as a result of the stroke, in the brain, which is essentially the first steps of dementia". I've asked her to pass on to Alan, and his wife Christine, the best wishes of everyone here at UC.

Realistically, it is unlikely that Alan will be able to make any more posts to UC, and for that the forum will be very much the poorer. Over the years Alan has made an immense contribution to UC and we are all hugely in his debt, none more so than me, for whom he has been not only a fellow moderator, but also the greatest musical friend.

[terry martyn]

I am very sorry to read this,Mark. 

[Justin]

Incredibly sad to hear, Mark. My understanding is that Alan made more posts to this site than anyone else, and I hope he would be content in knowing that part of his legacy will be enshrined in the contributions recorded here.

I am curious since you were a close friend of his: What was his favorite musical piece, or one that he often returned to for listening?

[Jonathan]

I'm very sorry to hear this news, I shall miss his contributions.

[Mark Thomas]

I am curious since you were a close friend of his: What was his favorite musical piece, or one that he often returned to for listening?

Like many of us here, Alan has a very Catholic taste amongst romantic-era unsungs. I'm very reluctant to speak for him, but I suspect that, if pressed, he might nominate Draeseke's Symphony No.3 Trajica as a work of outstanding genius. If I manage to speak to him (which I'm hopeful of doing once I return from holiday), and he's up to it, I'll ask the question.

[Ilja]

Very sad news indeed. Alan greatly helped in making this forum what it is today. But more importantly, he always proved himself a great person and a committed debater, and he shall very much be missed here. I just hope that there may be some sort of recovery for him over the next months.

[Christopher]

Mark, this is very sad news indeed. Please pass my best wishes on to him.

[Reverie]

Strokes really are the most horrible thing aren't they! Poor Alan!

Mark - is he still able to listen to music do you know?

[4candles]

Very sorry to hear this. I might not always agree with Alan's musical views, but he knows what he likes and is highly knowledgeable and very eloquent and persuasive when expressing his thoughts. This site and his wider musical circle are the poorer when faced with this unfortunate news.

[tuatara442442]

Very sad to hear about the irreversible loss suffered by Alan, also the irreversible loss to the forum of which he was a central figure. 

[Mark Thomas]

Strokes really are the most horrible thing aren't they! Poor Alan!

Mark - is he still able to listen to music do you know?

I believe so, Martin, but only with help. We've made a Spotify playlist for him of what I know to be some of his favorite sung and unsung music - it's around 72 hours now, I believe. I'd share the link to it so that members can add to it, but I'm on holiday at present and don't have access to it. I'll do so once I get home.