I'm very sorry to advise members that Alan Howe suffered a stroke a few days ago. He is already in rehabilitation, is making progress, and is in good spirits but he must, of course, focus on his recovery and so is stepping back from UC for the time being. I know we all wish Alan a speedy and full recovery, and look forward to his return to our community.
In the meantime Ilja (Nieuwland) has kindly agreed to join UC's moderation/administrative team, taking over Alan's role until he can resume it, and I know that you'll give Ilja every co-operation in fulfilling his new duties here.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
My father suffered a slight one last year. He had good luck and much help by his niece. I hope that Alan has such good company as well.
Thank you, Ilja, for stepping in!
Sorry to hear this, but glad Alan is in rehabilitation.
I hope he is blessed with a quick recovery and that some unsung composers and music can help with that.
All the best wishes for recovery, Alan!
Agreed. Best wishes for a good recovery!
I'll pass your good wishes on to Alan, of course.
All my best wishes for a full and speedy recovery 🙏
Best wishes from me too.
I was concerned that there had been no sighting of Alan for a while. My mother suffered a stroke,and then received wonderful remedial treatment, and I hope Alan gets the same benefits, and we see him back here as soon as his rehab permits.
Best wishes and speedy recovery!
May he have a satisfactory recovery. I wish him the best.
I am sure Alan's faith, like the music, is a source of strength, and will help him deal with the challenges that a stroke can bring. We all hope his rehabilitation is sucessful, and that he will be "up and running" again before too long. In the meantime, UC won't feel the same and his stream of posts will be sorely missed.
I'm very sorry to hear about Alan's illness. I hope he will fully and quickly recover :'(
A progress report: Alan was allowed to return home two days earlier than originally anticipated, which is a good sign. He remains in good spirits.
That's great news Mark, thank you for the update. Glad he's on the mend.
Only just seen this and sorry to hear it - Alan always strikes me as a determined chap so hopefully he will be back up and running soon!
So sorry to hear this! Keeping Alan in my prayers. Am glad he's recovering. Can't wait to see you back here Alan!
Agreed.
Well wishes and fast recovery to Alan!
My best wishes for Alan's continued recovery!
Quote from: semloh on Thursday 25 September 2025, 09:18I am sure Alan's faith, like the music, is a source of strength
Very perceptive, Colin, and very true. I also have a wonderful wife, daughter and son-in-law, so I'm benefitting from their love and care now that I am back home following treatment and rehabilitation. I won't be moderating for a while but hope to contribute now and then.
With many - and I mean many - thanks for all the expressions of concern and the good wishes I have received.
I'm glad you are on the mend, Alan, and am relieved to hear it directly from you.
Very kind, John. Thank you.
My thoughts and wishes for a steady, solid and secure recovery. There is no rush.
I'm very sorry to let friends know that Alan suffered a second stroke last week and has returned to hospital. Unfortunately, this has left his sight further impaired and he has some short-term memory loss. At present it's uncertain when he'll return home, but as soon as I have more news I'll let you know. Direct communication isn't possible at present, but I'm in touch with his family and have already reiterated that we're all rooting for Alan to make a good recovery. I will. of course, happily pass on any individual messages, which I ask you to send me direct by PM.
Very sorry to hear, and best wishes.
Sorry to hear
I just read this thread, So sorry.
My best wishes for Alan's speedy recovery. Fred.
Please pass on my best wishes for a full recovery.
I'm very sorry to hear that
Oh dear that's indeed bad news. All the best wishes, Alan, for best possible recovery!
Bad news indeed, and we are missing his incisive comments.
I hope we will get a positive update really soon.
I'm pleased to say that Alan is now back home and recovering, but it will take some time.
Many thanks Mark for keeping us up to date with this very good news!
I wish him the best of recovery.
Fred
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.
I am very sorry to read this,Mark.
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?
I'm very sorry to hear this news, I shall miss his contributions.
Quote from: Justin on Tuesday 06 January 2026, 16:02I 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.
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.
Mark, this is very sad news indeed. Please pass my best wishes on to him.
Strokes really are the most horrible thing aren't they! Poor Alan!
Mark - is he still able to listen to music do you know?
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.
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. :'(
Quote from: Reverie on Wednesday 07 January 2026, 11:25Strokes 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.
Very sad news. Like us all, I had hoped the news might be more positive. Thoughts and prayers with him and his family.
Like all of us, I am very distressed to read the news about Alan's condition. While the quick recovery that I had hoped for is clearly out of the question now, I know that with time and careful treatment people who have suffered debilitating strokes have been able to experience at least partial recoveries, however slow the steps in that direction.
I will continue to hope that Alan is able to look forward to a gradual improvement to his health.
My best wishes to Alan and I pray his condition might improve with time. His contributions and keen insight here has proved time and time again to be most precious and valuable. While we've never met in person, Alan has valiantly spent his time listening to, and encouraged me countless times over the years on my digital productions, and thus given me much-appreciated encouragement and feedback on my projects. Hopefully, he will find the strength to listen to and enjoy music despite what sounds like a terribly difficult predicament.
Best wishes to his family and loved ones, -Tuomas.
Thank you, Tuomas. I'll pass your message on to Alan's family. He'll appreciate it very much, I know,
Many sympathies at this turn :(
A very brief update. Alan is now living in a care home, near his daughter in Kent, but is not fully settled, having good days and bad days. He still listens to music, and has a supply of CDs replenished by his daughter and son-in-law, who also take him to church each Sunday. He needs help with the "technology" though and, as his daughter writes "he just can't sadly work all the things he used to work before or remember how to do everything". It's all very sad.
And tremendously frustrating for him too, I would imagine.
So sorry that there seems to be no sign of improvement. I miss the way he always acted as a brake on some of my remarks.
Oy. Indeed :( ...