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GOODBYE TO "FEN BOY"

September 4th 2002 saw the village of Swavesey saying goodbye to Alan Lee at his funeral in St. Andrews Church. Alan, for so long so involved in so many things in Swavesey and for anyone who did not know his history probably regarded as a son of Swavesey, was in fact born in Battersea and did not come to live in Swavesey until he was a year old.

Despite this early handicap he quickly became part of village life, becoming a junior chorister at St. Andrews, being confirmed at St. Andrews and continuing to be an active member of the church for many years. He attended the village school and then won a scholarship to Cambridge Technical College, following which at the age of 14 he joined the RAF as an apprentice armourer. He spent time in many diverse locations and with the outbreak of W.W.II went all over Europe. He met his wife Joyce in Cambridge whilst he was instructing cadets, and they were married at St. Andrews Church in 1942.

Immediately following the war Alan was part of the Combined Services Entertainment Unit managing theatres in Germany to entertain the occupying forces. One of those he managed was the late Sir Harry Secombe, who remembered to send Alan a card for his 70th birthday. Alan and Joyce and their two children spent many years in Swavesey whilst Alan ran the Post Office (taken over from his father), and on his retirement moved into the old telephone exchange which George Hendry converted into a bungalow. Alan contributed a great deal to village life, founding the first Swavesey Cubs and Scouts, working with the British Legion and in 1977 was involved with the celebrations for the Queens Silver Jubilee.

He was also the instigator of the annual barrel rolling contest (with a little help from 3 friends!) He was chairman of the Swavesey branch of the Conservative Association for 22 years and a member of the Parish Council; he also got involved in the annual Christmas Carol Concert. Long term readers of this magazine will remember his articles under the name "Fen Boy". So goodbye Alan, you will be sadly missed but fondly remembered.