Reflecting on last week’s passing of Allan McLean, Transform’s rail advisor Paul Tetlaw reflects on Allan’s contribution to the sustainable transport cause.
Allan was a great supporter of and advocate for the railway – little wonder then that as well as his numerous roles in journalism and the railway, he served as a Transform Scotland board member, and separately he was an individual supporter.
I first knew of Allan as the transport correspondent for the Scotsman newspaper and uniquely also the real ale columnist, and I later got to know him personally when I was Chair of Transform Scotland. He was always helpful, wonderfully knowledgeable with a delightful mischievous streak.
During his time with Virgin Trains I would receive emails from him where he delighted by signing off saying he was ’tilting at 125 mph’. Others will write of the very many ways that he sought to promote the railway and rail travel but I know that he was a very strong advocate for the Borders Railway. I was pleased to join him and other key railway supporters on the first public train from Edinburgh to Tweedbank – a memorable day indeed.
On another occasion I was travelling to London for a meeting and decided at short notice to contact Allan to see if we might be able to catch up over a beer in the evening. Luckily he was in London at the time and readily agreed, treating me to a number of real ales at one of his favourite hostelries. When the time came for me to return to my hotel, the night was still young for Allan and he invited me to join him to meet up with others at a club he knew. I politely declined but I’m sure Allan’s company would be greatly enjoyed by others later into the night.
As well as the many people who considered Allan to be a friend he will be greatly missed by his family and I know how proud he was when his son Andrew was appointed to senior position at the National Railway Museum. At the time I asked him if Andrew was indeed his son and the he must be very proud – I see received the reply: ‘YES and YES’.
The modern day railway could benefit from many more like Allan as it fights to retain its key role in our transport infrastructure but we have good reason to thank him for his very many years of tremendous service.
RIP Allan.
