From all of us at Sobell House, we want to send our gratitude for the donations given in tribute to Alan. Many of our services are entirely funded by charitable donations and your support is helping to make our care possible – thank you very much 💛

I’ve known the wonderful character, Alan Kidd, for around 55 years and Moyra has known him for about 50 years. I was a teenager when he first came on my horizon, as a dashing young man driving an Austin Healy sports car. He was dating my sister, Elaine, who you’ll also know as Wendy or Winks. Alan was an instantly likeable person, always steady, positive and friendly, very humorous and a charming man. He was quick with a pun and being around the creative people, in Lintas advertising agency in Salisbury, Rhodesia, sharpened that ability. He had a playful, even cheeky side, often teasing my mother at family desserts with the question, “Where’s the custard?“ He knew that his mother-in-law prided herself as an excellent hostess. So, although she knew that it was in jest, she was piqued by the question, but Alan’s natural charm blunted any offence she might have taken. Alan was a loving, quietly dependable husband, father, grandfather and a friend to so many people. It was sad for our family when Alan emigrated from, the then, Rhodesia, in 1977 with Winks and young Laura and Bryan. The prospect of endless army Intelligence Corps call-ups for 6-weeks and then only 6 weeks at his creative job weighed that decision. We visited Winks and Alan in 1979 when Alan drew pastel portraits of Moyra and me. They still have a prominent place in our home and are a constant reminder of Alan’s artistic talent. His immense talent was expressed quietly in his work and private endeavours. His phenomenal, creative talent as an artist knew no bounds across many media, drawing, sculpting, and painting. It was cruel turn of fate that he became so ill and unable to attend his ‘Through my Eyes’ exhibition which highlighted those wonderful techniques. We are so glad to have known Alan, a constant, reliable, uplifting character who was always a delight to be around. Rest in peace, Alan, and thanks for the fond memories and your life well lived. Peter and Moyra Le Blanc Smith

MY GIFTED PAL AL My portrait hangs above the stair But the artist is no longer there His distinctive brushstrokes remain And his memory will never wane The sittings were moments of delight With conversations that gave deep insight Into how Alan’s approach to portraiture Would create an image that will endure He sympathetically captured a subject’s inner soul Reflecting that which made them whole So that two dimensions appeared as three An enormous treat for all to see A glint in the eye and the hint of a smile The variegated sheen of a new hairstyle Head at an angle gave the jawline a lift Al was bestowed with that precious great gift His artistic skill was beyond belief And somehow softens the present grief As we all remember those golden days When his presence made us sing his praise Jeff Galatin 5.1.25