Alan tied his first fly so long ago he can't even remember when it was. It was tied on a coarse fishing hook using a feather taken from an old pillow. In the mid eighties he bought his first fly tying kit. A course in basic and intermediate fly tying, taught by his friend Alan Roe, gave him the basics. Since then Alan has developed and refined his fly tying techniques and methods.
As a child Alan's father taught him to "never have to watch a job twice". This combined with his mastery of fly tying techniques means that if you don't want Alan to be able to tie one of your patterns - don't tie it when he is watching you!
Having both an engineering apprentiship and Royal Air Force trade training in engineering under his belt gives him a very logical and analytical approach to fly design and construction. As Hans Weilenmann said in his forward to Progressive Fly Tying, Alan is constantly searching for a better way to tie a fly (the better mousetrap of game angling).
Though Alan is a Lancastrian to the bone, he is currently living in exile in West Yorkshire where he is to be found fishing the various rivers there and further afield. In fact anywhere they will let him fish.
As you will soon realize from his writing, Alan does have a sense of humour. Some people doubt it, but Alan can prove he has a sense of humour - he still has the receipt for it from the shop. While a very large and important part of his life Alan knows that, in the grand scheme of things, fly tying and fly fishing are not that important. "Always remember this is a hobby and is meant to be good fun".
Away from river and vice Alan also enjoys drawing and painting, practicing his cooking by poisoning his friends, and occasionally works as a semi pro magician.