Alan retired from the Royal Air Force in 1988 after 31 years service where he commanded a Hercules transport aircraft squadron as well as the largest RAF flying training station.  He was also Personal Staff Officer to a NATO commander, a senior member of the RAF Policy Department and Air Advisor to the British High Commissioner in Canada.

Since 1988 Alan’s appointments have included General Manager of Universiade GB Ltd where he had overall responsibility for organising, funding and running the World Student Games which took place in Sheffield in 1991.

In 1991 he set up his own career development consultancy alongside being Chairman of North Nottinghamshire Health Authority.  In 1992 he was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant for South Yorkshire.

He was appointed as Career Development Coach under the NHS ‘Executive Choice’ scheme in 1997 and in 1999 he was appointed as a mentor with the NHS Leadership Development Programme for Chief Executives.

Alan has also Chaired the North Nottinghamshire Partnership, where he helped to attract an extra £28 million of Government funding to supports development projects.

Very active in the voluntary sector, Alan is Chairman of a County Branch of SSAFA Forces Help, Governor of Portland College, Chairman of Portshel Industries (Sheltered Workshop), Trustee of Carmichael-Walker Trust (Welfare), Trustee of South Yorkshire/North Nottinghamshire Aircraft Museum, Treasurer of Firbeck Parochial Church Council and a Welfare Case Worker for the RAF Benevolent Fund and a Lecturer on Project management on the Executive MBA Course at Sheffield University.

He has also previously been a Director for the Advisory Board of the Centre for Health Services Management at the University of Nottingham and County Organiser and campaigner for the National Playing Fields Association.

Alan was appointed as Chairman of Rotherham Primary Care Trust when it was established on 1st April 2002.

In 2009 Alan was awarded an OBE for his voluntary services to the community.