In memory of Alan Paul Furniss

Alan looking out at Mt. Kenya. We are saddened to announce the passing of Alan Paul Furniss, a former member, at the end of 2021. Alan was born in Bristol in 1941 as his father worked at the Bristol airplane company. After a rather adventurous few years living in Hong Kong and Bulawayo the family ended up in Kenya having driven all the way up from Zimbabwe in a little Ford Anglia. Here Alan’s father worked as an electrical lecturer at Kabete Tech while his mother ran the new Stanley bookshop. Alan discovered mountains while working at the railways and later at International Computers Limited. His favourite things were mountaineering, motorbikes and exploring empty places on them, the music of Glenn Miller, swimming and programming the apple 2e computer.

Alan climbing at Lukenya. Alan was an MCK member from the late sixties to early seventies, climbing with the likes of Collette Brown, John Blacker and Taffy Bennet, from Lukenya to Mt. Kenya. His was a life well-lived, with one of his fondest memories giving his guide the slip on a hike to Kibo crater on Kilimanjaro and spending some moments entirely alone on the highest point in Africa. Rest in peace, Alan.