Alan is a “Doonhamer” having been born and brought up in Dumfries before going up to Glasgow University in October 1962 to study law. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1967 and became a partner in one of the oldest law firms in Glasgow in January 1970. However, he gave up his bowler hatted days in 1976  when he moved to Argyll to become a partner in a law firm in Campbeltown where he practised until his retiral in 2009. He is the Presbytery Elder for Saddell and Carradale Parish Church, part of the linkage comprising South Kintyre Parishes, and was the last Property Convener of the Presbytery of Argyll. His leisure activities include golf and boating and he is the former conductor of 2 church choirs and the last conductor of Carradale Gaelic Choir before it broke up a number of years ago.