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...I'd won the heats in my part of England and was in the regional final up against some kids a lot older than me. I'd grown up listening to Alan and was a bit over-awed by meeting him but he was charming, funny, professional and was also the first man i'd ever seen (i was 13) who carried what looked like a handbag. For the record, i came third in the London/South East heats and my family still laughs to this day at the sound of my high-pitched squeak coming out of the radio.
Years later, i was working at and used to read the news on his show and was very chuffed when he started calling me "Marko" on-air. Again, he was funny, charming,helpful and totally into his music. And cigarettes too as i recall. Most people of my generation can do a bad impression of "Fluff"'s catchphrases ("not 'arf") but his "" show on a Sunday was a ground-breaker in British radio , and something that every kid had to listen to. Hearing Alan's voice again this morning (he's been away for a while) brought a tear to my eye, and made me very glad that for a little while at least, i got to know one of my radio heroes.