Alan Coolbear (Passed away 15 Oct 2022)

In loving memory of Alan.

With love from the Plummer's/Burr's

In loving memory of Alan.

With love from the Plummer's/Burr's

In memory of a very kind and lovely man. Rest in peace.
With love, Keith and Jackie

From Peter Coolbear and Family in South Africa
OBITUARY FOR ALAN JOHN HERBERT COOLBEAR.
We Coolbear boys started life, not only sharing the same parents, of Harry and Bertha, but in addition, we were all born in the same hospital, the Edinburgh Missionary Hospital, in Nazareth, Palestine, but also in the same ward. However, with the four and a half years covered, I am unable to claim that the same bed was involved. Harry was a colonial police officer serving in that country, a task he proudly carried out for just on twenty years.
The first recollections of brotherhood followed a few years later, when the family were then living in Haifa, during the middle of World War two, with enemy bombing raids taking place on Haifa port. This was a haven for ships of the Royal Navy when they needed to refuel and replenish armaments. I recall us all sitting in a shelter beneath a building situated opposite our home, with our mother putting her fingers in her ears to block the scream of the bomb as it dropped before its explosion. We lived at a crossroad and the nearest bomb hit was on an opposite corner.
In between raids we had happy times, especially at the police beach which was relatively close to home. It had a bomb shelter if needed. learning to swim in the glorious warm Mediterranean Sea was a necessity. Alan played a great part in this. I was dropped into the water from the jetty near to Alan, having been told to paddle like a dog when I hit the water. he was told to keep an eye on me and make sure I didn’t drown. In general, he always looked after my welfare keeping me out of trouble.
After the war and as we progressed with age, we became separated to a degree, he and Robert leaving Haifa to attend boarding school in Jerusalem. This was the period when armed insurrection took place with the Jewish population looking to establish an Israeli homeland, and the Arabs opposing this strongly. The King David hotel in Jerusalem, part being used by the British army, was blown up, and being near to the school where Alan and Robert boarded, they were evacuated, returning home in the back of a military truck beside a manned and mounted Bren gun.
The year was 1948 and shortly afterwards, we were all evacuated at 24hr notice each with only a single suitcase, into Egypt. the bulk of the evacuees were women and children, and this is where Alan came into prominence, as a teenager in an environment that lacked the presence of adult males. helping out in regard to many aspects of that current situation. We were accommodated in an ex prisoner of war camp near Cairo, waiting for shipping to take us to England.
Settling into a new life in England was not easy and with our difference in ages and being at different schools we became separated to a degree. I do recall however, an occasion when I did something that incurred the wrath of our father that deserved a measure of corporal punishment, and believing Alan was the culprit duly administered it to him. Alan took the punishment saying nothing, but collared me afterwards, told me to keep my mouth shut, but warned me if it happened again, I would be the one to suffer.
Our lives changed rapidly as a family soon after, Alan leaving home to work for Ordnance Survey in Southampton, doing his military service in Germany, Robert serving his in Hong Kong and mine in Japan, South Korea and Malaya, then with my moving to join the police in Southern Rhodesia, we obviously physically drew apart. On visits back to England however, we have maintained a close loving relationship, which was duly shared with Val, even before we were married when she attended nursing training in England. That relationship has been subsequently extended to our children and their families.
One thing I was able to help Alan out with is that he did not like to dance and Pam did. I am no great shakes on the dance floor, but I was always happy to help out and did on quite a few occasions, memories that I will always treasure.
Alan, you have lived an unpretentious life of distinction, with a long-lasting marriage. You have fathered two sons who have developed worthy qualities and delighted you with their choice of partners producing four grandsons, one granddaughter and one great grandson. I commend you on your legacy.
Alan, my big brother, on behalf of Val and I, and all my family in South Africa and the United Kingdom. pray that you will rest in peace.

You're such a kind man, Alan. Shall miss you! X

Lovely man! Beautiful family!

In loving memory of a Dear Uncle