Alan Bernhardt (28 Mar 1938 - 23 May 2026)

In loving memory of Alan Bernhardt who sadly passed away on 23rd May 2026.
Alan grew up in Selsdon in Surrey. He was the eldest son of Ronald Bernhardt and Lilian Bernhardt. He had three brothers, Michael, David and Peter and a sister Linda.
As a child he was a choir boy and had a paper delivery round. He enjoyed Cub Scouts, Boys Scouts, Boys Brigade and ATC. It was being in the ATC that led him on to a career in the RAF which he joined as soon as he was old enough.
He enjoyed being in the Air Force and spent some time in Singapore which he loved but it was while he was stationed at RAF Raynham in Norfolk that he met Sandra who was to be the love of his life. After a whirlwind romance they married in February 1963 and shortly thereafter Alan left for RAF Nicosia in Cyprus with Sandra joining him soon afterwards. Their daughter Tania was born there and three years later their son Craig arrived when Alan was stationed at RAF Ternhill in Shropshire after they had returned to England. Alan finished out his RAF career here and the family moved to Ilkeston in Derbyshire where Alan worked for Rolls Royce and then the Prudential. The Prudential then took him and his family to Birstall in Leicestershire and then Murrow followed by Parson Drove in Cambridgeshire.
Alan enjoyed his work, he was his own boss and worked from home. He enjoyed family life. Working from home allowed him to have a good work/family balance. He did his rounds in his car with his little dog Pedla riding along on the parcel shelf of the back seat.
He had a love of music of many genres but he particularly enjoyed country music, pipe bands and ABBA. He also loved musicals and his favourite was Les Miserable. He had an electric organ at home which he spent many hours playing.
After Alan retired he and Sandra enjoyed their holidays and managed to travel quite a bit visiting Australia, New Zealand, China, America and Singapore as well as many other places on various cruises.
Their final move was to Haughley in Suffolk where they lived close to their daughter Tania.
Alan loved his family dearly and was so proud of his children and grandchildren. He had three grandsons, Joseph, Matthew and Dominic and a granddaughter Charlotte.
His wife Sandra sadly passed away in November 2025 due to Parkinson’s disease. Alan was devoted to her and cared for her at home until he couldn’t manage any longer at which point he moved her to Cedrus House Care Home in Stowmarket where he visited her every afternoon.
When he received his cancer diagnosis just after Easter he immediately said he would like to go to Cedrus House where he knew everyone and felt so at home. Although his illness was short, he was where he wanted to be and is now at peace and reunited with Sandra.
The family would ask that instead of flowers you would consider making a donation to Cancer Research.