Alan Day
| R Alan Day DFC | |
|---|---|
| Born | c1924 |
| Died |
21 April 2010 (aged 86) Woodlands Court Nursing Home, Kirton |
| Education | Boston Grammar School (1932-1937) |
| Employer | RAF, family flour milling and animal feeds business, Boston Borough Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Day Tours |
| Spouse | Margaret Hodder |
| Children | Richard, Rachel, Sarah, Matthew |
| Relatives | Sheila (sister) |
Alan Day was born in Cambridge and attended Boston Grammar School (1932-1937), followed by three years at Oakham School from 1937 to 1940.
After Oakham Alan joined the RAF and had a distinguished war career flying Spitfires and Hurricanes in 253 (Hyderabad State) Squadron. He was posted to Termoli, Italy, as part of the newly-created Balkan Air Force in July 1944 to assist Tito in attacking long-range targets in Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece. He was wounded by intense small arms fire through the aircraft cockpit canopy on 28th October but was back in action again in November. Shot down February 26th 1945, but picked up by a Tito Partisan and he again returned to operations. He was awarded the DFC in 1945.
After the war he joined his father's flour milling and animal feeds business in Boston, married Margaret Hodder and had four children. Margaret died of cancer in 1991. His life outside of family and business is a good example of how one man contributed to his community by way of good works, civil duty and charity. He was a Freemason, Round Tabler and a Boston Town Councillor for 20 years and was elected Mayor in 1998 with his friend Jane Kent filling the role of Mayoress. He was a Lincolnshire County Councillor from 1981 to 1985 and 2001 to 2009 and a magistrate for several decades. He was a member of the Escaping Society which encompassed his wartime exploits in Yugoslavia and was also a member of Royal Air Force Association and the British Legion. Alan was also a very active member of his local church, St Leodegar's, in Wyberton. Alan never wasted a moment of life and enthusiastically got involved with the historic twinning of Boston, Lincs, with Boston, USA.
Following on from the animal feed business, he founded Day Tours and conducted Blue Badge guides of his home town and the City of Lincoln. He was also a founding voice and keen supporter of the Butterfly Hospice Trust, Boston, which aims to provide care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. He had a wicked sense of humour which never deserted him, always delivered in perfectly-spoken English.
Obituary
Tributes to former Boston Mayor Alan Day - Boston Standard, Friday 7 May 2010
Tributes have been paid to a war hero and prominent figure in local politics from Boston following his death.
Alan Day, of London Road, passed away peacefully on April 21, aged 86, at the Woodlands Court Nursing Home, Kirton.
A former Mayor of Boston, he represented the town at the borough and county level for many years, and during the Second World War earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.
His funeral took place at St Leodegar's Parish Church, Wyberton, and in tribute the Borough Standard was flown at half-mast from the Assembly Rooms' roof.
Coun Richard Austin, leader of Boston Borough Council, said: "He was a prominent citizen of the area for many years. He made a huge contribution to the borough."
He is survived by sister Sheila, sons (sic) Richard, Rachel, Sarah and Matthew and grandchildren James and Joanna, Tom and Margaret, Jake and Emily, and Eloise.