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Alan James Telfer passed away peacefully at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie on January 11, 2024. He was born in Hawick, Scotland, on April 24, 1932, to parents Adam Telfer and Mary Telfer (nee Smith). Alan leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Margaret Telfer (nee Macpherson), sister Doris Telfer, daughters Rhona (Arwyn), Susan (Stewart), son Doug (Debbie), grandchildren Owen (Lindsay), Simon (Katie), Aimee, Katie (Dan), Iain and Sarah, and great-grandchildren Samantha and William.
Alan spent his childhood roaming the hills surrounding Hawick, where he cycled, hiked, tobogganed, and otherwise lived an idyllic childhood, despite the fact his first 13 years were spent in a global economic depression, followed by WWII. He later said that he barely remembered being home during his childhood as there was so much to do outdoors.
At the age of 15, seeking to escape school and explore the world, he joined the British Royal Navy which promptly thrust him back into school to complete an engineering degree, after which he became a weapons specialist with the first generation of guided missiles. After artificer training on HMS Caledonia, he traveled the world on county class destroyers HMS Devonshire and HMS Fife, visiting ports in the Caribbean, USA, Canada, Japan, Fiji, Hawaii, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Africa (where he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro). In 1972 after 25 years of outstanding service, the Royal Navy awarded him the British Empire Medal on Admiral Nelson’s flagship “The Victory” drydocked in Portsmouth harbour.
In 1954 he met Margaret Macpherson at a dance in Portree on the Isle of Skye. After sailing around the world, he decided she was the one and they married in Glasgow, Scotland on July 4,1959. In the following years they started a family, moving frequently within the UK as a naval family. Alan left the Navy in 1972 to enter the shipbuilding industry at Yarrows in Glasgow.
Alan had never forgot his first impression of Canada. He sailed into Vancouver harbour on HMS Fife and was struck by the beauty of the ocean, the city rising up from it and the surrounding mountains. When the oil crisis hit and its far-reaches impacted the UK economy, he moved the family to Canada in 1975, where he worked as Chief Planner at the Collingwood Shipyards, followed by three years at the Halifax Shipyard and finally at Port Weller Dry Docks where he worked until his retirement in 1994.
Alan and Margaret then enjoyed a productive retirement in Wasaga Beach and Collingwood for almost 30 years, with time spent reading, gardening, golfing, curling, playing darts, traveling throughout Europe and South America, and hosting visits from family and friends. Alan often said that the happiest years of his life were spent with his grandchildren at the house in Wasaga Beach.
Alan’s family sends their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Chartwell Georgian Traditions Collingwood, The Waterford Barrie, Grove Park Long Term Care Home Barrie, Home Instead Barrie, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital Barrie, and North Simcoe Muskoka Home and Community Care Support Services.
A celebration of life will be announced in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favourite charity or educational institution.
Thursday January 11th 2024
Death notice for the town of: Collingwood, Province: Ontario
death notice Alan James Telfer Thursday January 11th 2024
obituaries notice Alan James Telfer Thursday January 11th 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Alan James Telfer Thursday January 11th 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.