Alan McCabe

My name is Shane Hodgson and I'm raising funds to help my dear friend Linda arrange a cremation and memorial service for her son Alan, who passed away suddenly.

As many of the friends of Linda Lake, Bex and Bryce McCabe may already know, the recent loss of their beloved son and brother, Alan McCabe, has brought not only deep grief and sorrow, but also the unexpected financial burden of having to travel from afar, clear his personal effects, and arrange a fitting funeral for him.

So many of the circle of family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues have sent in their supportive message of love and compassion. In most cases, people might send flowers or donations to charity to express their condolences. In this case, Linda has requested that financial support to cover these expenses would be gratefully received. No amount is too small or unappreciated.

Alan McCabe

Born in Gwelo, Zimbabwe, 15 May 1981.

Deceased in Leeds, UK, 22 July 2023.

Eldest son of Linda Lake and Vincent McCabe.

Brother to Bex and Bryce McCabe.

Alan was only 42 when he died. His death has left us shocked and grieving. He was a complex character who struggled with many issues. He loved his family and was very close to his siblings and Mom.

Linda writes: There are so many wonderful memories of his life that we now cling to; those funny moments, the challenging times when he needed some parental feedback involving more than a telling off, the accidents and incidents that were part of his childhood and youth. The first born child always creates such a learning curve and ours was not so much a curve as a catapult from a flight deck and straight up like a rocket. Full throttle, no slowing down, full of nonsense and mischief. His cheekiness always caught me out and on occasion left me speechless…. according to 10 year old Alan it wasn’t my fault that I was an under-achiever! He was at times a clown, an entertainer, a charmer, or a grumpy git. He often lead his little sister into all kinds of naughtiness and left her to take the fall when Mom found out.

Alan had a great affinity for animals; he spent many hours playing with and being entertained by Tom Cat, Maxine the ball-mad German Shepherd, and in the last years of his life, the crazy and energetic Italian Greyhounds Elphie and Arlagh.

He is missed so much already. The agony of his absence is now a constant reality. We struggle to believe or accept that he has left us and the earthly plane behind.

The necessary procedures and legal processes that have to be followed have kept me busy and are a distraction right now. The real grief will only set in once we gather to say goodbye to him, my much beloved, precious son, the brother to his younger siblings, first grandson, cousin, nephew, uncle-to-be, friend, and colleague, our darling Alan.

Thank you for supporting our family and sharing the financial burden of this unwanted and unexpected but now necessary family duty to say farewell to Alan.

With deep gratitude and appreciation.

Linda, Bex and Bryce, and the extended family.