Dear Family and Friends

Sadly at 13:11 on 20 December 2022

Neil McAllister passed away, thankfully peacefully and without pain. It was just over 3 years after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and just over 2 weeks after his 44th birthday.

Most of you will know that it has been a long and turbulent journey for Neil with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, many life changing surgeries and too many near misses. However, despite this and all the odds being against him at every stage, Neil always made the most of the life he had at any given moment and got on with it without complaint. He was super human strong and always understated his condition (often saying nothing about it or saying he was “a bit under the weather” or he “needs to sort some bits”). He admirably continued to work throughout it all right up until the end and was defiantly determined to live. His family (his wife and three children - Liam (14), Rosa (11) and Nicki (8)) was at the core of everything he did. He even went to the pet shop over and over again (despite not being a pet person!) to find a new puppy to join the family so that his kids would be happy with the new puppy - Bonnie - after he passed. Having been there to witness the surprise gift to the kids in November I could tell that Neil loved Bonnie too!

Neil went into hospital last week for one of his routine appointments and had a goal of coming home to his family by Christmas Day and the World Cup final was not to be missed. (He would be so chuffed that he predicted the Argentina win at the outset of the whole tournament!). Coming out of the hospital wasn’t to be this time but he wanted to reassure his kids he was okay.

Having spent half of his life in Japan and half in Scotland he will have a Japanese funeral tomorrow and his ashes will be brought back to Scotland in the months to come. The culture in Japan is for guests to pay to attend weddings and funerals and that money goes towards paying for the wedding/funeral itself and each guest receives a fairly substantial gift. Neil loved Japan and it’s culture but didn’t want to observe this tradition. So there is no obligation for anyone attending the funeral to donate anything at all but if anyone would like to it will be put towards the funeral costs but there won’t be a gift (there will be a postcard to follow though).

At some stage after the Japanese funeral, in the coming year or so, the plan is for the family to bring Neil’s ashes back to Livingston in Scotland where his children will always have family ties and heritage through their Dad. Any money raised will go towards the journey for his family to bring Neil home.

We have not forgotten about the generous donations received from the fundraiser in 2020 initially set up to contribute towards Neil’s medical treatment, for which we will be eternally grateful. There is absolutely no expectation or obligation to donate again now. However some people have reached out wanting to be able to do something for the family so if you would like to donate a token gesture then you are welcome and Neil’s family send their gratitude.

McAllister Family

c/o Fiona McAllister (Neil’s sister)