There is no one person who could keep up with the pace set by Alan John Granville Eida, the man who completed nine marathons and close to a century of keeping fit. Each of us will have different, yet overlapping, impressions of who he was, brother, husband, dad, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, or friend. Horticulture is woven in the DNA of the Eida’s, this legacy leads us right back to the Japanese garden designed and built by Alan’s grandfather Tassa over a hundred years ago. These gardens represent man’s journey through life which, a path we shall follow with Alan. From the cave of birth to the engagement bridge is the journey from childhood to adulthood Alan born in Hammersmith on the 6th of December 1930, Son of Minoru and Emily, one of seven children, Daphne, Pat, Joyce, Derek, Brian & Chris. Alan’s younger brother, Derek, was ‘Alan’s shadow’ during these formative years the boys still got into scrapes, siblings rivaled, and parents were exasperated. There are two reported attempts to ‘dispose’ of Derek both involving hills and wheeled vehicles, thankfully, no one was seriously injured in the making of these fond memories. Alan always loved sport and was immensely fit and strong, during sports days he excelled in the running events at Blackfen School and was also a member of the local football team Hurst F.C.. Alans great love was his bike and from the age of 15 he always seemed to disappear every weekend youth hosteling, which was bad news for his younger siblings who were landed with all the jobs that he normally did. Alan was more the bronzed athlete than a pasty academic, however, he learned his trade as a piping layout designer for the petrochemical industry, mastering the mysteries of the slide-rule and set-square as well as the distinctive script of the draftsman, but always keeping himself fit. Alan served in the Royal Marines, for whom his outstanding fitness made him eminently suitable being top recruit in his squad during basic training at Deal. On his return to civvie street Alan joined the Ruxley Wheelers cycling club, making many lifelong friends particularly one Johnny Wood who was a constant companion. Alan enjoyed club runs into the countryside and the coast, he comped in time trials at distances of 25, 50 and 100 miles and also 12 hour events. From the Marriage bridge to the Hill of ambition is the path of family life Alan met Enid Grace Mary Wells at the dancehall in Eltham, Enid, noting to her friend after their first dance ‘he was quite handsome but rather old’, they married in March 1959. Long bicycle rides in the country in the company of the Ruxley Wheelers and care-free holidays by the seaside abound. Alan and Enid had three children, Stephen, Christine and Graham, with hungry mouths to feed, Alan’s commitment to his allotment was both pragmatic or maybe an escape to a quiet haven. Cycling club picnics, family camping holidays in France and populous extended ‘Eida’ family Christmases with cine-film re-runs were all part of growing up. Alan was of a generation who didn’t consider DIY as a hobby, but as a necessity. He built wardrobes, beds, sideboards, bookcases and even a full-sized table tennis table from scratch always with Graham following behind with a hammer to ‘help’. For a significant proportion of Alan’s working life, he commuted into the London office, carrying a briefcase and a copy of The Evening Standard. Alan strived to be good at his job and he had no desire to climb corporate ladders or be told what to do by over-qualified and under-experienced middle-managers, he gained much respect by always being firm but fair. Alan carried on playing Sunday football until he was in his forties and kept himself in shape, with regular circuit training and pounding the pavement in training for nine London marathons. From the Hill of ambition and across the Bridge of life, stopping off at the Tea house- retirement His fitness fanaticism didn’t diminish once he became a pensioner. He wore one knee out, that was replaced, he wore his heart valve out, that was replaced too! Alan took up bowls, but still carried on with twice weekly circuit training sessions at Crook Log Leisure Centre until his ninetieth year and where he was awarded ‘Member of the month’ He became grandad to Holly, Rosie, Roama and Isabel, great- granddad to Leo and George It was a new garden shed rather than a tea house which marked Alan’s grudging acceptance that he was getting old. There were still projects to be completed. Patio renovation, fences and trellising. All carried out with more vigor and attention to detail. Then there was Alan’s home gardens and allotment, both of which he’d tended for over sixty years. As the gardeners amongst you know this is just the start of the growing season and Alan would be out in the garden or over at the allotment most days doing something. The horticulture was planned with military precision and began by pouring over seed catalogues, followed by a steady stream of seeds and plants arriving at the door. After many hours of effort, his greenhouse would be bursting at the seams with neatly labelled seed trays. To the level garden of peace and contentment to the hill of mourning where his soul goes forth through the gate of eternity Alan has put away his gardening tools for the last time. He’ll be missed by those who knew him. It’s fitting that a pair of robins have chosen to build their nest in his allotment shed and have nurtured a new generation of gardeners’ companions.

The journey starts at the gateway from oblivion, through which the pilgrim soul enters among the trees and passes into the open where is a small cavern, the cave of birth, crowned by a cherry tree. Here a short winding sunken path symbolises the years of Childhood, unseeing and unknowing, whence we come to a mound of rock. Through this the tunnelled pathway leads from the darkness into the light from ignorance to the unfolding knowledge. Half way through the winding is an opening leading to steps to the hill of learning crowded by an ancient fir tree. Often this fir crowned height tempts the student to look too high but there is an unguarded hole to teach him vigilance before he comes down the hill to the level of his fellows. Following the winding course still guarded by rocks he reaches the parting of the ways. On the right ambition on the left is the straight path of austere living in the centre is the path to wedded life by which the pilgrim reaches the tiny island of joy and wonder, across the stepping stones of exploration. But he cannot stay there. All paths lead to further temptation across a stone bridge to the bamboo bridge and the geisha house but beyond them is the hill of ambition and the well of wisdom is in sight across the beautiful water. Very steep is the hill and those who climb may be separated but as they climb they reach out a helping hands and are united at the top. Descending the pilgrim finds an easy bridge across the roaring falls and treads the stepping stones through the level garden of lease and contentment to the hill of mourning where his soul goes forth through the gate of eternity.

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Alan. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.