It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that Alan George Flook BSc., MSc.,, an Eminent Old Camdenian, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday 11th December 2022, at Milton Keynes hospital, with his daughter Jacquie and Grandson Adam by his side. Alan was 80 years old.

Alan George Flook was born on 2nd April 1942, at University College Hospital London, during an air raid. Alan was at Holloway School between 1957 and 1959 having come back to London from Cardiff.

Alan worked at the Unilever Research Frythe Laboratory in Welwyn, Hertfordshire. In the mid-1970s he moved with the company to their Colworth Laboratory, at Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. Unilever benefitted hugely from Alan’s skills and talents and many of his methods are still in use today.

After Alan left Colworth his skills were so highly recognised by big international companies like Zeiss and Leica that he continued to work with them writing computer programs and training their staff in the use and applications of these techniques. Alan travelled widely including to the USA, training others and further developing analysis methods.

Alan played a significant part in the work at the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, in the early 1990s, on the original Human Genome Project, in DNA sequencing the entire human genome. A monumental task that was only completed in 2003. Alan was also an examiner of Postgraduate Studies at Loughborough University, albeit that he did not have a PhD himself.

Our sincere condolences go to his son Robert, daughter Jacquie and grandchildren; Adam, Tom, Jacob, Ellyna and Alistair at this difficult time.

Alan’s funeral will be held at 1:15pm, on Friday 6th January 2023, at Oak Chapel, Crownhill Crematorium, Danstead Way, Milton Keynes, MK8 OAH.

There will be a live stream of the service for anyone unable to travel. You can log on now using Webcast PIN 851-9917 at https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view in preparation.

Family flowers only and donations if desired are for Prostate Cancer UK via hwmason.co.uk MAKE A DONATION.

Enquires c/o H W Mason and Sons, 9 High Street, Newport Pagnell MK16 8AR. Tel: 01908 611112

Ray Rowe