1927    July 6th Alan was born in Melbourne Australia

1957    Travelled to England in order “to do Europe”

1961    January 5th After initial “summer relief“ work on Radio Luxembourg, Alan was hired by the BBC’s Light programme to present ‘Records Around Five’. His fee was 10 guineas, and this was the first time he used what became his theme music ‘At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal’ composed and recorded by Brian Fahey 

1961    September 3rd Alan took over ‘Pick of the Pops’ from David Jacobs in a new format that offered three segments within the ‘Trad Tavern’ show.

1962    ‘Pick of the Pops’ moved to Sunday afternoons at 4pm. Initially for I hour then for two. With a short break in which Don Moss took over, Alan continued to present the show until 1972

1970    A new arrangement of the theme music was made by Barbara Moore and recorded by Brass Incorporated. This is the recording that remains in use to the present time.

1972    ‘Pick of the Pops’ was replaced by ‘The Top 40’ on Radio One

1973    Alan started presenting ‘The Story of Pop’ the 26 part landmark history of the first 20 years of Rock ’n’ Roll. It was broadcast around the world

1973    Alan launched ‘The Saturday Rock Show’ on Radio One

1978    Radio One Controller Derek Chinnery cancelled the Rock Show causing Alan to leave the station

1979    Aidan Day and Tim Blackmore invited Alan to cover for Nicky Horne during his  holiday from the Capital Rock show. Afterwards, they persuaded Alan to stay on presenting his own Rock Show and later ‘Pick of the Pops – Take Two’ which each week featured two charts from different years

1987    Alan received the Radio Academy Award for “An Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio’

1988    Alan received a SONY Award as ‘Radio Personality of the Year’

1989    Alan re-joined Radio One to present ‘Pick of the Pops’ and ‘The Saturday Rock Show’. POTP featured three charts and Alan stayed with the network until fired by Matthew Bannister in 1992

1993    Alan returned to Capital Radio to present ‘POTP’. He also sat in for Paul Gambaccini  on the Classic FM chart show.

1996    Alan presented the rock show on Virgin Radio

1996    Alan received the Music Industry Trusts’ Award as their ‘Man of the Year’

1997    Alan joined Radio Two to present ‘POTP” and later ‘Their Greatest Bits’

1998    Alan received the MBE from Her Majesty the Queen for services to music

1999    Alan was hospitalised with a mini stroke

2000    Alan received a special SONY award ‘For LIfetime Achievement’

2000    Alan retired from ‘POTP’ handing over to Dale Winton. He moved from his beloved Maida Vale apartment to Brinsworth House but continued to present ‘Their Greatest Bits’

2001    Alan presented his final programme: ‘Their Greatest Bits’

2001    Noel Edmonds presented  ‘The Complete Fluff’ on Radio Two including tributes from Paul McCartney, John Peel and Chris Tarrant

2003    Alan was inducted into the Radio Academy’s ‘Hall of Fame’

2006    In October Alan was hospitalised with a severe chest infection and then returned to his home at Brinsworth House where he died peacefully on November 27th