Staines rotarian 'killed by rare infection'

Nov 3 2009 By Mark Goode

Alan Collins

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Staines businessman and Rotarian who has died of a rare disease.

Alan Collins,74, used to run former Staines department store Johnson & Clark for 40-years, but died on October 25 in St George's Hospital, Tooting, of encephalitis - a bacterial infection which affects the brain.

Mr Collins, of Ridgemead Road, Englefield Green, contracted the disease after being bitten by an insect when he was on holiday recently.

One of his sons, Andrew Collins, said: "The family is very upset, and as he was a quiet man and private man, the family only want to say he will be greatly missed, and to express their heartfelt thanks for all the support they have received from family and friends at this sad time."

Mr Collins first became the managing director of the store in 1956, after it was passed down by his father Charles. But the store, which was based opposite Debenhams on the corner Thames Street and the High Street until 1986, can trace its origins back to 1790, when it was an ironmonger business.

John Dobson, 76, Mr Collins best friend, said: "It is clearly a very tragic experience because he was a fit man who died in an extraordinary way, just from being bitten by a tick. I have known him a long time and he was a close friend so it is hard to come to terms with it.

"Alan Collins was a gentleman in every sense of the word, but was shy and deliberate person who didn't make friends easily, but when he did he was very loyal."

Mr Dobson's family had a motor business near Staines Bridge, which is how the two came to meet after their families had been trading with each other for three generations.

But Mr Dobson said they became really good friends in the early 70s when he (Dobson) came out of the RAF. Mr Collins was also a former member of Staines Rotary Club after joining in 1968, and was president for the years 1990 and 1991.

Nick Halton, treasurer and former president of the rotary club, said: "We knew each other for 35 years and he was a very committed and reliable man. It was very sad when I heard the news, you can't believe that something like that could happen to someone."

Mr Collins funeral will take place on Friday at 1.30pm in St Judes Church, Englefield Green. Instead of flowers, the family have asked if donations could be made to the Encephalitis Society.