Allan Joseph Brigg was born in Skipton, Yorkshire on Monday May 3rd, 1965 to Jean (nee Hesleton) and Lloyd. He was the second of 3 children, born into a farming family, on which he spent all of his childhood.
Allan left school in 1981, and initially trained as a Welder with a company in the North of England. He then moved with his family up the country into Scotland, doing work on an Estate as a gardener/handyman, then ultimately settling in the village of Barrhill, Ayrshire, where he worked at the concrete production plant for the best part of 20 years.
In 2002, Allan lost his precious Mum, Jean. It tore him apart, and he never really recovered from her loss. He remained in Barrhill until 2010, when he sold up, quit his debilitating job and moved up to Lanarkshire to finally, officially and happily live with his partner, Bill, whom he had initially met at the beginning of 2008.
On Wednesday 23rd February 2011, Allan was having a day at home, just pottering about. He decided to go to bed for an hour before his dinner, but when Bill went to wake him up, he found Allan dead.
Allan was an honest, good, kind, quiet man with an inner strength and compassion that is so rare in people. He loved life, cared about the world around him and tried his best to be a caring, loving and ultimately human being. He was born on a Monday, but Allan encompassed the traditional virtues of children born on every day of the week. He helped people whenever he could, and despite suffering for a long time with depression because of homophobic bullying at his previous work and that small minded village mentality, he had faith in people and in love, was able to put that life aside, move away and set up home with his partner and soulmate Billy. He quickly found another job that he loved doing, became popular with his work colleagues and showed promise for promotion in such a short time through his enthusiasm, skill and friendly open and helpful nature. His life had changed in so many ways, each for the better. After years of broken promises, heartbreak and sorrow, Allan was finally moving back in the right direction in his life when he tragically died, suddenly and without any prior warning, at home in his bed. Despite the best efforts of Bill and the ambulance crew who attended, Allan couldn't be revived.
Allan was a true friend, often to people who abused his kindness and treated him unfairly; but Allan remained loyal, even when people let him down so badly. He took the sadness and betrayal upon himself, and never said "no" .
Allan was a true gentleman; a gentle, loving man. He was a rare creature in this World, a human being with a truly beautiful soul and a decent, kind and loving person. His heart really was big; too big for the space in his chest and ultimately that is what killed him. Ironic that a guy everybody described as "big hearted" really was!
As far as I am concerned, Allan Brigg was the most unique person I have ever known. I miss him every single minute of each day. My heart was broken when his heart broke, my gift from Love cruelly taken from me. He was loved, he is loved, and he will be loved by me and everyone who genuinely cared for and about him. Love that will last until the reunion that awaits us all, then we can continue where we left off.
Allan Joseph Brigg was my partner, my best friend, my husband, my soulmate. I couldn't have wished for a better human being. Who can ask for more?