Vale Alan Neville Snr

On June 16 a large crowd gathered at Corpus Christi church in Bellerive to farewell Alan. The Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Adrian Doyle, Fr Terry Yard and Fr Richard Ross – all three of whom have enjoyed a long association with the Neville family.

Alan, whilst not a former student of St Virgil’s College, had an enduring and close association with it.  Alan grew up in Launceston, the son of Clarrie and Madge Neville, timber merchant and nurse respectively.  He attended St Patrick’s College and graduated in 1943.  On leaving school he and elected to undertake a degree in pharmacy where he studied and worked at the Launceston General Hospital.  He had shown great promise as a footballer, but his parents would not allow him to pursue his interest in football until he had completed his degree. 

Upon graduation he returned to the game he loved and played with St Pat's in the Northern Tasmanian Amateur Football League where he was part of the successful 'three- peat' of premierships in 1954, 55 and 56. Not only was he a playing member, he was the premiership captain, multiple club best and fairest award winner and association best and fairest winner in each of those premiership years. He is a St Pat’s old boy and NTAFL football legend and Hall of Fame member.

The following photo shows Alan and the Captain of the SVCOSFC team Paul Case shaking hands before the Grand Final of the TAFL in 1954. Does anyone know the result? If not we will assume St Virgil's won!! 

In 1956 Alan married Lynette Lyons whom he had met while she was studying physical education at the Launceston Teachers College.  Initially, the couple lived in Deloraine and in 1960 they moved to Howrah where, in 1963, Alan opened the first pharmacy in that area (in the year Howrah was gazetted a suburb) and then opened a second one in the brand new Shoreline Shopping Centre in December of 1968. The 1950’s and 60’s were extremely busy decades for Alan and Lynette raising four children  - Alan, Chris, Tim and Josephin arriving between 1961 and 1966.

The children attended Corpus Christi for their primary education and then the three boys to St Virgil’s and Jo to St Mary’s. During this period the parents assisted  on committees, at functions and with teams as their children progressed through their schooling

All three boys excelled at football and played at a senior level with the Clarence Football Club. That club became a huge part of the Neville family’s life right though out the1970’s and 80’s.

The further SVC connection – daughter Jo married Damian Messer, both have been on the St Virgil’s staff since 2003 – Damian at Austins Ferry and Jo at the Junior Campus. Damian was appointed principal of the College in 2010 and ends his appointment at the end of this year –  making him the College’s longest serving Principal. Jo has been shared the position of Head of Junior School for the past three years.

Alan Neville was a 'man’s man'.  He contributed in so many ways to his community and impacted so many lives, serving on countless school committees and boards, coaching, managing and being the trainer for many junior sporting teams.  

RIP Alan Neville