It is my very sad duty to report that Alan Peake passed away in the Cooma Hospital at 5.20pm on Wednesday, February 25th 2009.
My good mate of over 30 years has gone to a better place, where he can rest up, still hate Bill Gates for everything Microsoft, and hopefully run into a few other benchresters.
Rest easy old friend.
We are indeed diminished.
Brendan Atkinson
This is extremely sad news for the whole of the shooting community.
Alan had lots of friends in many shooting disciplines from all around the world.
Rob.
BB Administrator
Folks
I just left a memorial service for Alan at Canberra Rifle club.
Alan was a regular to the Canberra club for the 1000yd BR and was until recently a regular on Saturdays to shoot F-class.
He has also shot many 500mt Fly events, at the SSAA range next door.
Richard Wild the current Canberra F Class Champion fired a last shot down the range for Alan at 1:30 today.
Max
We will be diminished in every way with the passing of our friend.
May he rest in peace.
Keith Smith
We will all miss Alan
Sincere Regards
Fred Lawler
He has gone to a better place, Piki was a bloke who had to unlock any secret that confronted him in his work or his sport, he has a whole new range of challenges in another place.
Alan told me jokingly in January he was taking his radio with him, I will find out soon if ham radio does work from the other side - I told him I would wait the call.
Amongst Benchresters he was a young man going early - a sad day.
Alex
ZORBA
Gone to a better range maybe. We hope so. It was a privilege to be his mate. We enjoyed many times together in many places all around this country and the world even. Burned lots of powder, shot lots of wind, enjoyed some great red wines, even reduced the rabbit population some. The 4 of us known as "the Caravan" had a lot of fun over 25 years.
Some of the newer people around my not know that Alan did a lot for Benchrest Shooting both in Australia and Internationally. He was one of the 4 in the official Australian team at the first World Benchrest Championships in France in 1991. Was the first Australian to win a medal at a World Championship. Was our International Delegate for many years. He qualified and represented Australia at WBC's in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001. Benchrest Hall of Fame member number 11 and National 4 Gun Champion. National record holder. All with an old Remington XP100, Treloar stocked rifle. He sat on the National Benchrest Committee for many years as a State delegate for South Australia. Was responsible for organising the rulebook in a clearer manner and putting it into MS Word on computer so it could be updated and edited easily. Developed the first useable computer scoring program on a DOS system for benchrest matches which is still in use today. This was one of, if not, the first computer results programs for benchrest shooting anywhere in the world. That was in about 1983 which he developed from what Ian Josselyn had started in 1981. He designed and built the first optical scope power checking devices so that match organisers could reasonably accurately check scope power for those classes which restrict it. For 6x and 12x like in Rimfire, Hunter Class and the old Sporter class.
There were many, many more. Too numerous to mention here.
We are all deminished.
Stuart and Annie
Annie & Stuart Elliott
www.benchrest.com.au
Rest Easy Alan.
Regards to Your Family.
Unforgetable Times.
Tom Hodgson.
His achievements were many and his contribution to our sport was much greater than most competitors can imagine.
I missed seeing Alan in Canberra but I did get to speak with him by phone a few days before his passing. To all of those who assisted him and spent time with him in Canberra, my thanks. I know, from that phone call, that he cherished that memory dearly.
We have all lost a very special competitor and good mate.
Tony