Dumbarton dad dies during rally trial

Oct 3 2008 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A DUMBARTON dad has died while training for a motorcycle rally in Dubai.

Allan Lally, 36, was preparing for the Desert Challenge event when he was involved in an accident with his bike.

The crash, which happened while he and several other riders were training for the event, took place on his son Fraser’s 10th birthday on September 17.

Friends and colleagues at Aggreko, where father-of-two Allan had worked for 20 years, have been stunned by the death of a man they describe as loyal and dedicated.

The Broadmeadow-based firm was set to close as a mark of respect on Tuesday for Allan’s funeral service at Bonhill Church and Alexandria Cemetery.

This week close friend and colleague, Stuart Macaulay, who was based with Allan in Dubai, paid tribute to the man he first met when the two stacked shelves together as teenagers at a local supermarket. The pals joined Aggreko as apprentices on the same day and had remained firm friends ever since.

Stuart, 36, who flew home to Cardross on Saturday to help with funeral arrangements, said: “Allan was very full on. He was 100 per cent committed to anything that he did whether in his home life, his work life or his social life.

“He was a dedicated father, a loyal and dedicated employee and was always ready to go that extra mile when required.”

Allan’s body was flown home to Scotland last Wednesday, accompanied by his family.

Stuart spoke of the widespread shock at news of the death of former St Patrick’s High School pupil Allan, who leaves a wife Denise, son Fraser and daughter, Heather, who is four on Thursday.

He said: “Allan competed in the event last year and was training for the 2008 challenge. This was his first endurance training session.

“All we know is that he fell off his bike and died instantly. His friend Chris Jackson was with him. The two were riding along and Chris noticed Allan had come off his bike. It was only when he went back to speak to him that he realised something was wrong.”

The news has devastated friends in Dubai where Allan, whose parents Pat and Eileen live in Bellsmyre Avenue, was a commissioning manager for Aggreko International.

“It’s affected everyone in Dubai and those who worked closely with him in Dumbarton,” said Stuart. “There have been a lot of very quiet times.

“Allan also spent time in Sri Lanka, South America and Africa over the years with Aggreko. People knew him far and wide.”

Members of the biking community, among whom Allan was well known, are in shock.

Stuart, who spoke at his friend’s funeral service, said: “Allan was a petrol head all his life. Whether it was four wheels or two did not matter to him. There’s been a lot of support from the biking fraternity in which he had made a lot of friends.”

Aggreko International managing director Derek Shepherd described Allan as a valued employee who was responsible for some of the firm’s biggest projects.

He said: “Allan worked initially in Dumbarton before joining my international team in Dubai. He will be remembered for being a do-er. He was always cheerful and spent time with local employees, training and helping them in their jobs.

“He was hugely respected by all in Aggreko as a very competent high voltage engineer. He will be sadly missed by a lot of people who are very very saddened.”

The Desert Challenge is a five-day test of endurance and skill which takes competitors in cars, trucks and bikes over some of earth’s most dramatic and demanding terrain.