Alan was born in Melbourne to parents of meagre financial means and a strong Methodist background. His sister and three brothers having been educated in the state school system, Alan, the youngest, was privileged to be sent to Scotch College, Melbourne. Frances, the eldest child, became lecturer in history at the University of Melbourne, and in later years one of the original three commissioners of the Housing Commission of Victoria. The eldest brother, William, died as a staff sergeant at Gallipolli. Brother Geoffrey was to become a consultant physician, dean of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School, and a vice-president of the RACP. Brother Raymond, a medical missionary in New Britain, was subsequently a general practioner in Melbourne and a councillor of the College of General Practitioners.

Alan became interested in chest disease at a time when tuberculosis and intrathoracic sepsis was common. The speciality of chest medecine was practised by Alan from 1935 to 1955, in Austalia and England. Serving as a chest physician with the RAAF between 1940 and 1945, Alan then retired to the RAAF Reserve with the rank of wing commander.

Having been consultant to the Papua New Guinea Government in 1955, and to the World Health Organization (WHO) from 1956, Alan became WHO representative in North East Asia in 1960, and subsequently in the South Pacific and Ethiopia. Returning to Fiji in 1969, Alan found a place in the Fijian Medical Service, becoming principal medical officer by 1969, and from 1974 to 1977 a member of the Fijian Medical Council.

Presidency of the Fijian Lawn Bowling Association reflected Alan's passion for this sport, an interest shared by his wife, Maria. Alan's service to Medecine and to Lawn Bowls was recognised by the award of the OBE. Affected by asthma and cancer, Alan died in the Repatriation General Hospital, Melbourne, an institution he had served in younger days.