Over and out from the best man x

Well, well, well Alan...

I hope you've enjoyed reading through your life and I hope it has reminded you of the golden years. I have certainly enjoyed putting it together mate.

ALAN LISHMAN - THIS IS YOUR LIFE. GO GET MARRIED! This is where my chapter ends and Belinda Shannon and soon to be Lishman takes over the Lishman archives (and she's much more organised thna me I think!)


Muchos Lovos baby - you're a legend!

love n hugs

Pete xxx

Sister sledge

Brothers and sisters,

Here's a message from ya big sis ahead of the big day.

Hello Alan,

I just wanted to wish you luck ahead of your big day. It's been great coming over to see your life here in Sydney and I will be very proud when you walk down the aisle on Saturday.

Have a great life with your beautiful bride Belinda. We can't wait to have you back over in Preston next time,

Love Joanne and George (and the kids) xxx


Wonderful brotherly and sisterly scenes ma-aaaaaaaaaaaate. Thanks so much Joanne xx

Mum's the word

Eeeeee byyyyyyy gum,

It's time to take a jump back in time my son. Here's a lovely message from someone who knows a fair bit about your childhood. It's ya mam!

Hello Alan,

Well, I have memories galore from the past and watching you grow up but Pete asked me to put one which really stands out for his blog. So here it is....

I'll never forget one amazing day which came after the shock and trauma of your accident at the tender age of 12 months which was difficult for everybody - but especially you.

This treasured memory came days after your operation when you had already spent some time in hospital when we came to visit you and - having never walked before - I walked in and you looked at me and out of nowhere started walking towards me with your arms wide open and looking so proud of yourself. Incredibly you had learnt to walk yourself with a little help of the nurses. I was overjoyed and you were pleased as punch!

Well, from one big day to another. I wish you and Belinda a long and very happy life together,

All my love,

Mum

xx

Wow Mr Al,
I think I am going to have to get this blog sponsored by Kleenex to deal with the tears it's caused me and probably you over the last 42 days. Now that really does sum you up as a person. Learning to walk yourself. You've always been a fighter mate and you've been through some tough times but always come back a stronger man for it. I'll never forget the worry we all had when your dad moved to the great football pitch in the sky but boy was I chuffed when you proved us all wrong by becoming a man. I have no idea why anyone worried so much.

You've accomplished so much since then mate and i am sure your dad is incredibly proud of what you've achieved. In fact I am sure he's been the angel that's watched over you to help you get where you are now. Doubtless he's also having a free ride in the Aston Martin's and Bentleys and soon-to-be Ferraris you've been driving over the last few years.

Love ya xx

Penning your story

Aye karumba Monsieur Lishman,

It's amazing how timeth does fly is it noteth? One second we're six weeks before your wedding and with a flick of Greenwich mean time's grandeth switch we're the day before the wedding of the year and one of the biggest days in your life. Who's getting married again? eh? YOOOOOOOOOU! Eeeeeeeek!

Well, at this late stage, who better to dust down those last minute nerves than Miss Belinda Penning - an absolute Goliath of a friend (I speak purely in friendship terms here because she's a god damn beautiful woman too) for you since you switched hemisperes and left English pastures to dock in Sydney Harbour. Take it away Belinda....

Alan,

What to say.....I can still remember the first time I saw you, at Sydney Airport fresh off a 24 hours Korean airlines flight. It was a stinking hot summers day and you had on a hideous polyester football shirt.Skinny, pasty, Northern lad and I remember thinking "good God what has she bought home, that football shirt has definately got to go!"

The next 10 years went by in a flash,- Happy greetings at the airport followed all too quickly with tearful goodbyes.- mornings at Nelison Park and then Cascades, cricket and the couch in the afternoon. (I think I just described my perfect day)- rushing to deposit cash in the bank in Sydney so you could acess money instantely in London- living together at Jensen Ave and Watsons Bay- Christmas in Byron- my first live football game, and what an absolute cracker that was. Only time I've seen you cheer for your adopted home land. "Aloisi"!!!!!- you've seen me through a few boyfriends and one major heart break!

I think it's safe to say we've help each other through many things in life and I can honestly say that I am lucky to have you.It has been a decade of love and laughter, lots of laughter because "I AM HILARIOUS" Looking forward to the next ten years, except the getting older bit!!

B xxx

A very sweet message Belinda, so thanks a million for that. Not sure about this supporting the Aussies malarky Mr Lishman. I guess I'll accept it because I also celebrated that goal. Great to have them at the World Cup. But don't go switching allegiances when it comes to cricket fella. Even if they are miles better than us!

Jeremy's beadle about

Ah yes.....and now I hand the floor to one of the king's of the stag do. Mr hardcore himself - Jeremy!


Ah yes....my favourite Lishman line....

Going back about maybe two years ago now when i still had the man boobs, myself and Alan made our biannual commitment to get fit, and having been a fully paid up member of fitness first for the previous six months (as was Alan) we decided to actually go inside one of their fine establishments. as we were finalising the details of the date we were inevitably going to cancel on each other, Miss Cleghorn overheard us and suggested "why not take a class", she does them all the time and thinks they are the best workouts you can do in the time... "in fact Belinda wants to do them as well why don't we all go together?"

now i'm not sure about Alan but i think i was blinkered at the thought of a room full of sweaty women dressed in lycra (i'm sure it didn't even cross his mind obviously), and working to my usual totally flawed, yet totally unarguable, logic i thought "lets face it if chicks can do it i'll piss it, even at 30 kilo's overweight" and i'm guessing that as Alan agreed to come he thought the same thing.
even when Vicky told us we were going to a class called Body attack (which should've been a big clue) i just thought they called it that to boost the ladies' esteem and real men like myself and alan would put them all to shame, in the land of blind and all that.

so we turn up, and i've gotta say i wasn't completely wrong, it was full of women in lycra (result)... but that was about all i did have right!
the music started, by the first chorus we'd both realised that we had no sense of rhythm, terrible co-ordination and were slightly less fit than Pavaroti (so can't wait to see the first dance). by the second chorus i'd coughed up a lung due to a pack a day habit since i was fifteen. at the end of the first tune when the instructor shouted "okay warm up over, a quick stretch and then we'll get into it" i think we'd both lost the will to live.
being the men that we thought we were we saw it through to the end, although i expect everyone that we kept bumping into wished we hadn't.
by the end our Grapevine had become balancing on one leg and swinging it from side to side, our star jumps were nothing more than us lifting our arms from by our sides to about three inches short of shoulder height.
at the end as i was searching round for my lung (and self respect) Alan stumbles towards me, with a face redder than kierans on the stag do, looks me in the eye and says, with the utmost conviction, something i hope he will say again with the same conviction at the end of his wedding day (but for completely different reasons)...
NEVER, (huff) EVER, (puff) EVER AGAIN!

funnily enough he gave the same line after getting knocked half unconscious and losing a filling by being thrown off an inflatable ring being dragged at about 40mph by a speedboat.

he's just a pussy if you ask me


Ah yes.....but I am sure he means a nice...erm...pussy...erm...cat...don't you Jez....Jez....Jez?!?!? I'll just get my coat....

Oceane's view

Bonjour Alain,

Well it wouldn't be a proper blog if we didn't go multilingual would, eh? So I introduce our first official international non-English mother tongue adversary who goes by the name of Oceane. Let rip babe.....

Salut Alan,

I guess our lives would never have crossed paths had Peter not intervened but I feel it a real honour to have been so involved in the build up to the wedding of the year. And to be there on the most important day of both of your lives will be brilliant.

Firstly thank you for your kind hospitality and for your fine Alain Prost-like driving skills around Sydneyside. Secondly I'd like to say you have a fine choice of lady - I think Belinda is very pretty and you two will look beautiful together as you walk down the aisle. I just hope Peter remembers the rings!

Anyway - have a great day and a wonderful life together. Maybe one day Peter will join you - that would certainly make Gill happy!

Bisous (French kisses - although not the type you English mean)

Oce x

Batman's Holden the bowler's Willy

M8-eeeeeeeeeee,

Talk about saving the best until last. This one's a belter. Like Axel Rose saving Live and let die until the finale of a Guns'n'fuckin'Roses gig........I give you the man who sued to think he was Axel rose at school and a Broughton High legend with, what seems like a prett damned decent memory to me.

Boys and girls - give it up for the Morphmeister himself - Mr Morgan Hoooooooooooooolden!!!!!

Hello Alan!

Well, when asked to write a few notes and memories about times gone by I thought this would be easy. Especially since you being the first person I ever remember meeting when moving up north all those years ago.

As I jotted down all the things I thought to write about I suddenly realised it was going to be far more difficult. Not because my memory is failing me (though to be honest I think years of drinking is taking it’s toll) but instead because I was at pains to find anything that was not incriminating!!

Let me start from one of my earliest memories, that being my 7th Birthday party. I think, to be honest it was the standard kind of affair. Me, You, Duncan Harris and Paul Rowlands seemed to be the mainstay at each others parties, though you also tended to invite Anthony Dixon if my memory serves me right. As you’ll see from the photo, yep I found one, none of us really changed over the years!

Embarrassment aside, these did make me chuckle!

From then on I remember you as being truly my greatest friend in our early years. Playing football on the school (smashing windows) and later the church, the school plays, standing under the stairs, hands on head for upsetting Mr Parker and the rest of the Pool House teaching department, dinner at each others houses. Using your back garden as an adventure playground, climbing the trees, and that scatty cat of yours whose name escapes me – the usual happy times growing up

Then came the day you moved over to Turkey. I remember, albeit vaguely, writing letters in primary school to you, wishing you all the best in your new life, and having no idea whether or not I’d see you again.

Then the art lesson in Broughton High School, when a “new starter” entered the class, and I realised immediately it was you. Things were back, only this time we were older and less innocent – let the good times role!!

Short of this sounding more like an episode of the wonder years, and being conscious most people there will not have a clue what I’m waffling on about I thought it best to literally write a few one liners that I hope will give you a chuckle, (provided you remember also) and save the full trip down memory lane for when we meet again – which I hope will be one day very soon.

“Morg-if-or-us and Morgan-Tasious-ness” – I was given a new name everyday.
The clapped out brown escort we turned into a rally car.
Convincing your mum to purchase us ales whilst we watched Silence of the lambs.
Me running to the loo in your house not realising your mum was having a bath.
Your orange Astra – who’s door strangely got tangled around the gate post.
Tom Davies and the sleepovers – enough said.
“The Pint of Whiskey Challenge” on the school leaving do.
Re-decorating you kitchen by way of compensation for all the times we’d throw the tea-bags.
Salad Cream butties.
The holidays in the south of France and Salou Spain.
Hours and Hours of chess and sensible soccer instead of college! (Oh and hiding the cars on the church to avoid them being spotted)
Endless renditions of Use your Illusion 2, and smoking tea bags cause Axl said it was okay to.

Alan, I would have loved to have been there today. I wish you and your new family all the best for the future, I am truly very happy and proud of you – you’ve done so well….how quickly we all seem to have grown up.

I sincerely hope that we’ll all be able to meet in the very near future,

take care

From Paul, Jean, Warren and my new Holden family Heather and Natasha all our love to you both.

Morgan.

Wow. No that is memory gold for the Lishman archives. He seems to remember even more than me mate. Let me just set one thing straight though for anyone watching or reading in black and white (ie: you and me). the studmobile was NOT and i repeat NOOOOOOOOT orange - it was brown. I would have refused to have gone in it had it been orange. Some great stuff there mate. I don't think there are many more to come. I think everybody got back to me in the end (Blonde Belinda, ya mam and sis, Oceane and of course your wife can add their messages this week). If I do receive anymore then I will add them to the archive. Plus I will put my best man's speech on this blog after the wedding.

(Pete's) Sister act

Ah yes Mr Alan Shearer over Dennis Bergkamp everytime time boy (I still disagree),

As ye olde saga of Shearer is shitter than Bergkamp rages on (and let's face it - it will until our dying day), let me keep it in the family (now don't start any rumours - there were enough of them at Broughton High) and introduce to the blog floor my ickle sister of Garstang, Lancashire. Sung in the style of a poor Shania Twain wannebee....the winner of best back end of a cow in a Preston pantomime. None other than EMILY SANDERSONEZ.

Alan,

Huuuuuuuuuuuge congratulations Alan and Belinda on your marriage.

It's always good to bring England and Australia closer together after another Ashes win in Blighty. Really sorry we haven't made it to Austrailia to be with you. We watched them film with the same name last night if that counts for anything. I'd love to say our reason for not being there was down to a Koala allergy but it's simply down to the fact I can't get the time off school.

Preston misses your dry sense of humour Alan and the money you so ploughed into our pubs to keep the breweries afloat. Belinda - you have a fine young man at your mercy. He scrubs up well when he's not in his football kits.

Good luck in your married life together and look after each other always.

Lots of love from emily and ben and tom and will xx

Thanks Em. A sweet message. Right........here comes a big'un from the past........straight from the Sanderson inbox......

Laurenology

Aye Karumba Mr Lishschmitzel,

Slight delay there oh colourblind one regarding the promise of the message from a former Drama Centre custodian. But, as they say, patience my dear Lishman is a virtue, and without further ado, let's give a curtain call for the person who allowed you to follow in the footsteps of Captain James Cook and many a convict......ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's Miss Lauren Penning.

G'day Alan,

As the story goes.....12 years ago I arrived in The U.K to begin training at The Drama Centre London. It was here that I was destined to meet a young man named Alan Lishman. When I first met Alan he was 'the skinny one from Preston who was always wearing a football T-shirt'! The Northern lad! Little did I know at that point just how much I was to learn about football and our beloved Preston North End....and of course the mighty Manchester United.

Alan and I spent three very intense, surreal, slightly twisted but insanely awesome years together at DC! It was here that we all tried to dodge bullets from Yat & Christopher, get out of ballet and movement whenever possible, avoid the lovely Diana, come up with reasons why we didn't have a yat scenario to perform, listened endlessly to James Kemp, performed odd exercises for Reuvin, endured the harshest critique sessions, drank endless cups of tea, smoked ridiculous amounts of rollies, regularly visited the fiddlers arms and lived happily in the Hackney house of happiness or was it horrors??!?

Oh, those years of blankity blank cheque book and pen, avoiding train inspectors, freezing our asses off, working strange jobs, being surrounded by the craziness of group 37 and the likes of Whitney, Amit, driftwood, the claw!!! God it was fun!!

A few years after we had emerged from the haze of drama centre I convinced Alan to move to Australia, and to cut a very long story short, here he is marrying a beautiful woman, Belinda Shannon. Congratulations!!!!

Just to be slightly gaga ding.... Love, peace and a lifetime of blessings my dear Alan....x

Om shanti

Viva La Blanc!!!

XxxxLauren

Round of applause and thank you very much Miss Penning for, erm, penning that wonderful kaleidoscope of colour and shedding light on the wonder years of drama centre. Where next for the blog.......let's go through the round window and see......

Holly the cat

Intervention from Holly (who's currently eyeing up the drainpipe from below the lounge window - eeeekkkk).....

You make the puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurfect couple. Just don't forget about me when you have kids,

Purrrrrrrrr purrrrrrr Meowww x

Less than a week!

Holy shamoooooley Batlishman!

I've just taken a look at the date and the time and it's all telling me that you, my friend, my bestest friend, gulp (wipes eyes with the tissue but realises it's Oceane's dirty underwear - cries more), will (howls with despair and delight), be MAAAAAAAAAAAAARRIED this time next week.

Yes - that's you sunshine - that same boy who strolled into my life aged 12 looking a little bit like the milky boy kid only with a light drizzling of Turkish delight. That same boy who kipped over at my house more times thna my sister and that talk Manchester United to glory upon glory, treble upon treble before Sir Alex Ferguson allbeit it on Championship manager in my loft.

Yes you Des Lishman. The man who broke more hearts and toilets in Tokoyo Jos - the man who terrified Treforest postmen with your letteric wit, the man who died at a Parties Do after downing my dad's bottle of whisky before mysteriously coming back to life, oh yes Mr Robideux the boy who scored 'THAT GOAL' in my back garden (God that sounds wrong) - but it was Cantona-esque. Yes you - the man who was broken by Brown-a at the stag do up the coast just eight days ago.

Mate - it all points to you taken the almighty leap to marry the woman of your dreams. And I don't think one person who knows you both can say anything other than - this is the best thing you'll ever do. The best chance to make the best of your life with a beautiful, stunning, loyal and gloriously nice girl. You two are like the proverbial peas in pod. Two people probably could not be born further away from each other and yet when you're together you could not be closer. Chemistry might have been your weakest subject at school mate but you two have finally naield it here. El Valentino goldinho as they say in Sardinia.

You've got to hand it to Mr Destiny when you he (must be a man, right!) brought together you two crazy kids and decided to create a lifetime of happiness and I am sure a lovely family with your little Lishlets (not to mention Holly).

We're all so happy for you two matie...

I can't wait to be there to hand you that ring and the final seal of approval buddy.

Go get married Tiger!

x

Seanus Maximus

Who do you think you are kidding Mr Lishman?

Did you think I'd forgotten you oh Preston one? And did you think we could do this whole blog shindig without a word from one of the leading lights of Drama school Mr Drama himself. He's been tough to track down I will give him that but, like all top producers the man has been right on the money with a gladitorial effort of a message. Spotlight on....Sean Knopp....this is your moment with Sir Alan the Sydneyator Lishman.

Lishus Maximus Gladiotus,

I'm profoundly sorry that I can't be there for you on your special day (Hey, at least I was there for you when you had the snip-dont ever forget that!)

No - seriously, I'm so happy for you both, you're perfect for each other. Have an amazing day and I promise, when you come back to old Blighty, myself and the boys will celebrate and give you a day you'll never forget.

Love you mate - you're one in a million.

They were great days we spent together in sleepy London and I wouldn't swap them for the world. You've been good to me over the years old boy and I am looking forward to seeing the good times roll in again next time you're back.

Oh and one last thing - if your planning on wearing womens tracksuit bottoms on your wedding day, like you did in Drama Centre, make sure you wear some tight boxers mate cos trust me....you'll scare the kids!

Love you mate - you're one in a million. Big kiss to you B -look after him okay.

Good luck with everything and hope to see you soon....you dirty mongrel!

XXSEAN (The Big Man)


Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......top message from a top man who really does seem to have hit the big time if his excuses for getting this message in late are anything to go by. Wining and dining with the Hollywood A list as an executive producer. Connery out....Knopp in....that's what I say! What a legend......thanks Sean for making the strict Sanderson-journalistesque Fleet Street style deadline. Right....who's next.....ah yes.....another Drama School 'graduette' if I am not mistaken.....

What they would have said....

Hi mate,

Here are the alternative posts if I'd been able to track them down...

Lee Cartwright...
Well what can I say (crash - picks himself off the floor after falling over). Sorry about that - where was I - Alan was always my number one fan and I could always hear him cheers as I darted down that right wing. Thanks for supporting me and never jeering when i fell over.

Tony Ellis
I dedicate that hat-trick against Blackpool and my quiff to Alan Lishman. Have a great day.

Tom Cruise
I feel the need, the need to send my best wishes to Alan on his big day.

David Burnett
Damn. I always hoped Alan was gay.

Eric Cantona
When zee seagulls follow zee trawler it eeez because Alan eeez on eeet and all zee seagull girls fancy eeem.

Geoff Boycott
Can't bat, can't bowl, can't field, takes too many risks, not enough dot balls. He's a liability....oo a goodluck message you say.....don't take too many risks mr Lishman. It's all about staying in and batting all day.

The Gill pill

Alano (fast running out of alternative names here),

The Lishman diaries would in no way be complete by a message from none other than your former landlady and maths teacher (how may people can claim to have lived with their old maths teacher!), Preston's answer to Pippa Ross: the esteemed amateur dramatics producer - Gillian Sanderson - alias Pete's mum. She's always good for a quick dose of reality. It seems she has fond memories of your loan spell at Southgate from Tag Lane United which became permanent after David Beckham agreed to go the other way.

To Alan and Belinda

We (that is all at Southgate, including Smokey) are all thinking of you on this special day. We hope you will be very happy and have a long, healthy and fruitful lifetime together. I would loved to have been there but alas the school timetable in England means I will probably be marking Maths homework in my sleep as you tie the knot. Peter is the officially family representative for such matters and has agreed to drink bitter on behalf of us all.

If we can get you to the altar there has to be some chance for Peter

!

It seems a long time since Southgate was your residence. I'm not sure if my memory isn't as good as it was, or if my sub-conscious has tried to remove some of the incidents that occurred during your time here! There were some interesting conflicts at times, but I hope that you look back at your time here, Alan with some fondness - we did our best!

I am very grateful that you gave me the opportunity to visit Australia and see how settled you are there and how pleasant and welcoming are all the people you have got to know and love.

I hope you have a wonderful day, and if you get a chance, have a word with that boy of mine. If we can get you to the altar there has to be some chance for him!

Lots of love and best wishes to both of you,

Gill, Smokey, Emily, Ben and the boys xxx

OOOOO Farmer Rowley

Big up to the Lishmanator!

Try this one for size baby. Wallop. Farmer Rowley has finally got an email address for the first time in his life just so he can send you a message to wish you goodluck for your wedding. Apparently this is a combined effort from him and Cow number 10 so, let's milk it for all it's worth!

Alan,

I have put a few words together about all the wonderful and happy memories I have of our times together! It feels a little bit like you've hit the big time and Michael Aspel is tsanding my with a big red book saying Alan Lishman this is your life so I will put it in the third person and hope you guess my voice. So here goes.....

I met alan in 1991 at school and we really became very good mates in third year before being put in the same group for our field study when we started our gcse course work. Being supremely intelligent beings unlike thick boy Sanderson (who was always in a lower number set like one for retards), we were in the same geography and business studies set where we got to know each other because we both knew pete. During these lessons we became good friends, im not sure which way round it was now but i think we used to copy each others work and get up to alsorts of mischief like hide under the desk and sneak Pete into class without Mr Kaye noticing!! We also had a good old laugh with Farmer Bailey.

Out of school we would also meet up on my farm and play sensible soccer and football at west view (I always scored loads of goals when I was up front with him - he was the Sheringham to my Andy Cole), tennis at broughton club and also go and watch pne. Great days if you try and forget the results and wallow more in the experience.

When i was 16 and passed my tractor test i would go round to your house at ingol on the 7740 and tour around. After we left school we would meet up and one of the first pubs we could get served in was the north star then when we learned to drive we would go to peppermint place in blackburn every saturday night where we had to wear white shirts and waistcoats so that we could get in (must of looked older!).

One of the funniest nights when we were out was when pete was driving and you and me were pissed courtesey of bernard. when we were on our way home alan needed to releave himself so we stopped at the side of the A59 as soon as alan stepped out of the car pete sped off. we drove for a few hundred yards then turned around to see alan running for his life towards us!! There are so many stories such as school raves and when dennis came over from holland and we had a party in petes loft and ended up being sick down the roof off cider.

So all thats left for me to say is we have had some good times and i still consider you a good friend even though you now live so far away so all the best for the the future in your marriage to belinda im sure you will be happy together have a fantastic day and enjoy it!!

Love Paul (farmer rowly) esther,daniel,jack and Cow number 10

Blimey - thanks Farmer-rama. He's got a good memory hasn't he although we need to learn on the capital letters me thinks. Some great memories to treasure there. I'll never forget his 7740. Apparently we are now onto the fifth cow number 10 since school which really does make me feel old.

Paul Carmeichael's serve and volley

Lishmoan,

Another day, another dollar's worth from the exclusive Broughton Academy of tennis. Paul Carmeichel is the latest in the long line of tennis greats to serve up some goodluck banter....strawberries and cream anyone?

Ahh the good ol days life was good. Lishman was always there with his pink Agassi raquet and that delightful forehand topspin to smash a few balls against the wall at lunchtime or for a warm up at Broughton on a Friday evening when it always seemed to be sunny.

Yes indeed I have fond memories of our time taking the tennis world by storm. Obviously the world seemed smaller then! I do remember one too many lunchtimes playing tennis against the sportshall who would have thought hitting a ball against the wall could be so much fun. I also seem to remember he lost afair few balls of mine on that fateful sportshall roof in his bid to replicate an Agassi special (even though he was always more a Sampras style in my humble eyes). We were easy pleased back then.

Anyway, Alan all the best and hope that your keeping well. Perhaps next time you're back in Preston town we can all meet up to see who's come on the most. I get the feeling Veg will still be king...


Take care buddy
Paul

Sister act - Stacy LL

Lishmanic,

Goodness gracious me this is becoming like Lord of the bloody Rings. And from the centre of the universe on Joanne's farm to middle earth at Stacy's house in Lostock Hall here is a message from your ickle sister who i know from my recent chats with her is absolutely gutted about not being there for the big day to see her big bro tie the knot. Anyway...she's sent a lovely message to you so I'll move stage left and give her the spotlight. Take it away Miss Lishman.

To Alan and Belinda,

I wish i was there to be with you and be part of your special day.

Lucie and Sofie send big hugs and lots of kisses to their Uncle Alan and Auntie Belinda

I hope you have a great day and make sure you send lots of photos because I although I can't be there I want to see exactly how handsome my brother looks and how beautiful his wife will be on the big day.

I send all my love to you both.

Lucie and Sofie send big hugs and lots of kisses to their Uncle Alan and Auntie Belinda. They will come and see you in Australia when they've all grown up I promise.

Paul sends his love and best wishes too.

Love and miss you loads.

Stacy. XXX

Cripes - I was treading water with Holly - now I am currently drowning in tears. Thank you Stacy for another tear jerking message. That was very sweet and it's a real shame she can't be there. She also tells me you offered to pay for her to come over which is very kind of you guys. A true lady and gentleman. Well she'll be over to see you guys when her little ones are a little older no doubt.

Holly's piece of ivy

Alaininho,

Ther're coming in thick and fast now matie. And it's a family message here from a fellow Lishman so one of the messages which will tug at your heart strings. Last time I saw her she was charging round your sister's pad in nappies - and now she's on facebook and all grown up. Ladies and gentleman, please give it up for Holly Lishman.......

Heyaaaa Uncle Alan (:

Peter contacted me to ask me to write a message and so here we go.

ill be thinking of you and Belinda on what is going to be a very special day

I hope you have a good wedding day, make it the best day of your life.

I am really sorry I cant be over there to share it with you but ill be thinking of you and Belinda on what is going to be a very special day! We wish we could see you more but we know what an amazing life you have out there.

Best wishes for both of you!

Love you lotss & missing you even more!

Holly ♥ xxxx

Hold on.....let me just grab a hanky.......crumbs.....even I am crying after that one mate. Sounds like you're somebody's favourite uncle anyway.....thanks for that lovely message Holly.

Vegging out

Lishmanaldo,

Nigel in typical tongue in cheek mode there. Well, from acting on the small stage, to playing tennis on the greatest stage of all. I bring you Broughton tennis club and who better than the four times Broughton Tennis club under-16s champion - Andrew 'Veg' Paterson esquire with an Agassi-esque top spin forehand of a message.

Hi Pete, Veg here, try this for size, feel free to edit as appropriate (for instance if Don Elliot happens to be at the wedding!):

-----------------------
Hi Alan,

So Pete tells me you're getting married soon, on the other side of the world, congratulations! Who would have predicted *that* when we were still at school, playing tennis at every opportunity and trying to get to one of Jason and Danny's raves whenever we could?

I can safely say we're both better off without Don as our tennis coach, now that I think back to his questionable technique. But I do miss a good tennis match and I rarely have the opportunity to play nowadays what with having swapped sports to play Ultimate frisbee. I'm not sure I really miss travelling to the ever-so-exotic locations we used to visit early on Saturday mornings (Chorley, Woodplumpton, Barton!). However I do remember with fondness our Broughton Junior doubles team set-up: Pete and you invariably paired together, plus me and Paul. I also remember not winning much, but was that ever the point? The main thing is that we had a laugh, something I hope you're still doing nearly twenty years afterwards.

Once more, congratulations from me, and look me up if you're ever around Manchester.

Yours,

Andrew ("Veg")

andrewpaterson77@gmail.com
+447948305954

Thanks Veg. He hasn't lost his touch has he. A legend in every way. Can't believe he left such a talent to rot and took up ultimate frisbee.....

Nigel's 'West' view

Lishmario,

Well as one Prestonian finishes his brew, another steps up to the kettle and this time it's none other than your favourite amateur dramatist, Nigel Parsons who was inches away from booking a flight out to Sydney but couldn't seal the deal because of rising flight costs. Anyway....here's his goodluck message.....

Hello Alan - Nigel here!

Sorry I can't be with you on your special day but I have seen the forecast in Preston and it says 5 degrees and rainy so I am going to stay in England and take advantage of the improving weather and hang out here making you jealous. I really wish I was over there for the wedding of the year. Alas I was a little disorganised getting my act together because I am currently in two plays at the Hall Players and flights seem to have rocketed. However, if there's alcohol involved in be there in spirit(s).

Your finest acting performance was always when arriving at the pub

.

I remember well your early acting career which included a creditable performance in Arthur Miller's The Crucible and a less creditable performance as Miss Scarlet in one of our murder mysteries (To be honest we did change the part to Mr Scarlet once we saw you in the dress). You also made one hell of a Lord Mayor bell ringer in one of the better pantomimes which, without doubt, rocketed you to acting fame in the Fulwood area (we still have it on video and I was very tempted to send it to Peter for the wedding).

However your finest acting performance was always your Laurence Olivieresque 'I've accidently left my wallet at home' when arriving at the pub.

Enjoy the day. My thoughts are with you both at this happy time.

Nigel

When Peter met Alan

Well Mr (Eng)Lishman,

We've heard from people past and present in your life and I thought perhaps now it was my turn to say a few words about my first memories of you.

We've been best mates since the tender age of 11 and a half and we've been through a lot together in our short lives (hell- we're only in our early 30s - us old - never). I have great early memories of the first day I met you. I remember Miss Slater and Mrs Heald who were our form tutors back then in 1843 introducing this blonde lad, a tad reminiscent of both Brad Pitt and the milky bar kid (but obviously far better looking than both) who'd spent half his life in Turkey and then dumping him on our table next to Craig Swinglehurst, Mark Bass, Craig McDonnell and myself in the far corner of the science lab with the gas taps etc....

Even that day I remember hitting it off with you despite your allegiances to Manchester United (but crucuially with a soft spot for the mighty PNE. You were a tad on the shy side at that time and I think so was I but we found we had one major thing in common as well as football - and that was this insane and very natural ability from within to talk utter goballdigook. Whether we were talking in Geordie accents about Peter Beardsley with taxi drivers or singing songs about Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh to the sound of the kettle drum, we were and still are two of life's great escapists. If there was a GCSE called Bolloxology we'd have invented the A+ long before it kicked in. We spent countless nights kipping at each others houses playing Championship Manager with you winning the Premier League and European Cup with Chic Bates as your assitant and the mighty Ade Akinbiyi up front. We played football in my back garden for hours on end discussing our (lack of) sex lives or at least who we wanted to or had snogged from Kelly 'the Wilderbeast' Thornton and Julie Holderness to Teresa from the Guild Tavern and Debbie Connell from Newman College. We wrote bizarre postcards and letters to one another from various European locations which your dad always enjoyed and even had our first official pint in a pub together at the infamous North Star. Deepdale was also one of our regularly haunts with Les Chapman providing the early entertainment along with Lee Ashcroft (remember his sister) and those reserve games when we'd collect the autographs offthe likes of David Flitcroftino and David Christiealdo. Great days indeed......

We've had some great times bro and living so far away from you has made me realise what an incredible friend I have had over the years. I have had other good friends but nobody has ever filled nor will ever fill the Lishman role. I can talk about anything with you and there probably isn't another person on this earth who understands me the way you do. You're one in a million and I'll be a very proud man as I stand by you and hand over that ring so we can make a man out of you before you have all your baby Lishshannonlets.

Thanks for being there for me bro - I hope we'll be living closer one day so I can see more of you. But Belinda is getting one helluva husband,

Big brotherly love geeeeeeeeezer!

Your bezzie mate xx

Martin's 'Pep's' talk

Lishmaaaan!



It's time to take a hike around the mini-roundabouts of Leyland (and let's face it there are a few) as....drum roll per-lease.....the finest fisherman this side of (desperately tries to think of a place beginning with F).........Freckleton.......Martin Salisbury takes the initiative to see what bites.

Lishmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!


So many stories, so little time. You're one of those people who just invites crazy things to happen. I always secretly hoped that Pete would bring you out on those infamously famous Saturday nights at Pep's ad Tokes because you always added some sparkle - and a little bit of controversy to proceedings.

There was, of course, the cricket incident, when you talked a great game, steadied yourself Graham Thorpe style, moved into a quality guard position before Aidan steamed in from the Leyland end and we all heard an almighty thwaaaack as your wrist was shattered. Ouch. I think we all felt for you that day. Bloody Aidan and his showing off.

Then we had the many times when you showed all of us exactly how to chat up girls in pep's. You had this incredible ability to just stroll up to girls and the next thing we know you had your tongue down their throat. The work of a true genius. I also remember you teaching me to chat girls up in Georgie, a ploy which seemed to work wonders for you and Pete over the years but had disastrous conquences for me. I never quite mastered the accent

The there were the many trip to Pep's when you and Pete and I used to nightclub fishing. Usually you'd be telling Pete to throw it back. I seem to recall a few whale incidents.....

Perhaps my favourite Lishman memory was when we chucked you out Pete's mum's metro for a piss because you were sooooooo bladdered after a night of free alcohol courtesy of Bernard (Pete's mate behind the bar) and as we drove off you started running like Usain Bolt through the outskirts of Blackburn. The look on your face that evening was one which will live with me forever. A mix of panic - you even undertook a car until we beeped the horn and let you back in after turning round. You probably don't remember that one. after pep's when we stopped for a piss n drove off without him! his face was classic as we drove back past the other way.

Finally there was the time we got stopped by police on way back to Leyland on Lancashire's roughest estate after we stitched you up on directions. Funny now but slightly worrying at the time. You got your own back by inviting some random Preston slags to use my toilet.....

Anyway - enough from me - have a great wedding a great married life! We'll be over to see you again one day when our little girl has grown up a bit,


but for now take care and march down that aisle a proud man!

Martin and Michelle xxx

Great memories there from Martin. The cricket incident seems to be topping the list so far........it's also quite clear he was far more sober than you and I everytime we went clubbing! More to come soon!

Silvio lining

Des Lishmooooooooon (as dey call you in da West Indies).

Let's face it - it's all been a tad Anglocentric so far. And what with you marrying a beautiful Aussie and all that, it's high time we got one of your closest Aussie friends to catapult you and your stunning bride into wedlock.

Hi Pete (Alan),

I wanted to add some words about how I met Alan and why he has become such a good friend. As you may know Alan was my manager at Volvo and along with my other colleagues didn't start off in my good books. Not because I didn't like the guys but because being the new salesperson in the team I got given all the crap work to do instead of selling cars!

Now Alan played his fair share in providing plenty of tasks for me to run around doing for quite a few weeks. But finally one day I had had enough and over a few beers with Alan I mentioned that I would kind of like to sell some cars as well, and to his credit immediately changed the status quo. The next day he made sure the work was distributed fairly and he acquired my respect on the spot. Over the next few weeks we got to know each other a little better and I felt a bond growing, until the xmas party rolled around!

Lets just say that night, I not only knew Alan would be a friend for life but that Belinda was just as loyal a friend. We had the xmas party on a boat sailing around the harbour and docked off just near my old apartment in King st Wharf. Even though we were already well boozed up, I decided to get everyone up to my place for a few drinks in between getting off the boat and going to the famous Retro hotel round the corner. Everything seemed to be going fine until at the end of a long night of Alan being hit on by every glamour (sarcasm) in the place due to his sailors outfit and Belinda fighting them off with a stick we decided to head home. That's the point where I realised I didn't seem to have my keys.

It was definitely the night that Alan and Belinda became our true friends for life

We tore the retro apart looking for these keys as I claimed they had to be on the dance floor somewhere as I had cut some serious rug there all night. About 30 minutes later I resigned myself to the fact that they were gone. At this point most fickle friends would have said thanks for a great night and good luck finding your keys and gone on their merry way, but to their credit both Alan and Belinda stayed with Vicki and I without any complaints until over an hour later when the locksmith arrived to let us in. Four seconds later and $250 lighter we were in, which brings me to the downside of them sticking with us all night. I had - rather stupidly in my drunken state - earlier left the keys on the side in the apartment and we had wasted all that time for nothing.

Lets just say that story comes out every now and then for someone to remind me how good a friend Alan is and it was definitely the night that Alan and Belinda became our true friends for life.

Here's to a long and happy marraige Alan my friend!

Silvio

Thanks Silvio - that just backs up what we all know Mr L. Alan is a great friend to have around in the tough moments in life. A very loyal man who'll stand by you in your hour of need. There's not many people out there who are as good a friends as you Mr Lishman. And while we're all getting emotional, I don't think I have ever met a better friend than you when it comes to talking about life's bigger issues. A real trooper. You steered me through many a crappy moment with women, school, stupid mistakes etc.....we're gonna have to live in the same hemisphere pretty soon because that advice gets expensive.

Over and out for now,
JP x

By George - it's Frannie P

As soon as Imogen Church checked out....two ghosts from Broughton past checked in. And it was only Franny P, the man who once had his own church and George 'the peanut head' Ectoplasm who wanted to drop you a line to say hello.

Take it away boys....

Hi Alan - this is (Father) Frank here.

I've had a word with George and mentioned this to this is very much a joint effort. Broughton seems like yonks ago and so scuse my poor memory. The main things we can collectively remember are:- the halcyon days of the Kop and the Town End under John Beck and Les Chapman when a group of us including you, Pete, Farmer and I think even Morgan, hit the Kop End formany a rendition of 'Come on you whites' every time we got a corner, a pie and a good natter. How can we ever forget the twists and turns of Tony Ellis, the warm up of Mikie Flynn, the trackie bottoms of Mickey Norbury, the booing of Graham Shaw, the gloveless saves of Simon Farnworth. runs from Simon Burton and the falling over of Lee Cartwright. You and Pete were so sad I seem to remember you went on reserve games too under the stewardship of Big Fat Sam and his barmy army.

Also we seem to recall you being very much the ring-leader in the infamous Morgan Holden vs. Darren Burrows fight near Farmer Davies' house? Do you remember it? He was your Don King to Andrew Porter's Barry Hearn.

It took weeks of planning that fight did and kept us all entertained when we weren't in Tom's rave parlour. I think it might have been over Vicki Catterill or some girl at school anyway. Quite a prize for the winner that one. Darren had stuffed down lots of metal bars etc in his jacket.

It was around the time of the WWF craze (pile on!!!);- Tom Davies used to have a CB radio. I think his callsign (or that of Grandad Davies) was 'Rhinestone Cowboy'. I can't remember specifics but I'm sure you and Morgan used to 'radio in' pretending to be truckers on the M6 (both Grandma Davies and Tom Davies fell for it).

Hope your wedding goes well mate and say hello to your lucky bride,

Cheers,

Frank and George

Wow. There's a blast from the past. I'll never forget that fight. I think Bruno v Tyson was on the undercard....I've tried to get hold of Tom and Morgan but no luck so far.

Church service - Imogen from DC

That's DC Drama Centre not Washington...

Well would you god damn believe it Mr Al.....from chaise longs and big pads we move effortlessly to inner ring roads and churches. Lady Imogen Church....please take centre stage...

Dearest Alan,

'Lishmanus, oh Lish, thank you for keeping me company on all those long mini-bus journeys up and down the country to the nation's finest venues (the Travelodge on the Coventry inner ring road crowned them all) in search of free biscuits and highly-strung Sodexho stuffed shirts to baffle.

But most of all, thanks for your friendship at The Trauma Centre, we had a lot of fun between the tears and tantrums. I'm sorry I took bites of your pudding when you weren't looking. All my love to you as you set out on your next adventure in life.

Big up to the Preston massive.

Imogen xxx'

Karumba....I hope you got more of that than I did fella. A kaleidoscope of colour.....you can't tell she's a thespian can you? I let the pudding bit go because I presume there are no connotations. A fine actress I seem to remember from the time I sat in front of Gareth alias Simon Callow from Four Weddings and a funeral.

Emma Welton - Preston College

Alanski,

I've tried to contact all the people from the different parts of your life and one person who was pretty darn quick on the uptake was a certain Emma Welton who popped up in your life during your time hanging out with cool Preston Collegeites such as Polly W and erm.......George Eckton in a former life. Let's not go there.....

Rightio....here's what young Emma's got to say for herself....

Hi Pete, I'm good thanks, I'm not very good at recalling great stories fromt he past. Perhaps too many big nights in Tokes over the years.

However, there is one night that I remember very well...when Alan made it big and headed down to the big smoke for Drama school (after being tipped as Preston's answer to James Bond), in London I went down to stay with him and in his class was a lad whose father wrote 'The Avengers'! We stayed in one of his apartments and it had the origional tv and chaise long...the whole works.....it felt like we had hit the big time....a far cry from Preston College life....it was one fo those wierd moments in life!!

I was supposed to meet up with Alan when I was in Sydney but never got chance...please pass on my congrats and send him my love x

Have a fab time and love to the lucky girl that Alan is marrying. I am sure she is very beautiful

Emma x

Thanks Emma. Who was that friend Mr Lishman. Sean? You never bloody took me when I was in London with you.....

Them's the breaks - Aidan Walsh

Mr AEL!

The latest story to roll off the Lishman production line has come from two different people. But, I'll save Marti n Salisbury's message until later. For now you'll have to make do with a Courtney Walsh-style delivery from none other than his brother Aidan.

Alan and Belinda,

I've never been one for long stories, just short witticisms, one liners and in this particular instance pacy cricket deliveries. Which leads me to my favourite Lishman story. It was a warm summer's day in Leyland and I was playing for Lancashire Under-19s at the time with a certain Andrew Flintoff. I guess I was a pretty quick bowler and thought it might be fun for Pete, Alan and Martin to play a few shots while I got ready for my trial to play for the full Lancashire team which was coming up. Now I'd presumed that these boys had played a bit before and while Lishman was warming up his seemed to be playing a few nice little strokes - allbe it without a ball in sight.

Sadly, for Alan, his bark wasn't quite as good as his bite and - after telling him to not bother padding up properly save the crown jewels box which we all should wear when we play a bit of cricket, I steamed in and delivered arguably the best ball I've ever bowled in my life. Lishman seemed to move in slow motion, eyes bulging as this red dot blurred towards him. Suddenly there was this loud crack as ball hit bone and the next thing I remember poor Alan was writhing in agony on the floor amid a flurry of loud expletives with Pete and Martin colsoling him. An hour later the industrial language had ceased but Pete was forced to drive home in the mighty studmobile.

Sorry about that mate. Anyway, good luck for the future Alan and Belinda. Alan, after a couple of years of marriage you may have cause to use your right hand more than at the present and - if this is true - I hope that it has recovered sufficiently from when I broke it all those years ago playing cricket.

All the best mate from Aidan and Helen. Let's do beers next time you're back in Prestonia.

Top story from Aidan there. There're plenty more filling up my inbox.

Message from Poolie

Yo bro,

I just received a message from Mr David Poole sending his best wishes from Leeds, Yooooorkshite for your big day.

Dear Alan,

I am stunned. I simply can't believe a woman has managed to tame you and that makes me really want to meet the woman who finally tamed the prince of Preston - Mr Loverboy Lishman Esq himself. She must be someone really special! Huge congratulations on your wedding mate. I hope you and the new Mrs Lishman have a fabulous day and a fantastic life together. All the very best. Hopefully see you in refreshment village on Fishergate for a kebab very soon,

Pooley.

PS: Marraige is great
pps: It"s Pete's turn now

Less than a month

Hello Monsieur Lishman,

With less than a month until the wedding bells sound in Sydney, New South Wales, you'll be glad to know the speech is pretty much finished and Lishmania is sweeping the planet as messages of goodluck, support and disappointment for your impending lack of singleness becomes common knowledge for men and women alike.

There's also been a few potential weepy moments on my behalf as I realise you're gonna be walking down the aisle soon - an emotional time for all bezzie mates (even when they grow stupid beards). But what a girl you've got buddy! She's not only the first girl whoever bought be flowers (sunflowers for my 30th bday), she's a top notch girl with a great heart and I am sure she'll make a fine man out of you.

Big love

JP x

Kieren McEwan in the (Pool) House

Well Alain Robidoux! The messages are flooding in now as the big day looms large on the Lishman horizon.

The latest telegram comes all the way from Ingol, Prestonia - a certain Kieren McEwan has some great memory's from your school times together it seems!

Hi Pete - great to hear from you and its great news about Alan getting married. How long has he been out in Oz? Isn't it amazing how we're all over the place. I think he wins the contest for the longest distance from Preston competition - I mean I know it's not paradise but surely Preston's not that bad ;-).

Anyway here are a few words to pass on in the scrapbook:

Hi Alan here is a bit of a blast from the old Poole House days. I haven't seen you in quite a while so firstly congratulations on getting hitched. When reflecting back to those old days my overwhelming memory of you was your return from living abroad after hanging out with you and Fleshy and mini Morgan and pestering you to find out all the inappropriate Turkish words you could pass on. You were pretty damned good at swearing in Turkish I remember. I suppose boys will always be boys.

Apart from that I remember us playing footy in the school yards and tennis at Broughton. You always scored some good goals and were too quick for me. When it came to tennis - there were shades of Agassi in your raquet that's for sure. I seem to remember you and Pete making a good doubles partnership but Veg always being the best.

Anyway all the best for your future married life together.

Kieren



I am sure Morgan would love to write a few words as well he knew Alan pretty well at Poole House. So did Andrew Flesh as well. Anyway glad to hear from you and pass on my best wishes to Alan on his big day.

Thanks
Kieren

Message from Victoria and Bin

Hello Alan,

Well just over a month until your wedding now fella - are the nerves kicking in? I received my invitation in the post from Mr and Mrs Shannon and suddenyl it all feels very real.

I sent a few messages out letting people know about this blog last week and the first person to deliver the goods was a certain Miss Victoria Rohan with a message from her and Bin. And here it is!

So...we met Mr Lishman when Bina was living with us in Leichhardt, 4 uni girls sharing a townhouse...and Alan! I have a notion he was a tad overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of estrogen as it took us a fair while to muster more than a 'hello' out of him! But, we persisted - I used my own special brand of 'being in your face until you break down and become my friend'...and he did. Cracked that code! One for the girls.

Story... the night Alan insisted that we watch 'True Romance' because it was 'the best movie of all time'. Under much duress we finally agreed because it was the best looking movie in a pile of cinematic one hit wonders - it had Brad Pitt in it! Against our will, we all found ourselves cracking up and admitting that yes, Alan was King, this movie rocked. "Hey, get some beer...and cleaning products". One for Alan.

Hmm...the night of your 30th birthday... we got cabs into the Cross. The driver was looking like he was going to do a dodgy and take us the long 'short' cut... until Alan started talking to him in Turkish...as you do!! Another one for Alan.

Bin and Alan recently took me to see Chicago for my birthday. It was the best present ever and better yet, we had front row seats. Not always the best thing for a musical, but the ultimate seat for this one in particular as we had an up-close and personal view of the costumes and body movements. The way they're muscles moved was mightily impressive. Turns out that one member of the cast was impressed with our seats aswell....and Alan in particular. Just as she was sliding herself up and down the wall at the side of the stage, raunchily-clad in her black lacey corset, fishnet stockings and 4-inch stilhettos, she turned to Alan, stared him down...and seductively winked!! He nearly fell out of his seat. It was all we heard about for the rest of the show!! Yes, another one for Alan.

How could we forget the intensity of the 'cards nights' we had with you guys at the Karl&Jara/Bin&Alan abode in Pyrmont. Many fun nights of cards, friendly arguments and wine.

Should be an awesome weekend in March, can't wait to see you and catch up :) Hope all's peachy with you. xxx

Alan's wedding tribute

This blog has been created in honour of the wonderful human being that is Alan Eric Lishman. Ahead of his forthcoming wedding to the beautiful Belinda Shannon, I will attempt to get friends from near and far to give their goodluck wishes and messages to Alan as he gears up for the biggest day of his life. As his best friend and best man I hope to accumulate a vast portfolio of comments from one of the finest men to come out of the Preston metropolis since Sir Tom Finney and Sir Richard Arkwright (or do I mean Lee Cartwright?).

We love you Alan and with less than two months until your wedding we are all crossing everything that all goes well. Right...time for me to start getting in contact with everyone who knows you and loves you (and that's a whole lot of people bro!!!).