Alan Jefferiss (aka: AJ) 1968 – 2022

Alan Jefferiss (aka AJ), a Harrow RA member for over 25 years, passed away in Northwick Park Hospital on Sunday, 30th January.

 

In 2015 his mother with whom he had lived, passed away and in 2016 AJ moved from Christchurch Avenue, Kenton to a flat in Lime Close, Stanmore where he lived on his own. He was a lifelong fanatical QPR fan and as a season ticket holder regularly attended matches at Loftus Road with his close friend, Steve Penny. He keenly watched Match of the Day and would often ring me with details of match incidents he had seen on TV for potential discussion at the next Harrow RA meeting.

AJ pic

Unfortunately, he was made redundant in August 2019 when the warehouse where he really enjoyed working ceased trading. Harrow RA was able to help out with a £100 grant from our funds and he later received a grant from the Referees’ Association’s Benevolent Fund to help out while he looked for a new job, which because of the advent of the pandemic he never found.

 

Recently he had had a difficult couple of years including several Hospital admissions and then spending several months in a Care Home in Ruislip. After he returned home I advised him on how to renew his Safeguarding Children qualification with the help of a friend who had a laptop, so that he could re-register as a referee for this season. Since well before Christmas both I and fellow member Roy Webber hadn’t been able to contact him on his mobile, despite regularly trying to do so. Then out of the blue yesterday Steve Penny, knowing that he was a Harrow referee, looked me up online and rang me to tell me the sad news that AJ had passed away, having had a stroke in December.

 

AJ’s Funeral service was held at Breakspear Crematorium, Breakspear Road, Ruislip, HA4 7SJ on Friday 25th February at 2.15 p.m. The hearse left from his sister’s house in Christchurch Avenue and travel to the Crematorium via AJ’s beloved QPR football ground, Loftus Road. The wake was held at AJ’s local pub, the Duck in the Pond, Harrow Weald, HA3 6AA. Donations received on the day and afterwards will go to the Encephalitis Charity.