Alan Lyne was at the original gestation of the VCN! He and Roz, our Founder, had attended a meeting of the Voice Research Society in 1991 and returning (via the pub!) encouraged Roz to start up the VCN. Alan has now decided his days of delivering voice coaching are probably in the past (he has now reached the young age of 80!).
Following a recent letter to Jeremy Stoke, our Chairman, Alan and he, had a conversation about those early days and how Alan first got involved in voice. ‘I think it was probably when I won the elocution prize at school’ said Alan. He then went on to be a teacher, lecturer, broadcaster, newsreader and then freelance in both New Zealand, where Alan’s wife comes from, and back in the UK.
So Alan can be very proud of his contribution to the VCN’s early years, its growth as an authoritative organisation in professional occupational voice matters. He has been a founding member, Board member, Trustee and Editor of this journal (and creator of its name – Voice Matters).
‘I am proud to have been a cog in the wheel of progress which I hope will continue to roll along the road to increasing recognition of the importance of voice’ As Alan said in his letter : ‘It's probably a case of “when the age is in the wit is out”.
We do not have a long list of Honorary members, but we are pleased to grant Alan that special status, as long as he wishes to keep in touch with all things voice and VCN’s progress. Enjoy your retirement, Alan!