Allan Taylor
Allan Taylor passed away on 8th February 2023 in Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire, UK.
Allan started work with Aramco in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia in 1973. He was 30 years old and from Netherton, West Yorkshire, a small village outside Huddersfield, high up on the Yorkshire moors.
He first worked as a Chemical Engineer in Ras Tanura Oil Refinery and, some years later, in the late 1980’s, he transferred to the Northern Area Pipeline project which involved surveying all the pipelines and associated equipment in this region, then moving on to the Trans Arabian Pipeline, the TAP line, in the 1990’s. These jobs gave Allan the opportunity to travel around the country and explore the deserts in the various regions of KSA.
Allan was a friend to many people in Ras Tanura over the years, and a good man to know as one of his many hobbies was DIY and vehicle maintenance and repair! The latter being essential when spending weekends and long holidays desert camping and driving over the huge dunes throughout the deserts of KSA.
He was also a keen dinghy sailor and raced his Laser in Sandy Hook, the old sailing club in the refinery, before it moved to its present location at the north end of camp and was renamed Najmah Landing / RTYA. He competed successfully in many club and inter-area competitions and regattas, as well as travelling to Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai to race in their regattas – his trophy cabinet was full.
He was a wonderful host and evenings at his house included charitable events including an excellent Casino night and a Japanese dinner party!
He might also be remembered cycling around camp with Nellie, a green parrot sitting on his shoulder; a “gift” from his friend Tom Wyatt when Tom and his wife, Francis, left KSA to drive home to the UK in 1996.
Allan retired from Aramco in 2003 after 30 years in Ras Tanura. He returned to Yorkshire and continued to travel around the world with friends and enjoy the company of his relatives to whom he was very close.
His funeral service was in Huddersfield Crematorium on April 3rd and was well attended by family and friends, including Aramco friends Roger and Glen Berry, Pat Massey, Tom Wyatt and his son Russel Wyatt, and Roger and Catherine Peters.
Donations in lieu can be made directly through their website to the RNLI in the UK in memory of Allan Taylor.