Alan James Laverock: a tribute

(31 March 1955 – 13 November 2025)

It was with much sadness that we learned of the death yesterday of our friend and former colleague, Alan Laverock (70). Alan passed away peacefully in Dundee Ninewells hospital, following a cardiac arrest on Sunday. Alan loved Malawi and loved Malawians as family. Alan was deeply involved with many organisations engaged in impactful work in and with Malawi, including a number that he founded. He is survived by his brother Stephen, sister Moira and wider family. Alan spoke of and regarded Willan (who had been staying with Alan in Scotland since early September), Flyness and Alan James as his Son, Daughter-in-Law and Grandson. Alan’s loss is deeply felt in Malawi and Scotland, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who mourn Alan’s passing.

Professionally, Alan described himself as a Scottish Chartered Accountant with 40 years’ experience, mainly in small practice, one of his specialisms being charities and associations. Alan was with Wylie & Bisset for 22 years, ran 3 offices and managed a portfolio of around 1,000 clients. He later spent 3 years with Abernethy Trust in Nethybridge, a Christian charity that provides outdoor adventure experiences, working to help transform lives through challenge and adventure. Alan’s faith was a central pillar throughout his life and he regularly preached in Malawi. Alan would recount with humour and pleasure, occasionally being pulled over by the police in Malawi, just so that they could discuss his Sunday sermon with him.

Alan spent the past 15 years working in International Development with Malawi. Many people involved in the Scotland-Malawi relationship value the great service provided by Alan’s own charity, Bananabox Trust which sends containers from Dundee to Malawi. It has enabled Alan to help establish a local Malawian NGO, Bananabox Plus which is contributing greatly to lives of individuals, families and communities in the North of Malawi. Alan has also been central to the work of Malawi Fruits, the Mamie Martin Fund, Smileawi, Tafika and Tiyeni, to name but a few, all of whom do tremendous work.

Volunteering as Treasurer for several organisations, Alan felt that he further honed his knowledge of charity funding. The SMP’s Audit & Finance Committee benefitted from Alan’s expertise from 2017, and he joined the staff of the SMP as Finance Officer in April 2020, having aced the interview in an open and competitive recruitment process. Alan retired in March 2025 to spend more time in Malawi and focus his energies on the flourishing projects in which he was involved.

Alan was committed to being Malawi-led and with sustainability at the heart of his approach, often said, “everything needs to keep going when I get on a plane back to Scotland.” For Malawi and the people that Alan loved, he would want everything to keep going.