Marillion - Ocean Cloud
991,802
Published 2011-03-18
Biography by Geoff Allum.....
Don was born on 17th of May 1937 in London. At age sixteen he joined the merchant navy as a steward. Called up for national service he served nine years in the Royal Green Jackets (army unit). He entered as a private and left as a private in spite of many offers of promotion. He served in many of the world's trouble spots including Borneo, British Guyana, and Berlin. In 1971 he joined me in the row I was planning across the Atlantic; which we started on the 12th of January in Las Palmas, Grand Canaries and finished on the 26th of March at Barbados. Fifteen years later Don set out in the same boat the QE3 from Pasito Blanco, Grand Canaries and rowed in 114 days to Nevis in the West Indies. He started on the 30th of January and finished on the 23rd of May. He was 49 years old. The last two weeks of this voyage Don was completely out of water. And when he landed at Nevis his eyesight and hearing were failing and he had lost half his body weight. It was as a result of these deprivations that a few years later his kidneys failed several times and eventually led to the fatal heart attack that killed him.
Apparently recovered from the 1986 voyage Don shipped the QE3 to St. Johns, Newfoundland for the return voyage that had always been his intention to be the first man to row the Atlantic in both directions. He started from St John's, Newfoundland on the 21st of June 1987 and rowed to Dooagh, Ireland on Achill Island county Mayo in 77 days. He was fifty years old. During the voyage he suffered many capsizes and sustained a severe gash to his head when the compass hit him as the boat went over.
When just eighty miles west of Ireland a fall storm caught up with him and almost overwhelmed the boat. However (unknown to him) the people of Dooagh were expecting him and as the QE3 was swept down the coast the villagers used their car headlights to light the tiny beach as the QE3 was almost shipwrecked. The villagers waded into the sea and carried Don and the QE3 to safety.Don stayed in Dooagh for some time and the local people built a large monument in the town to commemorate his voyage. I believe this was the happiest time of Don's life.
So Don Allum became the first man to row the Atlantic in both directions and is still the only man to have rowed both ways solo [correct for the time of publishing - 1999]. He is also the only man to have completed three ocean crossings in a rowboat [correct for the time of publishing - 1999].
In the last years of his life Don suffered from poor health and two bouts of kidney failure and chest pains convinced him that he didn't have very long to live. In spite of my pleading with him he refused to get treatment. He said, " I have done everything I want to do." Don died on the 2nd of November 1992 from a heart attack at his flat in Heston Middlesex. He was the bravest of us all.
Geoff Allum
In all this time only a plaque has been placed near the point where he landed on Achill Island, County Mayo in Ireland after the final voyage.
It would be wonderful if his achievement could be recognised by way of a postumous Knighthood.
All Comments (21)
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I'm 75 and have only just got into Marillion ABSOLUTELY BRILLANT!! Never too late
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This music helps me to lift up
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I trully love this song. I want to cry while listening to it
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Marillion has a lot of young fans. I'm 18 years old and i really love Marillion. There are still people who listen to real music. Thanks Marillion! This is one of the most beautiful songs ever made. I'm sure of that.
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I was one of the idiots who thought how can marillion carry on without fish. I was wrong. they have reached a new level.
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Marillion .... Du 1er fish au dernier hogarth reste d un niveau supérieur. Ce groupe est juste magique, les rois du progressif . Les solos de rothery sont d une qualité mélodique incomparable ,perfection certain diront , ce groupe fait parti de ma vie depuis 40 années, en espérant qu ils continueront encore de nous régaler
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My all time favorite Marillion Song! Amazing arrangement, great atmosphere! And some wonderful musicians.
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Marillion is other level of music
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Transitions in this masterpiece are just overwhelming...the best I ever heard among the greatest prog rock bands
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An Honorable and fitting tribute to a brave and determined soul R.I.P Don Allum
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Imagine having a song like that written about your life! A rare honour.
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I've been in a taxi today and I heard this. Late at night, my dissertation speech is on Monday. But I'm heartbroken. My girlfriend left me because I was too clumsy, too different, too incompatible with her, a lesser man... And she came to the conclusion that this is the case after 6 months of relationship, without ever telling me that these constitute too much of a problem for her. She was love bombing me at first, telling me that I was perfect for her. And I continued to be myself. After 6 months, she told me I was not, not anymore. My go to song in the beginning of the relationship was Rocket Man by Elton John. This was what I felt. Loved more than ever in her company. Loved for the first time and for the only time. Now I'm here, hurt, alone, incapable of making sense of this or finishing my paper. But this morning, I will fucking finish it for sure. And this song is my anthem for this. Thank you for listening guys <3
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It's now February 2021 I'm nearly 65 and it's the first time I've heard this masterpiece..what have I been missing for so many years..love Marillion..
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This is an absolute prog masterpiece, as many of this superb band. Art rock at its best. Being a great fan of progressive rock, maybe Marillion is the band that I enjoy the most listening to (after Floyd.....). Long life to this cult and iconic band!!!!
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Masterpiece !!!
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Fantastic. Many decades of wonderful notes, compositions, emotions. Marillion at its best.
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Best underated band ever . Period !!
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Best prog band ever...!!!! Bigger than pink floyd and genesis and all the rest...!!!! Fish and hogarth...???? Thank god they are different....!!!! Both uncomparably brilliant maestro's.
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To have such a song written based on one's life story is a much greater and more meaningful recognition than all the knighthoods of the world.
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J'aime tellement de musiques différentes, du rock au pop, en passant par tous les styles. J'ai 51 ans, j'ai redécouvert ce groupe il y a env. 10 ans mais ce morceau... je ne sais pas comment l'expliquer... il est le plus touchant, magnifique, inspirant, profond, que je n'ai jamais entendu.
