Instead, after a life of farming that saw him move from Willow Tree to Scotts Head in 1968, he busied himself by getting back into the game of golf, which he loved as a young man, and also bowls.

On Christmas Eve Allan passed his 90th birthday milestone, clearly no obstacle to his ongoing enjoyment of a round of golf.

But it’s not only the game that keeps him coming, it’s also the camaraderie, like that of his mate Norm Coleman, who piped up that the golf clubs were Allan’s greatest handicap, when the Guardian posed this serious question.

The real answer it turns out is 27.

“I take the attitude that you either use it or lose it,” Allan said.

“I enjoy my life ... it’s been a good one and I am sure there is a good shepherd who looked after me a couple of times.”