It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Harvey Allen, the long-time head of Allied Domecq Duty Free, the travel retail division of the wines and spirits company acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2005.
Harvey, who passed peacefully at his home on England’s south coast on 16 December, was a stalwart of the drinks industry for many years, having led the Export Department at Harveys of Bristol in the 1970s, producer of the then-phenomenally successful Harveys Bristol Cream.
After assuming leadership of Allied Domecq’s thriving duty free operations, he contributed much to the sector, leading a constant pipeline of innovation in the channel and demonstrating a strong commitment to the UK Travel Retail Forum. After his retirement he was replaced by Charles Richardson as Allied Domecq Duty Free President.
In a note to The Moodie Davitt Report, Richardson paid warm tribute to Harvey, describing him as a “Great man and a great boss” and a major contributor to the duty free and drinks sectors.
Harvey died peacefully at his home with his beloved wife Mona and other immediate family in close attendance. Due to the current epidemic restrictions the funeral will be restricted to his family but it is their intention to hold a Celebration of Life service for friends and former colleagues at a later date.
Martin Moodie writes: Besides his fine contribution to the drinks and duty free industries, Harvey was a warm and genial character with a trademark chuckle and (perhaps the characteristic I remember most) an almost permanent twinkle in his eye. He had a sense of humour drier than any Beefeater-based Martini and an immense knowledge of the sectors he graced for so many years. Harvey was of the old school, a true gentlemen with a penchant for long (and it has to be said liquid) lunches and a love of sport, particularly rugby.
I and many others spent many an enjoyable afternoon in his company at Twickenham Stadium in London where he would set up wonderful picnics in the car park and treat his guests royally both before and after the match. Those were the days in this industry, far less corporate than the modern age and full of charismatic characters, among whom Harvey ranked high on the list.
When Harvey retired, Charles Richardson organised a surprise farewell party based on the hit television programme of the time ‘This is Your Life’, and emceed by the programme’s real host David Vine. I was Editor of Duty-Free News International at the time and presented Harvey with a framed spoof front cover of the magazine that lauded both his achievements and his marvellously warm and delightfully eccentric character. He was tickled pink.
What a lovely man. How time passes. He will be mourned and remembered with great affection.
