Alan Jones’s butler quit working for the breakfast radio broadcaster after confessing his secret ambition to become a flight attendant in an email to a recruiter last year.
‘I’ll put the style in the aisle,’ David Allan, 72, declared this week as he left the 2GB radio host’s side after 18 years of catering for the rich and famous.
Mr Allan’s shock departure sparked rumours that the arrival of Jake Thrupp, 22, in Jones’ personal team had ‘played havoc’ with the food and wine expert’s routine.
But that is apparently untrue – and it can now be revealed that Mr Allan realised in 2018 that there was something missing in his ‘very comfortable life’.
David Allan with the talkback radio host Alan Jones. Jones once crowed: ‘David makes the best soup on the planet. On the planet’ – but he is no longer making it for the 2GB broadcaster
Mr Allan’s departure has been linked – apparently unfairly – to claims the arrival of a new member of Jones’s team, Jake Thrupp (above), 22, had ‘played havoc’ with his routine.
In an email to a British recruitment company Mr Allan admitted he had dreamed of joining an airline cabin crew all his life.
‘I just want to fly,’ he said.
The message began: ‘This may be one of the more unusual emails that land on your desk … but being the airline tragic that I am proud to admit to, so here I go.
‘My name is David Allan very mature aged (60+) consummate hospitality employee living in Sydney NSW Australia.
‘Fit as a Trout!! UK trained Butler/Chef/ Sommelier current position of employment (18 years of service), Butler, for a very senior Political /Media personality.
‘However only one thing (is) missing from a very comfortable lifestyle that I enjoy …
‘For a great part of my life each and every day I look skywards, watch the planes wiz by and hope and pray and wish that I could be part of that Cabin Crew.
Yes, if someone wants to throw a uniform at me I’ll jump on board an A380 tomorrow. I’ll put some style in the aisle
David Allan, speaking to Daily Mail Australia
‘My great dream would be to represent British Airways!! Returning to the UK.
‘Serious honest question … honesty will not offend !! Would B.A. (British Airways) ever engage a person of my age ??’
Mr Allan said he doubted the airlines would hire someone of his vintage when they would have ‘thousands of drop-dead gorgeous young individuals on file.’
‘Is this The Man of Lamancha (a 1965 musical), or in my case the impossible dream?’ he asked, before vowing to chase his ambition anyway.
‘I believe each and every individual is entitled to dream and to pursue that thought, I certainly will not stop, whatever it takes.’
The email was a signal the butler was interested in moving on from Jones’s side and it was private until Daily Mail Australia stumbled upon on it online.
Mr Allan’s message so moved a staff member at the UK hiring company that she posted it to British Airways on Twitter. It ‘tugged at my heart strings,’ she said.
Long service: Mr Allan is seen here – in 2005 – serving up sports drinks to Australian players during the Johnnie Walker super series
The nature of Jones’s career – a breakfast radio host – required the services of his butler at demanding hours. The broadcaster is left, in a candid photo, and right, at work
Mr Allan initially denied sending the email this week, before coming clean: ‘OK, you’ve got me over a barrel.’
‘Yes, if someone wants to throw a uniform at me I’ll jump on board an A380 tomorrow. I’ll put some style in the aisle,’ he quipped.
David makes the best soup on the planet. On the planet!
Mr Allan’s recent disappearance from Jones’s side has filled the gossip pages recently.
He has often featured in newspaper profiles about Jones where the influential broadcaster has crowed about his exceptional cooking skills.
‘David makes the best soup on the planet. On the planet,’ Jones told a reporter in 2011.
But Daily Mail Australia understands it was time to relax and do other things after a long period of service to a radio host who required assistance at all hours of the day.
‘In my mind … it’s the most coveted job in the land’: Mr Allan admits he’s unlikely to start on a new career path – but a man can dream
The retiree now has a more peaceful lifestyle involving weekend cricket and gardening.
He and his wife also take their beloved cat for a walk – yes, cat – about Sydney’s leafy north.
In an interview, Mr Allan said he had harboured his other ambition of flying his whole life – even while serving dinner for airline executives.
‘All my life I wanted to represent British Airways – from the age of 15,’ he said. He loved their ‘We’ll Take Care of You’ slogan and was enamored with TV shows about Captain Bristow.
But despite vowing to pursue his dream last year – even suggesting he could have a good ten years of service – Mr Allan admits he’s unlikely to start on a new career path.
‘Getting a job with an airline is not like any other form of employment in the world in my mind and in my mind … it is the most coveted job in the land.
He joked: ‘I think somebody has to be realistic at 72 with a battered bald head like mine. There’s no way in the world anyone would look at you.’
Alan Jones’s butler’s full ‘flight attendant’ email confession
Dear Charlotte,
‘This may be one of the more unusual emails that land on your desk, and possibly there is not an answer to my enquiries, but being the airline tragic that I am proud to admit to, so here I go.
‘My name is David Allan very mature aged (60+) consummate hospitality employee living in Sydney NSW Australia. Fit as a Trout!! UK trained Butler/Chef/ Sommelier current position of employment (18 years of service), Butler, for a very senior Political /Media personality.
‘However only one thing (is) missing from a very comfortable lifestyle that I enjoy … For a great part of my life each and every day I look skywards, watch the planes wiz by and hope & pray and wish that I could be part of that Cabin Crew, my great dream would be to represent British Airways!! Returning to the UK.
‘All my life I wanted to represent British Airways – from the age of 15,’ Mr Allan told Daily Mail Australia
‘Serious honest question … honesty will not offend !! Would B.A. ever engage a person of my age ??
Most far eastern carriers appear to have a cut off at age 35, i understand B.A. have mature crew members, but they may have joined many years ago.
‘Regardless of whether a candidate has undertaken your course/s please have you any evidence that it is possible to be selected for the most coveted job in the land!! At my age.
‘I have S.F.A. (senior first aid certificate) R.S.A. (responsible service of alcohol) swimming/water treading certificate, and a few other caterings pieces of paper, that deal with food hygiene, handling and safety etc
‘Mixed Fleet greatly appeals to me, regardless of the criticism that it may have created in the past, I just want to fly, my belief is that I could give 5 fabulous years of service & another 5 years of V significant service,
‘Is this The Man of Lamancha, or in my case the impossible dream?
‘Australia basically only operating two airlines, Qantas/Virgin Atlantic, leaves little scope for employment. They both would have thousands of drop-dead gorgeous young individuals on file, awaiting a recruitment drive.
‘I hope that someone, you perhaps, may find some time to give my letter some thought with a genuine reply I believe each and every individual is entitled to dream and to pursue that thought, I certainly will not stop, whatever it takes.
‘Kind Regards,
David Allan’