Lindsay John Allen, of Terence Bay, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on September 7th, 2023, after a brief illness.  

He will be remembered as a beloved husband to Barbara, who has been by his side for over fifty years; a devoted father to his children Daniel (Paula), Zoë (Joey); and as a tender-hearted grandfather to Ruby. 

Lindsay was born on January 9th, 1953, in the market town of Lutterworth, England to Rachel and Hedley Allen.  Since childhood, Lindsay had a natural sense of curiosity for how things worked and showed great interest in the outdoors. As a youth his love of nature included caring for two pet owls, raising a pig, and working at a nearby farm in his early years.  

He soon discovered the satisfaction of creating and building things with his own hands, which fueled many of his passions later in life.  This self-intuited craft, coupled with his fascination with speed and racing, inspired Lindsay to build his own Triton racing motorcycle (a combination of a Triumph engine and a Norton frame) in his teenage years.   Further developing his mechanical skills of building and repairing various vehicles, he entered the workforce in the late 1960s as a motor mechanic for Tommy Williams in Ashby Parva, and later working at Burton’s Garage in Lutterworth.   

Led by his deep sense of wonder, in 1972 Lindsay outfitted a van and set off with his friends to travel through Europe, reaching destinations as far as Morocco and the Canary Islands.  It was a chance encounter with another traveler that piqued Lindsay’s interest in setting his sights on his next destination: Canada.   

On April 1st, 1974, a 21-year-old Lindsay arrived at Halifax International Airport with his childhood sweetheart, Barbara.  Hand in hand, and wearing weighty backpacks, they stuck out their thumbs and traveled on trust across Canada, from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. This was the beginning of their journey together, and what a journey it has been.  

Lindsay and Barb married in 1976 and returned to Canada as Landed Immigrants under Lindsay’s coveted skillset as a mechanic.  They chose to settle in Nova Scotia, finding their paradise in Terence Bay.  It is here that they slowly transformed a little riverside camp into a unique family home, whose garden is carved from rock, and the house itself carefully designed and built with restored material from the area.  It is their shared pioneering spirit and sense of adventure which were the hallmarks of their new life, and the friendships they forged here that would last a lifetime. 

As their new life in Canada flourished, the call of family still ran deep.  The couple returned to the UK to help with major family renovation projects.  Lindsay renovated “The Shambles”, a building which dated back to the 16th century, taking it from its derelict state to iconic status, taking pride of place in the center of Lutterworth.  He also supported the family renovations of the Old Rectory and the Grooms Cottage at Misterton from 1986 until 1990. 

The arrival of children in the mid 1980s kindled a softer side in Lindsay.  He loved his children dearly and conveyed this love through immense acts of service – from hatching and raising ducks together, to spending countless hours on cold wintry nights to freeze and maintain an immaculate ice rink for the family to skate on.  As his children grew, he took pride in watching them flourish into their own personalities, and he continued to be a guiding light as they grew into adulthood.  He continued to mentor his children late in life: teaching them how to grow a successful garden; providing guidance on how to build a home; and giving sage advice on how to navigate a marriage rooted in mutual respect and love.    

After settling in Canada, Lindsay shifted his career from a mechanic to a “Jack of all trades” as he worked in building maintenance. However, in the early 1990s, the art of prospecting found Lindsay, which rekindled his childhood fascination of understanding strange rock formations and ignited his lifelong passion.  Drawn in by the lore of gold, he spent countless hours traipsing through the woods, cracking rocks, and piecing together the puzzle that is the geology below our feet.  He established Elk Exploration Limited and poured himself into learning all that he could about mineral exploration, and sharing his vast knowledge with others.  

Well respected in his field, he stepped into the leadership role as the President of the Nova Scotia Prospectors Association for several years.  In 2003, he was honored to be the first recipient of the Pulsifer-Holmes Prospector of the Year award. It was through his dedicated work that he developed deep and meaningful friendships with likeminded prospectors and geologists throughout the province and beyond. His work in this community will continue to live on (or “rock on”).

On a personal level, Lindsay was a slightly eccentric and enigmatic man who loved to keep his mind sharp.  It is not uncommon to find finished crossword puzzles and sudoku books in various corners of the house. His passion for speed and racing continued throughout his life, eagerly awaiting Formula 1 racing weekends where the whole family would be placed in a “cone of silence” while he watched the race.  He had lots of special memories of the many trips to Montreal to watch the Canadian Grand Prix with his good friend Al. His desire for travel took him to many places in the world, but some of his favourites included the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where he could be found whittling pieces of driftwood under a coconut tree; or the occasional indulgent all-inclusive to the Caribbean to sip on unlimited Mango Bangos.  

However, the pastime that brought him most joy, which he shared with his best friend and love of his life, Barb, was creating a beautiful garden.  He was never happier than when he was in the garden tending tiny seedlings and bringing them to maturity. He and Barb grew trees, shrubs, flowers, and food, and together they would reap their harvest and enjoy the fruits of their labor as a family.  

The last few years, Lindsay really got to relish in the oasis they had built together, and he had the joy of watching his grand-daughter Ruby swing from the branches of an oak tree that he planted from an acorn more than forty years ago. He taught her the truism “From little acorns, mighty oaks do grow”, reminding us that a single humble act can lead to something strong and significant in our lives.  This is the legacy that Lindsay leaves behind. 

Much like the oak tree that stands in the Allen family’s backyard, Lindsay is the silent and steadfast sentinel who shelters all who are dear to him and will do so for generations to come.  

To most, Lindsay will be remembered as a fiercely independent thinker who lived life his way.  To his dear friends he would be remembered as capable, strong, and dependable. And to his family, he will be remembered as a wise, innovative, and supportive patriarch, a man whose greatest joys were close to his home. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.  

A celebration of Lindsay’s life will be held at the family home (11 River Road, Terence Bay, NS B3T 1X2) on Saturday 14th October from 2pm till 5pm.