Northern Ireland lost a great man yesterday, Sir Allen McClay founder of Galen and Almac. I had the pleasure to work for Allen for 11 years and during that time I saw him become Northern Ireland’s richest man, retire and then comeback to found another global pharma empire. Not bad for a boy from Cookstown.
I remember the day I saw him on his hands and knees scrubbing the floor. As I passed him I said "Do you want me to get someone else to that?". He looked up and said "No, don’t bother everyone else has something important to do. I’m just doing my bit."
His pride in the work force was unequalled. He knew the names of almost everyone in the company. He inspired us to complete projects we never thought possible. He never forgot who he was or where came from and most importantly he never under estimated the importance of the work others did with him and not for him. As a raconteur he could hold a room like few others I ever seen.
Allen you’ll be missed.