Alastair and his wife Rose met at medical school in 1978 and married in 1985.
They had a full and busy life raising daughters Stephanie, now mother to their three grandchildren Billy, nine, Pippa, six, and Jenny, four, and Ellie, who works in international marketing and would go on to play a central role in creating the charity golf day in her father’s honour.
Dr Wells had worked as a GP in Merstham, Surrey for over 30 years before retiring aged 60 early in 2020.
Once retired, Alastair was planning to enjoy time as a golf referee, a qualification he had recently achieved which further enhanced his lifelong passion for the game.
In addition, he also hoped to direct more of his time and energies to Epsom College where he was chair of governors from 2016 to 2023.
When the pandemic and lockdown hit all these plans were stalled but Rose and Alastair enjoyed the time it gave them together.
“The pandemic was bittersweet,” says Rose.
“In our own way we had a wonderful time as Alastair had stopped work, we were both together with time to enjoy each other’s company after having worked for hard for so long.
“As it turned out, this time together was to be very precious.”
Sudden change
Alastair’s health and life changed dramatically and quickly in May 2023.
He had resumed his busy life and had refereed at four different golf tournaments in a week but was feeling uncharacteristically tired.
He was out on the golf course when he received a call from his GP asking him to go straight to A&E for urgent treatment.
“He was diagnosed with a form of cancer called multiple myeloma for which there is no cure” explains Rose.
“However, we were still hopeful having been told recent advances in treatment could bring many years in remission.”
Rare adverse reaction
A bone marrow transplant was planned for Alastair but he suffered a rare and catastrophic reaction to one of the drugs administered resulting in damage to his sensory nervous system.
This left him unable to sense any of his limbs or feel his feet on the floor.
With this loss of spatial awareness, Alastair had to relearn how to brush his teeth, feed himself, stand and step.
He spent eight months in St Georges Hospital.
Play the hand you’re given
True to the character he had always been, not once did he bemoan his situation.
“Alastair was the most positive, optimistic and cheerful of men,” says Rose.
“A keen bridge player, he always said life was like the game and you had to play the hand you were given. And this is how he approached his illness.”
By now a wheelchair user, when Alastair was discharged from hospital in February 2024, he was determined to make as full a recovery as he could.
He was advised by a close friend to try the specialist Neurokinex rehabilitation centre which, by good fortune, is very close to the family home in Worth.
“Alastair felt better just for being there and loved the positivity and energy of the trainers and clients he met. To have Neurokinex on our doorstep felt like a gift,” says Rose.
Alastair started there on March 1, 2024 and attended the centre twice a week. His progress was steady and deeply moving. By July 2024, he was walking again using parallel bars.
The hope meant everything
“Seeing him standing tall again – his full six feet – was like witnessing a small miracle,” said Rose.
“He felt he was on his way back to playing an adapted form of golf. That hope meant everything.”
Alastair felt fortunate to have received such care and he wanted others to have the same opportunity.
Profoundly moved by the impact of the work being undertaken at Neurokinex, he vowed to invite his extensive network of friends to a charity golf day to raise funds to help others access these unique therapies.
Sudden end to an amazing life
Alastair’s wish was fulfilled but, sadly, he was not there to witness it as he died suddenly and unexpectedly on July 29, 2024.
“The day had been lovely – we watched coverage of the Olympics all day and cheered some gold medals for Great Britain,” recalls Rose.
“In the evening, he enjoyed a good dinner and had played bridge online with his favourite partner. Just as he was settling to sleep, he suffered a pulmonary embolism. It was a very sudden end to an amazing life.
“After I got over the shock, I felt his death to be a blessing of sorts in that he was taken when he was at the top of his game and getting better every day thanks to Gemma and Morgan at Neurokinex,” reflected Rose, who was with him when he died.
“Also that he was spared the pain and suffering that his cancer would have eventually brought him and which I had seen so often in my own working life.”
Alastair’s fundraising day
Having been captain and chairman at Walton Heath Golf Club, Alastair had wanted the Charity Day to be there.
His daughter, Ellie, used all her professional skills and did the event management alongside the team at Walton Heath GC.
One of Alastair’s closest friends, Paul Woodhouse, helped the family reach out to his huge network from all the different times and parts of his life. Their response was unbelievable.
On October 29, 2025 – despite torrential rain – 84 people turned up to play. The golf, dinner and donations that day combined with a Just Giving Page for those unable to play raised over £15,000.
The money will be used to fund the Neurokinex charity’s Step Up Scheme which offers six hours of free therapy to newly injured adults and children.
“We were incredibly honoured to hold a golf day for the amazing Neurokinex charitable trust in memory of Alastair,” says Emma Harris at Walton Heath Golf Club.
“We were delighted that everyone had a fantastic day, despite the weather, and to see a high level of money and spirits raised in Alastair’s honour.”
A fitting tribute
“Alastair was adamant he wanted others to have the same chance he had to enjoy this specialist rehabilitation and feel hope again,” says Rose.
“While we continue to adjust to our new life without him, knowing we have fulfilled his wish to help others access Neurokinex feels like a fitting tribute to honour his life.”
5. Crawley woman fulfils husband’s wish to fundraise for Gatwick rehabilitation centre
Family friends braving the elements on the Walton Heath golf course fundraising day Photo: Contributed
6. Crawley woman fulfils husband’s wish to fundraise for Gatwick rehabilitation centre
Fundraising lunch at Walton Heath Golf Club for Neurokinex in honour of Dr Alastair Wells Photo: Contributed