Alun started his apprenticeship at ICI as a fitter and turner in 1956, when qualified he left to work as a maintenance and plant installation fitter at 3M Gorseinon, after 3 years he moved on to a short employment at INA bearings as a foreman from where he moved onto be an estimator at British steels Machynys machine shop, leaving after 12 months to go back on the tools at National standard in Bynea for a short time.