Alan Till: an obituary

Alan Till 1934-2022 - a personal appreciation.

I first met Alan in 1994 when I became involved in the formation of the Confederation of Burial Authorities (CBA). As a councillor for the Perry Hill Ward in the London Borough of Lewisham his portfolio included bereavement services. A small group of us would meet regularly at various locations across south London including his then cemetery & crematorium manager Graeme Sloan, Mike Stride (Croydon), George Nash (Hendon), and Richard Baldwin (Camden). We’d map out a way forward and begin formulating a constitution. As an ‘elected member’ his contribution to the CBA’s success cannot be overstated.

On Monday 21st November 1994 I convened a meeting at Church House, Westminster to assess progress and support for the CBA. Here Alan met Eddie Vick for the first time - he was clerk to Penarth Town Council - they became great friends and their partnership as chair and vice-chair in the early years was instrumental in bringing the smaller burial authorities on board. Indeed, we met regularly at the HQ of the National Association of Local Councils in Great Russell Street to further enhance this relationship.

As chief executive of the CBA it was an absolute pleasure to work with Alan on developing many vital initiatives not least the, always oversubscribed, annual seminars at Warwick and Cranfield Universities. Alan only missed one of the forty meetings in the CBA’s existence. His ‘service record’ being: Deputy Chair 1995-1998; Chair 1998-2001; Deputy Chair 2001-2004; Chair 2004-2005.

It was entirely appropriate that Alan was back at the helm when it merged with the Institute to become its corporate arm. During this transition Alan served on the corporate committee and was elected by his fellow members to also serve on the ICCM board of directors. This resulted in him becoming the first ever ‘elected member' Institute President in 2006.

Every time I saw him he opened with ‘Hello young Bob’, including the last time we met, when he spoke at my wife’s funeral in 2018.

Rest in Peace dear Alan.

A Tribute From The Iccm

Bob Coates

Alan Till had a long association with bereavement services spanning in excess of 20 years.

We were fortunate that Alan came on board with the Institute where he helped steer, to name but a few: the metals recycling scheme; achieving accredited qualifications for staff working at all levels within the cemetery and crematorium service; the Charter for the Bereaved Choosing Natural Burial; production of numerous policy and guidance documents focusing on best practice at cemeteries and crematoria; facilitated the absorption of the Association of Burial Authorities’ members when this organisation decided that it would dissolve and merge with the Institute.

The Institute and the CBA before us has been very fortunate to have had the calming and steady hand of Alan fully involved for so many years. Whilst Alan might have been quietly spoken at times, he was instrumental at giving our service a louder voice nationally.

Thank you, Alan.