FBCA appoints Westerleigh ambassador as new deputy president

The Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA) has announced that it has elected Westerleigh Group ambassador Alan José as its new deputy president. 

José, who has worked for Westerleigh for 12 years, previously served as deputy prescient in 2018-19 before taking up the role of president during the Covid-19 pandemic. He has been a member of the FBCA’s national executive committee since 2016. 

He began his career in the bereavement sector when he joined Beckenham Crematorium in south London as a clerk. At the same time, he was studying to become a land surveyor. 

Later, he worked in bereavement roles for several local authorities and spent 24 years as superintendent of Durham Crematorium before joining Westerleigh Group in 2013. 

José said: “I have always found my work very rewarding, and I am as passionate now as I have always been about ensuring that the bereaved, and the care and dignity of the deceased, are at the centre of all I do.

“I am proud to be elected as deputy president of the FBCA, whose Code of Practice is almost universally followed by UK crematoria, which is so important in upholding the high standards of operation of crematoria and the care and dignity of the deceased.”

Debbie Smith, chief executive of Westerleigh Group, added: “We would like to congratulate Alan on his election, this is something that makes us feel immensely proud. It’s a fitting testament to his wealth of experience and high esteem he holds amongst our industry colleagues.

“This was borne out in 2022, when he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious Good Funeral Awards. He has been an excellent ambassador for Westerleigh Group for many years and now, as deputy president of the FBCA, serving alongside newly elected president David Clay, he gets to be an ambassador for the whole sector, too.”

The FBCA represents around 85% of cremation authorities in the UK.