Last updated at 11:51, Tuesday, 11 December 2012

THE director of a major funeral home has been rewarded for 40 years of service.

IMPRESSIVE CAREER: Alan Williamson, right, being presented with his long service award by Kevin McAlister, sector manager for The Co-operative Funeralcare

Alan Williamson, 56, began his career in 1972, working for a funeral home in Sherburn Hill in County Durham, after which he became a qualified embalmer in 1977 and joined the British Institute of Embalmers in 1978.

In 1978 he passed his Diploma in Funeral Directing and asked to move to Horden to continue his role as funeral director. Several promotions followed, until in May 2006 he became Regional Manager of West Durham and Cumbria, looking after Whitehaven, Barrow, Stanley, Chester le Street, Blaydon and Carlisle.

He is now regional manager of Cumbria and Tyne and Wear, looking after Barrow, Whitehaven, Stanley, Washington, South Shields, Gateshead and Carlisle, with 29 branches taking care of around 3,400 funerals a year.

Mr Williamson said: “I feel incredible lucky to have enjoyed every aspect of my job throughout the 40 years I have worked in the funeral profession, whether it was helping with funeral arrangements when I first started or looking after the entire region as I do now.

“I have worked with some wonderful colleagues and met some fantastic people, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work for The Co-operative Funeralcare for many years to come.”

First published at 10:48, Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk