Alan joined Railway Mission in 1982 and has been on the journey with us for an incredible 44 years in 2026. Now officially retired, he works roughly one day a week covering Bristol Temple Meads to Weston Super Mare and working alongside Great Western Railway, Cross Country and Network Rail staff.

He has provided a wide range of support to the railway family over the years and, as a First Great Western Pathfinder, received special training in counselling skills. He is proud to have provided listening support for those involved in major incidents including some of the train crew involved in the 1999 Ladbroke Grove crash and also British Transport Police involved in the Great Heck crash.

He says:

“I am not a do-gooder but I am an independent voice, a shoulder to cry on.”

When he joined Railway Mission there were only 3 team members and the rail network was British Rail. His career has seen a wealth of changes including the privatisation of the railway and the gradual expansion of Railway Mission as a charity with the ambition to have a chaplain associated with every privatised rail company. 3 have grown to a network of chaplains now working across England, Wales and Scotland. 

Alongside his professional training in counselling skills, he has gained great knowledge over the years of company policies, employment law and procedures that have helped his understanding of those he supports.

Many rail industry staff stayed the same through privatisation and he has found it rewarding on a personal human level to see so many progress in their careers, starting out as teenagers and progressing to Director level.

What has also remained constant during his career is his love of meeting people. Originally a Church Pastor before working for us, he visited folk every day – including every house in Appledore 3 times each year with invites to Easter, Harvest and Christmas services.

This motivation to meet people where they are and on their own territory still energises him to this day and he says is probably why he is still working despite retiring. Whilst helping those of all faiths and none, a particular highlight of Alan’s career has been to help rail folk on their Christian journeys.

“There have been occasions when I have been the final link in the chain of leading someone to faith. Over the years I’ve officiated at 8 railway weddings at least, 3 marriage vow renewals, several child dedications and very many funerals. 

It has been humbling to see the railway family turn out to honour their colleagues at their funerals and particularly poignant for me was to officiate at the funeral of my good friend Tom Clift who died unexpectedly while still in service as Managing Director of the train company.”

When asked about the future and the next 145 years for Railway Mission, he is certain it will remain focused on the human level and the people that make up the railway family. He says:

“I think the Railway Mission is in safe hands organisationally and that our quiet, often unheralded ministry has not gone unnoticed. Moving forward, we can continue to build on the solid foundations laid down for us by those mission pioneers who have gone before.”