Alan is an accredited funeral celebrant with Humanists UK, providing non-religious funeral ceremonies. He is also a local councillor, serving the Exminster & Haldon division on Devon County Council. He has also been a member of Teignbridge District Council, standing down after 28 years service, in May 2023. He is National Lead Member Peer for the LGA (Local Government Association) Liberal Democrats Group and helped found and was a director of the New Leadership Foundation, which delivered the LGA's Leadership Academy. Alan left college early for the lure of a ‘real job’ and began a career in journalism, before moving into public relations and corporate communications, working for a range of organisations including the Prudential, British Gas and the NHS.