Meet the Memorial Awareness Board Executives

The Committee meets regularly and its broad experience enables it to address the issues that affect the bereavement care industry. It is made up from memorial masonry wholesalers and retailers, representatives from the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM), a funeral director and a member of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM).

Gerald Priestman

Gerald was first employed at Odlings as an office junior in 1959 after leaving school. His family, with the exception of his father’s generation, had owned a Monumental Masons business in Darlington for many years, and this job seemed appropriate given his background.

His career developed through sales and administration, eventually becoming a Sales Representative before moving to the Bristol branch as manager in 1983. During his time at Bristol he was appointed Director of the branch, and shortly afterwards, Director of the Hull branch.

In 1998, Gerald became Managing Director of the company where his priority is to provide high quality products with a first class service to all customers.

Graeme Robertson

Graeme Robertson is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Aberdeen based and family owned company, A & J Robertson (Granite) Ltd.  The firm manufactures and imports granite memorials, which it sells to the trade throughout the UK and to the public through 36 retail outlets.

He is a past Chairman of the Memorial Awareness Board and has been a volunteer on the MAB Executive for over 20 years.  Other industry involvement includes his appointment as the National Association of Memorial Masons’ representative on Euro-Roc, the European Association for the Stone Industry, and a seat on the National Joint Council, which sets pay and conditions for memorial masonry operatives.

Jenny Gregson

J Childs & Sons Ltd is a family run business established in 1899. Jenny Gregson is the fourth generation of the family to become Managing Director. The company specialises in producing new memorials for cemeteries and Churchyards and additional inscriptions on existing memorials. Employing a team of six people, J Childs & Sons offers additional services including re-fixing of memorials and cleaning and renovation of existing memorials, commemorative plaques and house names.

In 2004, Jenny helped establish the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM), which aims to establish a network of nationally accredited businesses and registered fixers that will ultimately replace individual Registration Schemes.  Jenny is the second NAMM representative on the Executive committee.

Brent Stevenson

Brent Stevenson was educated at Burnley Grammar School where he obtained a degree in Accountancy at Preston University.  He joined the family business as the fifth generation Stevenson since 1883. Amalgamated with Robertsons of Aberdeen in 1987, he became director of A & J Robertson (Granite) Ltd in 1990). Brent then went back to being a small retailer in 1996 to be joined by his son James in 1999, as the sixth generation monumental mason.

Today Brent is a member of the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM). It is the organisation designed to further develop the memorial masonry industry and safeguard the interests of the bereaved through the promotion of high standards, wide choice and increased understanding in all matters relating to natural stone memorials. Since being at NAMM, the newsletter has been published on a monthly basis and retail subscriptions have been brought to a single band. Brent has been a NAMM representative on the Memorial Awareness Board’s Executive Committee since 2005.

Ian Gostling

Educated to diploma level in both electrical engineering and marketing, Ian has spent most of his working life in industrial international sales and marketing management.  Working as a European Sales & Marketing Manager for Rugby based GSI-Lumonics Ltd., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of lasers, Ian travelled extensively throughout Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East. His responsibilities included the management of a 15-strong direct sales and support team, establishing and directing a network of more than a dozen independent distribution organisations, and the generation of, and responsibility for, a marketing budget valued in excess of £500k. 

His expertise lies in the area of Public Relations Advertising, Exhibition and Conference Planning. Outside work, Ian enjoys travel (lived in France for 5 years), gardening (mostly supervising his wife), classical music and opera.

Peter Aspinall

Peter was born in Birmingham in 1947 and has worked in the funeral industry since the age of 17, when he started an apprenticeship. He qualified as an embalmer and then as a funeral director and has been dealing with all aspects of the business ever since.

Peter has worked for Neville Funeral Service Ltd for the last 30 years and in more recent years he has been responsible for George Squire & Sons and Garlick Bros., which forms the memorial side of the business. Peter takes an active part in the industry as an active member of NAMM and MAB for over 10 years. He is also a qualified A1 NVQ assessor.

Outside of work Peter is very interested in woodwork, reading and spending time with his grandchildren.

Tim Morris

With over twenty-five years experience in cemetery and crematorium management in both the public and private sectors, Tim was appointed to the post of Chief Executive for the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) in 2001. 

Prior to taking up this position Tim was an active member of the Institute and produced the Institute’s Code of Safe Working Practice for Cemeteries and established the Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme. 

The Institute has grown significantly since 2001 and now employs 9 full-time and 3 part-time staff who service approximately 400 Corporate and 700 Professional Members. 

Tim represents the Institute at the Ministry of Justice Burial & Cemeteries Advisory Group and its reuse of graves, training and management sub-groups. He also represents the Institute on the management board of the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons and is a Trustee of the Burial and Cremation Education Trust.