A 16-year-old boy may have just become the youngest undertaker in Britain after leading his first funeral just a year after leaving school.
Alfie Taylor made the unusual career choice because he did not know what he wanted to do after his GCSEs.
He joined his uncle’s business and now has no plans to quit any time soon.
Simon Taylor started Ashby Funeral Care in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, last year and began employing his teenage nephew shortly afterwards.
After six months of training, the youngster arranged and conducted his first ever funeral this week.
Alfie told the Mirror: ‘It is not for everyone but it doesn’t bother me. Loads of people have asked me how it feels to be a funeral director at just 16 and the only word I can think of is surreal.’
In a Facebook post, Ashby Funeral Care wrote: ‘After six months of training, Alfie’s knowledge, professionalism, and dedication have been outstanding.
‘His attitude, attendance, timekeeping, and work ethic have all been exceptional, and it was clear he was ready for this important moment.
Alfie Taylor leads a funeral procession as he likely becomes Britain’s youngest funeral director at age 16
The teenager took the unique career path and now sees a long-term future in the role
‘The family of the funeral specifically asked if Alfie could take part in the service, a request he approached with great care and respect.
‘Under Simon’s supervision, he carried out his role with confidence and dignity, demonstrating a level of professionalism well beyond his years.
Alfie said he knew he wanted to continue his career after finding the funerals rewarding.
After sitting his GCSEs just last May, he took the opportunity to join his uncle’s business and said he hasn’t looked back since.
He added: ‘I’ve done it for six months and I’m so used to it now. I just want to be there for the families and help them through their difficult times.’
In 2020, Seth Van Beek defied both age and gravity to become the UK’s youngest commercial airline pilot.
His mother sold the family home in order to help her son achieve his dreams.
He had to move to Greece to take his £85,000 flight school course, completing 150 hours in the air before passing with flying colours.
Seth Van Beek became the UK’s youngest qualified commercial airline pilot aged just 18
The teenager received his licence to fly passenger planes after completing nearly 18 months of training
Seth, from north-west London, had set his sights on being a pilot since the age of eight.
‘My mum was an avid traveller when she was younger, and when I was a boy she’d take us on holidays to see the world,’ he said.
‘I loved everything about flying… I’ve always felt safer in a plane than travelling on a bus or driving a car – though I do have a driver’s licence!’
Seth left school at 16 after doing his GCSEs and managed to pass the gruelling entrance exams to attended Egnatia Aviation Training College in Greece. In April 2018, he began 18 months’ training at the academy.
He sat 14 exams, alternating between learning theory and practical flying at Greece’s Kavala International Airport.
The teenager would take to the skies up to five times a week during his practical stints, initially for just 60 minutes, but eventually flying for five hours.
He graduated in September at the top of his class, getting his licence from the European Aviation Safety Agency a month later.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Hazel Cassidy became the youngest person ever to win an age discrimination claim after being fired from her Saturday job for being too young in 2021.
In December 2019, Miss Cassidy had completed a trial shift at an equestrian centre owned by the Daimler Foundation near Kilmarnock, which has a café and restaurant.
The girl was working at an equestrian centre owned by the Daimler Foundation near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, which has a café and restaurant (pictured)
The panel heard that she had given her age when she applied for the role and filled in forms which included her date of birth.
At the end of her shift, where she waited on tables and worked at the till, the front of house manager Malcolm Easy told the teenager he was ‘pleased’ with her.
The following Saturday, under the impression she had passed her trial shift, Miss Cassidy worked for four hours.
But as she was taking an order at the till, another boss told her she should not be doing that and she was given two plates to deliver to a table instead.
She was then sent home early because the café was quiet, the panel heard.
Mr Easy later called her to say he ‘enjoyed working with her’ but she was being sacked as the accountant had said she was too young for ‘health and safety reasons’.
The company claimed she was sacked because the ‘role was too demanding’.
However, the panel ruled that there was no evidence of ‘high demand’ – as the teenager had been sent home when the café was ‘quiet’.
