A tribute to Sir Alec Reed from his son and Big Give Chair, James Reed.

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Sir Alec Reed, Big Give’s founder and my beloved father, died last night surrounded by his loving family. He left this life peacefully at home. He was 91.

In his final days, he told me he felt lucky, had a good life and was ready to go.

Alec Reed was larger than life. We lived together, worked together and shared the wonderful Reed journey for over 30 years. He was my boss, mentor, teacher but above all, my Dad. His passing leaves a huge void. I will miss him terribly.

Sir Alec brought energy, ideas and humour to everything he did, founding companies, charities and schools, while always making time for family. Married to my mother Adrianne for 64 years, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Beyond business, he was a farmer, teacher, horse lover, enthusiastic tennis player, an accomplished painter and bridge player. Despite leaving school at 16, he earned three doctorates, became a professor three times, and was knighted in 2011 for services to business and charity. He famously said: “Without business there would be no charity, and without charity what’s the point of business?”. 

Alec Reed opened the first Reed Employment office in Hounslow in 1960 with just £75. For 65 years, he worked tirelessly for the company he loved, always curious and never satisfied, always seeking new ideas. His vision lives on through our mission to improve lives through work and through the charities he founded.

Reflecting on Alec Reed’s decision to open that first office of Reed Employment back in 1960, it is remarkable how many lives have been affected as a consequence, whether that is people who have worked in the company, people who have been served by the company and indeed people who have met their life partners through the company and gone on to make families of their own (in case you may be wondering, we don’t charge introduction fees for this!). It’s fun to think that there are now lots of people out there who would not have been born if Alec Reed hadn’t opened his doors that Saturday in May.

I will miss his calls, his ideas, his wit and his laugh. I feel lucky to have known this remarkable man and luckiest of all to have called him Dad.

It seems entirely appropriate that he died on “Giving Tuesday”, so if you’d like to support his legacy you can make a contribution to this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, which runs until December 9th and he hoped would be another record-breaking appeal.

Rest in peace, Alec Reed. We love you.