As the news of Alan's death spread on the weekend after Christmas 2003, there was a wave of shock and sorrow from friends, colleagues and fans worldwide. Many found themselves surprised at the depth of feeling they experienced, even if they only knew Alan through his work. One person (an attorney and teacher of constitutional law) wrote, speaking for many:

"The truth - however impossible it seems to my rational self - is that I am in mourning for Alan Bates. What I found so very life-affirming nonetheless in the pages of the Bates Archive, is that there are so many intelligent people who share my sense of loss, and that we were not mistaken in our admiration. Alan Bates appears to have been a very fine human being. Perhaps his gifts were as great as they were because as he grew older, his natural intuition was accompanied by an emotional deepening, so that as his audience grew older and wiser, his art reflected us, and we thought him one of our own, however disparate his and our origins."

Some who wrote to the Bates Archive said that it was helpful to read the tributes collected, and added a few words, or sent messages of condolence to Alan's family. These memorial tributes have become a permanent section of the Bates Archive: here is a guide to those pages.

The Bates Archive Tribute: "... Alan wrote wonderful, insightful memorial tributes, filled with telling details and good stories. It is a daunting act to follow, but I want to share with you some of my Bates memories ..." A few words from Alan's friend and web manager, Karen Rappaport.

Messages sent to the Bates Archive: A sampling of the Bates Archive mail in the first week of 2004. Writers remember encounters with Alan ... a novelist confesses that most of her important male characters contain a bit of Alan ... an audience member tells about Patrick Stewart's emotional announcement at the end of a "Caretaker" performance in New York.

Messages sent to the BBC: Worldwide tributes. Lest you get the impression that Alan was a saint, there's a wonderful note about an RSC "Taming of the Shrew" performance at Stratford in 1973, where Alan dealt with a heckler in the audience, earning an instant standing ovation by not mincing words. Shakespeare would have been proud.

Obituaries and Tributes from the World Press: A handful of special tributes; Ken Russell's tribute is heartfelt and personal ... another writer made this interesting statement: "Directors who worked with Bates noted that he had an almost childlike absence of ego. It was as though he kept a space in himself vacant into which his current character could be poured."

A Selection of Poetry chosen by Alan for family memorial services. You can read some, and listen to others.

A Celebration of Alan's life, attended by colleagues and family, held on Sunday, 26 September 2004 at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London. Details and the programme are here.

In answer to many queries, Alan's funeral was held at the Parish Church of All Saints, Bradbourne, Derbyshire, on Saturday, 3 January 2004.

Message from the Bates Family

Alan's nephew Karl Bates wrote from Australia:

"... I'd like to thank you for all the work that you have put into the website and in particular reading the kind messages from all over the world has been wonderful. It really is amazing to realise the impact that he had on the world. ... I've been in touch with Dad [Alan's brother Martin] and everyone is so moved by the thoughts and condolences that have come through. Please convey our gratitude and express how comforting for the family it has been to read all the wonderful tributes."

Photo by Andy Gotts