Alastair David Gray

A huge loss to your family and to Aviva. My deepest condolence to Kate and Nell and all your family. Rest in Peace.

Alastair will be dearly missed by all of us in legal and beyond as these many lovely messages from colleague’s show. A big presence who, by all accounts, gave his time and help to colleagues quickly and who rolled up his sleeves to get the job done, often with challenging stakeholders and counterparties. He was always quick to help if asked and spend time explaining what would work best and he was a big part of the legal and outsourcing legal team. A much liked colleague who always saw the funny side, he will clearly be missed by many of us. My thoughts are with Kate his partner, Nell his 5 year old daughter and the rest of the family.

I had the privilege of working with Alastair for over 15 years. His tenacity, dedication and commitment were quite something and beneath that tough lawyer veneer was a witty, humorous and mischievous individual who was always great fun to work with. I have had many legal lessons over the years and there was the rare, and very memorable, occasion where my drafting was up to his high standards.

My thoughts and condolences are with Alastair and his family at this time. He will be greatly missed.

It has been a real pleasure working with Alastair all these years. You will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with your family

Alastair you left the world far to early but your talent was called for beyond our world. Taken far too suddenly, but remembered with respect and appreciation.

You went without goodbye,
but not without leaving light.
In quiet moments, you are still here—
in laughter remembered,
in love that didn’t end with time.
You will be missed by all your colleagues.
May you rest in peace.

Once met, never forgotten. I can remember meeting Alastair shortly after joining Aviva back in 2011. Always great fun, always willing to speak his mind and always kind (something you appreciated once you got past the sometimes bluff exterior). Alastair was a precise and forceful lawyer, but also generous with his time - he helped me out on a number of occasions and I always appreciated his willingness to help fix things properly rather than patch them up and move them along, Thanks, Alastair. You are missed by so many here and will be long remembered by us all. My thoughts are with your family and loved ones.

I have very fond memories of working with Alastair. He had a big influence on me and helped me to get much better at my job because I never wanted to disappoint him! A fantastic talent and a very funny and warm man, he will be so missed. My thoughts are with Alastair's family and friends at this terribly sad time.

I was deeply saddened and shocked to hear of Alastair’s passing. He was truly one of a kind. When Alastair was on the team you knew negotiations were going to be fun, approached with good humour as well as resolve. His knowledge and command of the English language were exceptional, and his dry wit—alongside his ability to cut through to what truly mattered—made him unrivalled. He will be greatly missed. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

They certainly broke the mould when they created Alastair. Razor sharp intellect, a temper that could escalate and deescalate in the blink of an eye and a sense of humour that ensured there was no hard feelings. Working with Alastair was a pleasure and something I looked forward to; even if it was to sit back to watch the fireworks.

Thankful for the support, learning, fun and drinks at the Surrey Tavern. You'll be missed greatly old friend. Thoughts with your family and friends.

I will miss Alastair so very much. Some of my most memorable moments at Aviva are those of long calls with Alastair as we worked through contracts as a team. He was always there to pitch in and support, with his intelligence, wicked humour and determination to do the right thing keeping us going (and don't forget a few Latin quotes along the way). Thank you for the memories Alastair. Sincere condolences to his family.

They say every day is a school day and that was certainly true of working with Alastair. Having had many long discussions, I always came away with more knowledge and information than when I started and occasional memorable new words that meant a dictionary was needed. He was ever patient with my questions, helping to improve my understanding and listen to my thoughts and ideas. As mentioned elsewhere the simple response of ‘agreed’ was a brilliant seal of approval - the alternative being a thorough review of other considerations and learning points, delivered from the perspective of helping me to think wider. Alastair was a brilliant, supportive and funny colleague. Truly an individual and he will be missed. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. A gap has been created for all of us.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing Alastair Gray. I greatly enjoyed working with him over many years. He always seemed to relish the challenge of a difficult contract negotiation and had a sharp and decidedly dry wit that made even the toughest discussions both insightful and enjoyable.

What always impressed me was Alastair’s remarkable memory and attention to detail. He was never shy of an opinion as to whether the opposing lawyer was a “proper” contract lawyer or not, based on the way they drafted contracts and their understanding of particular tricky points of law. Of course not all of them met his exacting standards!

Alastair will be remembered with great fondness and more than a few smiles. He was an absolute pleasure to work with and will be truly missed. My deep condolences to Alastair’s family.

I was lucky enough to know Alastair for over 20 years, he and I having joined Aviva at a similar time. I have very fond memories of sitting next to him back in the old 5 Surrey Street days, witnessing first hand his robust negotiating style, and benefitting immensely from his advice (which was always worth listening to, and always given generously).

Alastair was a first-rate lawyer, but so much more than that. His sometimes-gruff exterior belied a man who cared deeply about issues and about others. He was never dull company and had a real hinterland of interests. He will be greatly missed.

I used to sit with Alastair’s team, directly across from Alastair. In a work setting Alastair might have seemed quite imposing - he knew his stuff and didn’t suffer fools gladly or, sometimes, quietly! At the time I met Alastair, my confidence had taken a recent knock and so the fact he had time for me and asked for my view on things meant more than he will have known. Few of us are only what we first appear to be and Alastair was no different - he was friendly and straightforward, had a good sense of humour and could laugh at himself. And of course, he could more than hold a note and carry a tune. I’m grateful for having known Alastair.

Although I didn't have too much day to day working interaction with Alistair over the 15 plus years I have known him, his impressive knowledge, intellect and humour always shone through when we did occasionally work together on different legal matters, making him a pleasure to know and leaving a huge void for all his colleagues. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Oh Alastair you have left us way too early. Without you, there is a huge Alastair shaped hole in the team. I will miss so much your cranky facade and the super softy reality just underneath it. I can't quite digest or believe that you are no longer with us.

Your negotiating style is legendary and your direct approach is rare in our modern snowflakey world. I am not sure I would ever hear myself say 'There needs to be more people like Alastair'!

We celebrate your life but at the same time my thoughts are with Kate and Nel at this incredibly sad time. Sleep well Alastair.

I was fortunate enough to have known Alastair for over 15 years. My fondest memories come from the time when we used to live near one another. He would often drop me off at home and take time to meet my family for a chat. At weekends, we’d go to the local pub and stay until closing time, talking about everything and anything that happened at work, or in life, that week. He would offer his words of wisdom and guidance along the way.

I’ll miss our walks around the office building, where we would share the good and difficult parts of our day (often with humour). If he was feeling particularly frustrated, his mood would immediately soften and lift when discussing his daughter, Nell.

I’ll miss hearing his voice in the office or overhearing him on a call - he had a distinctive style of communication that couldn’t be ignored! He was meticulous in his work, guided by doing the right thing for his client and colleagues. He took great pride in everything he did, including in his singing.

When I think of Alastair, I think of a friend who cared deeply and gave generously of his time. I’ll remember him for his quick wit and mischievous smile. He is greatly missed.

My thoughts are with Kate, Nell and all of Alastair’s family and friends.

I was incredibly sad to hear about Alastair passing. I worked alongside him over a number of years at Aviva and very much enjoyed his good humour and company. I also had tremendous respect for his legal skills and sheer productivity. He covered such a wide range of matters with a high degree of skill and efficiency. His loss particularly resonated with me as I am the same age as him and I think our shared "life background" aside from both being lawyers meant we got on really well. We had developed a very effective "good cop" /"bad cop" negotiating style when working with each other - Alastair was far better at being very direct with the other side than I will ever be and he normally secured an excellent position for Aviva! He will be greatly missed by so many and leaves a big gap. My sincerest condolences go out to his family - he was taken far too early....

Alastair was one of those people I genuinely looked forward to working with. I greatly enjoyed his direct style and trademark belligerence, which may sound odd, but it was exactly what made him who he was and why I respected him so much. He would happily tell me I was wrong, only to later agree I was right and claim it had been his idea all along, always delivered with dry humour and good spirits.

One memory that always makes me smile is when we were working on a contract over a Teams call and I made the mistake of “holding the pen”. My Word skills were clearly no match for his, and his frustration steadily grew and his patience with me shrank. By the end of the call, we mutually agreed that I should never be allowed to hold the pen again.

We shared many challenging conversations with suppliers, often in difficult situations, he always was able to bring legal solutions to commercial issues, and I always knew Alastair had my back. I was genuinely grateful to have him alongside me in those moments.

My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

For over 20 years, Alastair helped turn my enthusiastic ramblings into elegant, clear and robust legal documents. He was exacting in his standards, generous with his time, and wonderfully funny – and woe betide anyone who arrived unprepared. Working with him was always efficient and unexpectedly full of laughter, and there was never a challenge he could not unravel. He was also a kind friend, who I will miss deeply. My heart goes out to Kate, Nell and his wider family at this terribly sad time.

I didn’t work that often with Alastair, but when I did, he was what you hope for – helpful, knowledgeable, and generous with his time. More often it was a friendly smile or quick chat in the kitchen or corridor. I also had the pleasure of watching Alastair sing at a Musicality concert and I’m sorry I won’t get to hear him sing or catch up on the everyday stuff again. For a time, my team sat near Alastair’s, and it was entertaining listening him negotiate - I was grateful never to be on the other side!
Alastair was one of a kind and will be much missed.

Alastair’s expertise and encyclopaedic knowledge were widely recognised within the legal team and the wider business. He was an incisive and highly intellectual lawyer, whose commercial insight and direct approach I greatly admired. While he could appear gruff at work, there was a striking warmth beneath the surface. This was most evident when he spoke about his partner and young daughter, of whom he was so clearly proud and devoted. He will be greatly missed and leaves a significant absence within the legal team. My thoughts are with his family and close colleagues at this very sad time.

I have been so very fortunate to work closely with Alastair for several years and came to quickly realise I had the privilege of working on one of “his” contracts. I quietly benefited time and again from his wisdom, and more than once carrying away one of his witty one‑liners with me.

Receiving an email saying “agree” always felt like the highest compliment. I will miss him and his guidance greatly.

My thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.

I had the privilege of working with Al over many years on several projects, he was always a delight to have on the team, a wise councillor, a true collaborator and team player. He worked hard and played hard .. a perfect combination, will be greatly missed by us all, a sad day indeed !

I had the great privilege of working with Alastair on many occasions, and will always be grateful for the steady guidance and clear direction he brought. He had a remarkable legal mind—sharp, thoughtful, and always to the point—paired with a quick wit that could lift the room at just the right moment. Yet what stays with me most is the person behind the profession: a true gentleman, with a generous heart and an unwavering sense of fairness.
Alastair will be deeply missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends, and everyone who had the honour of knowing and working alongside him at this sad time

I have fond memories of working with Alastair from my earliest days of working in Procurement. Yes, he was a brilliant lawyer but, more importantly, he always channelled all his skill and experience into doing the right thing. I learned so much from him about how to “read” contracts and the typical supplier “gotchas” to be wary of. I always valued his direct, no-nonsense approach and his mischievous sense of humour. He will be greatly missed. Sincere condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.

The following memories may be of dear Alastair as a colleague -but they are really about the spirit- kind, wildly clever, respectful, committed, caring, funny and generous. A man who was confident in himself and need prove nothing as his actions spoke for themselves.

Alastair was a sort of mentor. I learned so much from him simply by watching. He was a 'lawyers lawyer' but also very commercial. Witnessing him manage negotiations was really a privilege- its was like having a front row court seat to world class tennis. The ease with which he cut though things was extraordinary. He was also a very kind man, with a great sense of humour and called things as they were which was so refreshing.

I remember a few years later again taking the time to message him on our recognition system, to tell him how incredible he was after one such deal, which he said had touched him. I replied and said I enjoyed 'legal ice skating' with him, which tickled his equally wry sense of humour - I think that's why we got on so well, both possessed of that certain dryness which you recognise instantly in another. I'm glad I took the chance to to genuinely (awkward lawyerly Britishness aside) tell him how great he was and what his team work meant, because truly he was exceptional.

Alastair also talked with such love for all his family, his face in particular shone when he talked of his daughter. Family was always a clear presence in his life, which was so very lovely. Please know as others have also said, you were all, always there.

I am profoundly sorry to you all. I hope by sharing some humble memories I can give back in a very small way some additional precious details about a brilliant man who will be deeply missed and always remembered.

With love and light to you all at this difficult time,

Laura

I have known Alastair as a colleague—and more importantly as a friend—for over 20 years. To say that I will miss him would be a huge understatement (something you could rarely accuse Alastair of!).
Alastair was a great lawyer. He had a negotiation style entirely his own, and his drafting was second to none. More importantly, though, he was a great person. He was a trusted confidant over the years, always offering his views with real thoughtfulness, care and humanity.
As others have said, some of my happiest memories of Alastair are of him speaking about Nell. I have rarely seen anyone so joyful as when Alastair talked about becoming a dad. My thoughts are with Kate, Nell and the rest of Alastair’s family at this very sad time.

I have many fond memories over almost 20 years working with Alastair.

Beyond his excellence in his craft I always enjoyed Alastair's company and character. He was a teacher too and I'm glad he was always on my side of the table!

The thought occurred to me that my very last negotiation with him was almost identical to my first. A precise, compelling, maybe slightly bruising (for the other party!) but ultimately successful encounter where our best interests were achieved. A testament to his authenticity and enduring commitment to his own values over the years.

You will be sorely missed Alastair and my thoughts will be with your loved ones at this toughest of times.

Alastair will be hugely missed at Aviva. I was lucky enough to work with him over the years and always appreciated his direct approach and deep expertise in his field.
My thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this very difficult time.

I had the privilege of working with Alastair whilst working at Aviva and also on the opposite side of the table after I'd left Aviva. As others have said, his approach was second to none. He was intelligent, witty, direct and didn't suffer fools but most of all he was a gentleman.
Sincere condolences to all of his loved ones and his closest friends. May the choirs of angels come to greet him.

I had the sincerest pleasure of working with Alastair over the last 8 years at Aviva. We worked together on most of my contracts and we spent a huge amount of time together during 2022/3 on a particular project. Alastair was funny, clever, considerate and a damned good lawyer. As others have said, he was thrilled, when he became a dad and would talk non stop about Nell. It was a joy to hear. I was so very saddened to hear of his passing, I still can't believe it, Alastair will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Alastair will be greatly missed as a friend and colleague. It was a genuine privilege to work with him.

Alastair’s no nonsense approach was one of his great strengths. He was always direct and honest. He set exacting standards for himself and others, and in doing so raised the bar for others. He wanted to achieve the best results possible. Alastair always enjoyed the intellectual challenge of being a lawyer – he saw being a lawyer as a ‘craft’. I’ve lost count of the number of times that colleagues when requesting legal support said ‘…can I have Alastair?’.

But once you peeled away the ‘legal’ layer there was always a big softie beneath the surface. He brought a distinct personality to his work. There was always that humour and mischievousness. I was so pleased for him when he told everyone that he going to be a dad. My thoughts are very much with his Kate, Nell and his family at this incredibly sad time.

I started working with Alastair just over 6 years ago and, in less than a week, realised that he was the team's very own (non-inebriated version of) Father Jack (from Father Ted). When I shared this realisation with Alastair, he gave me a wry smile and looked quietly pleased that I had recognised this resemblance.

Alastair was a great lawyer, a ferocious and articulate negotiator and full of passion in all that interested him. Alongside his dry, sometimes biting, wit there was also a very kind and fair heart.

Among some of my best memories of Alastair were the Cheshire cat smile he had when he told the team that he was going to be a dad and his in depth analysis of rhinos not eating pancakes (a favourite bedtime book of Nell's).

I will miss Alastair hugely and still can't quite grasp that he is gone. My heart goes out to his family at this incredibly sad time.

Alastair was a formidable lawyer, but more than that he was a deeply interesting and memorable person to work with. I worked alongside him for many years and over that time Alastair taught me a huge amount, the most important lesson was how he liked to work. I grew to genuinely admire — and enjoy — his direct, no‑nonsense style. Beneath that sharp legal mind was a big heart and a strong sense of fairness.

Some of my most enjoyable professional moments were sitting with Alastair in full legal combat mode, watching vendors receive an unforgettable lesson in commercial law. He was principled, uncompromising when it mattered, and always true to himself.

I will miss him greatly.

Alastair was a fantastic lawyer who I learned an incredible amount from — truly no finer drafter. His no‑nonsense approach, combined with an exceptional ability to deliver both high‑quality and high‑volume outcomes, set him apart. His honesty and mischievousness still bring a smile to my face. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.