Bedford served as president of the Cremation Society of Great Britain from 1921 to his death in 1940.
Clergymen accused the early Cremation Societies of creating local monopolies, which were putting the new practice beyond the reach of the poor.
In 1874, he was a foremost founder and first president of the Cremation Society of Great Britain.
During 1888, in which 28 cremations took place, the Cremation Society planned to provide a chapel, waiting rooms and other amenities there.
In 1874, Thompson founded The Cremation Society of England.
David Harrison, president of the American Burial and Cremation Society, looked at his firm's records and found that in 1903 a typical coffin cost $15.
He served as president of the Cremation Society of Great Britain, as did his son and successor to the baronetcy.
A. Sidney Clark was associated with the Home for Incurables and secretary of the Cremation Society.
At that time cremation was championed by the Cremation Society of Great Britain.
He has been president of the Cremation Society of Great Britain since 1992.