Yet when he died in 1912, his grieving subjects honoured him with the simple wonders of nature.
He spent almost two decades out of the spotlight, although the US music industry honoured him in 1989, inducting him into its Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
As well as his film-making, Sir Alan also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the British Film Institute, was the founding chairman of the UK Film Council in 1999 and was a founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain, which has since honoured him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Exceptional is the fact that he has Knighthoods from two Popes: His Holiness the late Pope John Paul II honoured him as Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St Sylvester (KSS), and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has further elevated him to Knight Commander of the said order (KCSS), in recognition of his pursuit of peace and culture amongst nations.
UNESCO: Detailview | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Cyril was known to my colleagues and I at Birch Radio (now Roch Valley Radio) hospital broadcasting for many years where we were honoured to have him as our patron.
Bill was just a joy and I feel honoured that I knew him and to have called him a friend.
BBC: Bill Tarmey funeral: Farewell to Coronation Street star
More than 2, 000 residents of Granada, where The Clash frontman became a frequent visitor, signed a petition calling for him to be honoured.
It was a role which earned him tributes the world over but none would probably have meant more to him than to be honoured by his own folk.
"We feel honoured and grateful to have been able to work with him, " said the group.
The time-honoured way for a Republican opposition to undermine a Democratic president is to depict him as profligate with the nation's treasure and careless of its security.
He said he was "very grateful, delighted and honoured" that the Lib Dems had stood aside and were urging their local supporters to help and vote for him - but he stressed he was "most of all independent".
It was - formally at least - the Queen who honoured Fred Goodwin in 2004 for services to banking and it was Her Majesty who today decided to dis-honour him.
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