Depends what you mean by right back. Willows normally regenerate readily. Worrying won't help.

All but the trunk and larger branches were removed.
It was done in 2014 but regenerated well, then the procedure was repeated last year.
There is absolutely no sign of new growth.
The tree has a conservation order on it and is in the grounds of a pub, recently reopened.

There are many other willows in and around the area, all of which are showing good, healthy, spring growth.

Is there any way I can find out if it is still living?

Try the thumbnail scratch test. Scratch the bark with your nail. If it is green underneath then it is alive, if brown then try elsewhere on the trunk, but if no green anywhere then it is dead.

Hi

what month was it cut back ?

Did they get permission to cut it so drastically as it had a preservation order on it? You aren't supposed to cut listed trees back without it. So possibly the person who did the deed should worry after all...

Why on earth was it done twice in such a short time, wouldn't have thought it was needed a second time, in my town we have one that was really overgrown, its on the meadows and has featured in many paintings and photographs with the river and town bridge for many a year, was cut back last year to its trunk and main branches looked awful, there was uproar, the locals went absolutely crazy, boy the council were in trouble, that tree sprouted in the summer and lives to tell the tale, so I wouldn't worry yet....Now where can I get some nice kind person to come and take the top off mine....

Seriously though, I believe there is a £3000 fine for cutting back or cutting down listed trees. There was in the last town we lived in anyway - we couldn't get permission even to cut one branch off a big sycamore of all things...
and who would have thought you could get a sycamore listed???

Oh yes I do believe you, my youngest daughters house backs on to the playing fields belonging to the grammar school, the cricket pitch runs alongside her next door nieghbours house and is edged by some huge trees, they provide the only shade in their gardens and also have preservation orders on them, some branches fell during recents bad storms and someone was seen last week checking the trees, Juliet is keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings and is going to check with the groundsman to see if he knows what is going on...