Hi, I'm Andrew
Creating the right ceremony to say goodbye to someone you loved is so important and finding the right celebrant to help out can make all the difference. If I can help, it would be a real privilege. Each life is its own adventure and it is humbling to be entrusted with those stories and memories. It’s all a reminder of how each life is unique, its own rich and varied adventure.
There’s no hiding place at these times, though, and we can’t take the pain of loss away. We just do our best, honouring that special person, celebrating their lives and supporting each other when grief can feel overwhelming. If it goes well, you can maybe breathe a little more easily, sleep a little more calmly and find the courage, the hope, to keep going.
From the first calls and meetings, exploring ways to create the right ceremony, through to preparing and leading the ceremony, I’ll be with you to help you get through it. Together, we will find the symbols and music, the words that express what you want to share. There will always be honesty and kindness but maybe some humour, too, as tears and laughter are often found so close together on these days.
People have been very generous to me over the years and shared some kind comments about ceremonies I have led. Hopefully the few added here will give an idea of what I try to do.
Andrew Ison
Where I work
Harrogate and North Yorkshire, York and Leeds - and willing to travel further afield
Fees from...
From £210
How to contact me
andrew.ison@humanistceremonies.org.uk
Phone
Website
HUMANIST CEREMONIES™ is the network of more than 550 celebrants, trained by national charity Humanists UK to a gold standard to provide memorable and meaningful humanist ceremonies to non-religious people. Operating throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, we deliver authentic, tailor-made and heartfelt ceremonies for life’s key moments. They are always inclusive and welcoming, regardless of the beliefs of those attending.
You can trust Humanist Ceremonies celebrants: We are DBS-checked, fully insured, and regularly peer reviewed for quality assurance. We are committed to a code of conduct, and have a transparent and robust complaints process in the rare case of a problem. We all pay a monthly fee to Humanists UK to further support the work of the charity, and are part of a regional network for like-minded celebrants for support and learning.
Humanist funerals
Humanist funerals, memorials and ash ceremonies are a fitting way to honour a unique life with warmth, sensitivity and meaning, but without reference to religion or an afterlife. They put the story of the person who has died at the heart of the ceremony, paying tribute to them and the legacy they leave, and provide an opportunity to bring people together, not just to share sadness but to celebrate a life lived.
