I believe that all bereaved families and friends should have access to a celebrant who can give them the ceremony that they really want and that aligns with their wishes and beliefs and those of the deceased.
I have sat through some funerals where the ceremony seemed to have very little to do with the person that had died, be it a religious or non-religious funeral.
But the best funerals are a proper celebration and commemoration of the person’s personality, their achievements large or small and, most importantly, the relationships that meant most to them. In other words, the real essence of that person.
Unusually for a humanist celebrant, I come from a family of priests, all of whom I love dearly, but whose belief system I no longer share. But through them I was encouraged to be a compassionate listener to people going through tough times.
Funerals can be very sad, happy, traumatic and sometimes even fun events; but what matters to me is to treat everyone with respect, sensitivity and kindness.
I am also a trained actor and so a confident public speaker with a sense of place, presence and ritual. And I can write the eulogy or help you to draft one, if you need it. And I can help with choosing music and / or literature that you might want to include.
I grew up in Nottingham, but have lived in Sheffield, Bristol and Japan, before making London my home from 1999. I love it here, most especially the huge variety of life and humanity.
