Hi, I'm Michael

Image of Michael Blakey

I’m a Humanist Funeral Celebrant and a member of the Humanist Ceremonies network, trained and accredited by Humanists UK. I create and conduct unique, inclusive, and meaningful non-religious funeral ceremonies for cremations, burials, memorials and the scattering of ashes.

In a Humanist ceremony people, not religion, are at the heart of the occasion. Individually crafted from start to finish, Humanist funerals incorporate personal stories, memories, and tributes into the ceremony to make it a sincere and authentic goodbye. I can guide you on choices, if needed, and also suggest other elements to make the ceremony right for everyone involved, ensuring the ceremony is welcoming and inclusive of all who attend. Whilst non-religious, it recognises the diversity of religious and cultural beliefs of the people attending and the common values they may hold such as compassion and respect for others.

Please do contact me if you are looking for a professional celebrant to lead a non-religious funeral ceremony for your loved one. I’m here to support you during this challenging time and help you create the most fitting funeral for them. I also offer a secure & confidential pre-planning service for those who wish to plan their own funeral in advance. This allows you to live your life, confident in the knowledge that when the time comes, you've eased some of the burden for your loved ones. I’m happy to have an initial conversation to better explain what I do and how I work.

A huge, heartfelt thank you for everything. The service was perfect and your support and kindness over the last few weeks has made a difficult time much easier. Thank you for everything that you have done for us all, I really appreciate it.

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Thank you for making Howard’s memorial day special. Everyone said it was a wonderful service. We are very grateful for your help and support. Thank you so much.

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You did a great job right from the start. All the questions you asked really helped us think about the man and what summed him up. The draft service that you then put together was excellent and helped us to then work with you to craft something together that Bertram would have been very happy with. Finally, your delivery of the service was spot on; warm, well-paced and sincere. Just right for the person and the people attending. All the best and thanks again. 

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I just wanted to say thank you for the service you conducted in for my uncle. It was a most appropriate occasion that properly reflected his life and brought a lot of cheer to those of us in mourning. My brother and sister tell me that you were very thorough in your discussions with them and always respectful of their preferences. This certainly shone through in the structure of the service you put together and the words you spoke. A very sincere thank you for helping us to remember his marvellous life.

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Dear Michael, you did an absolutely wonderful job. I was so happy with the service. I think everyone there truly appreciated the effort you put into the day. You absolutely smashed it, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much for everything.

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Hi Mike, we just wanted to express our heartfelt thanks for the beautiful service yesterday. You truly captured Alan as we knew him, and it was a wonderful celebration of his life. So many people have told us how lovely the service was, and we couldn't have asked for it to

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Image of Michael Blakey

Michael Blakey

Where I work

Bath, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, North Somerset and West Wiltshire.

Fees from...

£240

My fee includes all communication and travel, a family visit, attendance at the ceremony and a presentation copy of the ceremony script.

How to contact me
Email

michael.blakey@humanistceremonies.org.uk

Phone

07816 663123

Website

humanist.org.uk/michaelblakey

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.