Hi, I'm Simon

Image of Simon Hodkin

You don’t have to be a Humanist to have a humanist funeral.

They are for anyone who believes that we don’t need organised religion to lead a good and valued life. I’ve been a humanist since my early teens, and a card-carrying member for the last thirteen years or so. I now train and mentor new Humanist celebrants on our training courses for funerals.

Humanism is a non-religious philosophy that celebrates the one life we have now. We believe that you don’t need an organised religion to do right by your fellow man or woman. We’re not against religion; we just don’t believe in any gods.

Before becoming a Humanist Celebrant, I worked in the IT industry for over 30 years. I asked clients questions, listened to their responses, wrote them up and delivered a proposal and often a public presentation… Not so very different to the work of a funeral celebrant.

For several years I also worked part-time as a voluntary bereavement counsellor for a local hospice. I’ve also qualified and worked as a Humanist pastoral carer, supporting people nearing the end of their lives. So I’m very familiar with working with people at a difficult stage of their life.

It’s a sad time, but together we can ensure that the funeral is a true and fitting celebration of the person’s life.

It was a lovely tribute you paid to dad, it was as if you knew him. The whole ceremony was all we could have wished for, full of so much joy, humour and of course sadness. Everyone commented on what a special day it was, such a special place Sheepdrove is and how great you were.

— Family at a natural burial

Simon was everything you would want from a celebrant. Well organised, flexible, sensitive to people’s needs and able to bring a consensus when people have divergent views. He judged the mood of the room at different times perfectly and integrated all the elements of the service seamlessly both from a content and technology perspective.

— Richard L

Simon is a true professional. He spent a great deal of time meeting with us to get as much information as he could as possible. He then always kept us informed of progress letting us see his drafts in case we needed to change anything. He conducted the service with sincerity and a touch of humour which dad would have respected. Our family and guests all said how much, in the circumstances, they enjoyed the service and Simon’s delivery of it. We are so pleased to have found Simon.

— Family of David John P

Image of Simon Hodkin

Simon Hodkin

Where I work

West Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire - and beyond.

Fees from...

£250

How to contact me
Email

simon.hodkin@humanistceremonies.org.uk

Phone

07711 145 904

Website

humanist.org.uk/simonhodkin

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.