Hello, my name is Tim Richardson and I am an accredited Humanists UK funerals celebrant.
It was my work as a journalist, writing for The Times obituaries page, which first made me realise the value of creating a fitting tribute at this difficult time. I see my role as talking to the family and friends of the deceased in order to craft a rounded picture of the person, and then delivering a ceremony on the day in an engaging and professional manner.
I strongly believe that a funeral can be a positive and memorable experience, as well as a sad and poignant occasion. A ceremony can be a celebration of a life, as well as an important ritual marking a person’s death. I would like to help you make this into a reality. I can help with music choices, and readings, and I am very flexible as to the structure and style of a ceremony. It’s all about making it as personal an expression as possible.
My career background as the author of more than twenty books — most of them on the history of gardens, though I did write one on the history of sweets . . . — means that you can have confidence that I will be able to produce an extremely well-written tribute which captures something of the personality and qualities of your loved one.
A celebrant must also be able to present a ceremony in a personable, yet dignified and sensitive manner. As well as funerals, I have delivered hundreds of talks and lectures over the years, so am very much at ease as a public-speaker. In addition I am super-organised and committed, and — like all the funeral celebrants I know — I see my role as being in part a service to the community. The basic principle is that every life is worth celebrating and/or recording, and that is what I stick by.
Ultimately, I am fascinated by people and the lives they have led. I believe that everyone deserves a tribute crafted to a standard you might expect to see in a national newspaper, and I am here to deliver just that.
Please do get in touch for an initial chat with no obligation. I live in Finsbury Park and work mainly in and around London; I also have a base near Exeter, so am able to conduct funerals in that part of the world, too.
07930 420609
email: tim.richardson@humanistceremonies.org.uk
