Celebrant

Helping families achieve a positive feeling at a terrible time was my motivation in becoming a non-religious, humanist celebrant and I hope to make that happen if entrusted with this important task.

COPING WITH BEREAVEMENT

No one wants to think about funerals but unfortunately the very time we have to is when we are at our most vulnerable, dealing with loss. Regardless of whether it is a sudden death or not, the finality is always a shock. And just at that point, there are a multitude of decisions to be made, most of them in quite unfamiliar territory, and all when emotions are running very high.

WHAT I OFFER

I am here to help you navigate this difficult time. The focal point is, of course, the service and I will devise a funeral or memorial ceremony based entirely on your wishes, helping to create the right atmosphere and mood. I will discuss every aspect of your requirements and can suggest music, poetry or readings. There will always be sadness at having to say goodbye but it is also important to mark and celebrate a life which has gone. Relationships are complicated and death can often highlight those complications in family or friendship groups. I can deal with complex situations with tact and diplomacy.

WHY I AM A CELEBRANT

My motivation to train to be a non-religious celebrant was having witnessed some pretty soulless funerals myself. By contrast, my father-in-law’s funeral, led by a humanist celebrant, was a rich and interesting service, reflecting the many parts of his life.  It felt like an honest and fitting account of the man. My aim is to recreate that sense for other families. 

I live in North London but am happy to travel further afield. My background is London-Irish and I have lived in the capital all my life. Curiosity about other cultures led me to study languages at university and a career in government and the creative industries (publishing, radio) means I am accustomed to hosting and running events, all of which require concise, meaningful and beautiful English of the highest standard.  My approach is always the same.  I love a challenge, work hard to understand others, adore good design, treasure the written word and value being part of a team.

I either bless or curse my father for ensuring that I am a lifelong Arsenal fan.  I enjoy all aspects of outdoor life – walking, cycling, swimming, sailing and skiing. And most of all, I love a good book.  I bring all my experience to support families during difficult times as a non-religious celebrant.

Testimonials

‘You turned a stressful and sad occasion for me into a delightful party that Kathleen would have loved. I had many guests say how much they appreciated and enjoyed your participation. An American friend put it well: It was a beautiful send off! I think Kathleen would have been very happy that her house was filled with laughter, friends and good food as in the good old days. As I told you, I really loved the Celebrant, I thought she was warm and engaging.’ 

DB March 2024 (celebration of life event)

‘You managed to capture mum's essence and told her story with such authenticity. It really touched us. In fact, Z just wrote on the family WhatsApp how wonderful it all was...  we're all so relieved we found you.  

You're part of the family now and certainly in our hearts.’ 

AR July 2023