My Story
My journey to becoming a Funeral Celebrant began with my training as a Registrar with East Sussex County Council, where I conducted weddings and registered births, marriages and deaths. I also conducted funerals. These experiences provided me with a strong foundation in understanding the importance of both legal precision and personal touch.
Now, as an independent Celebrant, I can offer flexibility and creativity in designing ceremonies. I bring a blend of public sector knowledge—where guidelines and parameters were key—and private sector expertise, where I find that my imaginative and meaningful approach works well.
People often ask me why I became a Celebrant. For me, it was a natural progression from my previous role as a Registrar. However, that doesn’t fully answer the question, does it? Becoming a Celebrant is about more than a career move; it’s a calling that blends my love for writing and my passion for connecting with people during significant moments in their lives. Over the years, I found myself becoming an unofficial publicist for various organizations; a theatre, an annual festival, a cinema, a singles club, a music organizer, I am often called upon to help craft their publicity. My eulogies have been described as heartfelt and eloquent, and it’s a joy to know that my choice of words has left a positive impact.
A late developer perhaps, I gained a BA in Cultural Studies at the University of Sussex in my fifties. Before that I wore many hats: a flight attendant, a pub licensee, and a Registrar. Each role brought invaluable experience in understanding people and their stories. Living in Beirut, Paris, and Dhaka further deepened my appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions. All these experiences helped build empathy with others and enabled me to craft ceremonies that reflect the uniqueness of each individual. Like many people, I’ve faced my own challenges in life. These experiences have given me insight into the emotions that families and individuals may be navigating during times of loss. As your Celebrant, my goal is to walk alongside you, offering empathy, understanding, and the time needed to create a truly personal and fitting farewell. Every life is a story, and it’s an honour to help you tell it.
How I can help?
As a professional Funeral Celebrant trained on a University of Winchester-accredited course, I am dedicated to providing:
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Thoughtful guidance throughout the planning process.
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A ceremony that eloquently reflects the life of your loved one.
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Heartfelt words and a warm presence on the day of the funeral.
As your Celebrant, I shall:
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Design a ceremony with sensitivity and care, tailored to your wishes.
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Assist with selecting readings, music and other elements.
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Create, with you, a beautiful and relevant Order of Service.
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Liaise closely with your Funeral Director to ensure seamless coordination.
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Deliver a warm and heartfelt service on the day, ensuring it reflects your loved one’s story, culture, values and wishes.
After the ceremony, I will provide copies of the eulogy for your family as a keepsake.
Thank you for your help and the lovely eulogy. All went as well as it could have done that day, making it more bearable for us all. Also I was so pleased to receive the lovely folder with copies of the eulogy which I will distribute to the family to go with their Orders of Service. It has been a very difficult year but I feel that the way they played out was as “kind” as it could have been and you played your part in that. With warm wishes, CC.