Funerals

Celebrate the life of someone who has died. By choosing a humanist funeral or memorial you can commemorate them and share the memories they have left behind without any religious committal to an ‘after-life’.

We are fortunate to have several local, fully trained and experienced celebrants for humanist funerals. More details can be found below or on the Humanists UK website

I am a Humanist Celebrant, trained and accredited by Humanists UK to conduct funerals and memorial services.

You don’t have to be a Humanist to have a Humanist funeral. A Humanist funeral ceremony seeks to commemorate and honour the whole person – to support those who knew them to recognise and remember them in celebration that they lived.

As a funeral celebrant, my job is to work with you to create a memorable ceremony and to help ease the process as you prepare to say goodbye. Like most of us, I’ve had my own experiences with grief; I’m passionate about creating space to celebrate your loved one and to share the stories that will stay with you long after the ceremony itself. I currently work across Berkshire and North Hampshire, though would be happy to travel further.

As a funeral celebrant, my job is to work with you to create a memorable ceremony and to help ease the process as you prepare to say goodbye. Like most of us, I’ve had my own experiences with grief; I’m passionate about creating space to celebrate your loved one and to share the stories that will stay with you long after the ceremony itself. I currently work across Berkshire and North Hampshire, though would be happy to travel further.

As your funeral celebrant, my aim would be to craft a bespoke ceremony with you which recognises the passing of your loved one, but also celebrates all that was special about her/him.

“Nick conducted a wonderful funeral service for my father and it was exactly what he would have wanted. At all times he was very sensitive towards all members of the family and encouraged us to contribute. He was always on hand and willing to offer us his knowledge and advice before the funeral and was a huge support to us all. He was highly professional, kind and compassionate throughout the whole process and I would recommend him without reservation.”

I’m an accredited humanist celebrant based in Berkshire and I cover all of the surrounding counties. I can help you with a funeral or naming ceremony.

I’m a Public Speaker and Events Organiser of many years standing and I have a love of words, language and literature. I enjoy working with you to create a unique and bespoke ceremony that truly reflects your personality and your values, delivered by myself with a warm and passionate style.

Funerals can be what you want them to be these days. They are not constrained by rules (religious or otherwise). I enjoy creating unique ceremonies that celebrate lost lives. Combining sadness and happy memories can create a very special atmosphere that will leave a mark on those present and be a fitting ceremony for your loved one. I will spend time with you learning about the individual and I will create a complete ceremony to be delivered at the crematorium, gravesite, or woodland burial.

As a humanist celebrant, I work on your behalf to help you plan a ceremony that is warm, heartfelt and in keeping with the beliefs and personality of the people involved.

 I live on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire at the edge of the Chiltern hills and have worked in publishing and the creative industries for much of my career, as well as founding a national cancer charity over ten years ago.

I became a celebrant because of my joy of meeting new people and sharing in their stories, whether they are fabulously romantic and funny stories of love, or warm and heartfelt memories of a life well-lived. Stories and our shared life experiences are the things that bind us all together – they can bring us joy and comfort through life’s biggest moments.

“Tracy did an amazing job with my Dad’s funeral, not only did she provide such an incredibly sensitive service but this was reflected in the service itself. By learning about who my Dad really was as a person and what he meant to people, Tracy was able to reflect this in the content, style and tone of the ceremony. The funeral itself was a celebration of colour and kindness, all in all the perfect tribute to my Dad.”

I am a Humanist Celebrant, for non-religious funerals and naming ceremonies, trained and accredited by Humanists UK.

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.

For every client, I will:

• Meet with you and other close family or friends to get a true perspective and understanding of the person who has died
• Write a unique and meaningful tribute for that person, checking my facts and perceptions with you at intervals
• Devise a structure and flow for the funeral ceremony
• Suggest music, poetry and readings that would commemorate their life
• Include a pause in the ceremony where mourners with a religious faith can remember the deceased in their own way
• Liaise with the Funeral Director and crematorium or burial ground staff to ensure a smooth and flawless ceremony on the day
• Provide you with a high-quality presentation copy of the ceremony script the day after the funeral, both hard copy and via email

“Simon provided a thoughtful, moving tribute for the funeral of my mother.  Family members all agreed that with Simon the proceedings had both solemnity and those light touches that conjure a person vividly.  I am especially grateful for the extra research Simon put in that added to the quotes he used, let alone locating evidence of Mum’s professional life. Simon gave my Mum a good send off.  She would have been pleased.”