Yorkshire Civil Celebrant

23/11/2025

As I approach my final week for my dog walking challenge, please take a moment to remember all those lost, and survivors. If you haven’t already, please do consider making a donation to this amazing charity no matter how small. 💗

23/11/2025

Honouring loved ones lost to su***de 🕯️

Take a moment to pause and reflect on the lives we’ve lost and the profound impact they have had on us. Each individual is more than just a statistic; they are cherished memories, stories that continue to resonate, and connections that shape our lives.

As we remember them, we want to remind you: however you’re feeling today, know that you are not alone. We are here for you. Together, we can create a space of support and understanding as we navigate our grief and remember the lives of those we've lost.

Let’s light a candle together, virtually or in person, as a symbol of connection and remembrance. We’re thinking of each of you today and sending love to everyone affected by this loss. Remember, we stand together, supporting one another through every step of this journey.

Survivors of Bereavement by Su***de break the isolation felt by many bereaved by su***de. Conversations around su***de can be difficult. Please use considerate language when sharing your thoughts. Some terms may be hidden/removed to protect our community.

22/11/2025

A very special Poem 🙂

As you hold me close in memory,
Even though we are apart,
My spirit will live on,
There within your heart…

I am with you always.

When you lean on trusted friends
And their caring hugs enfold you,
Within their loving arms,
I’ll be there to hold you…

I am with you always.

And beyond the far horizon
When we’ll finally be together
Where love will be eternal,
And life will last forever…

I am with you always.

-Author Unknown

21/11/2025

Ey up, and a massive Happy ‘Funeral Celebrant Day’ to all my wonderful colleagues! ✨

Here are some facts about us celebrants!!

1. It’s a (Fairly) New Tradition from Down Under 🇦🇺

While we feel like part of the furniture now, Civil Celebrancy is actually a modern profession! It started in Australia in the 1970s. A forward thinking Attorney General named Lionel Murphy believed that people who weren't religious still deserved dignified, meaningful ceremonies. It didn't properly take off in the UK until much later, but we have our Aussie cousins to thank for paving the way.

2. We Are the "Storytellers," Not the "Event Planners" 📖

People often confuse us with Funeral Directors, but there’s a simple way to explain the difference. The Funeral Director is like the Event Planner (sorting the logistics, the paperwork, cars, coffin, looking after you as a family and the care of the body).

The Celebrant is a Content Creator, an author we write a bespoke script, tell your story and hold the space. We work together like a hand in a glove, but the jobs are very different!

3. "Civil" Doesn't Mean "Zero Religion" 🕊️

This is the biggest myth we bust! There is a difference between a Humanist and a Civil Celebrant.

Humanists generally will not include any acts of worship (no prayers, no hymns).

Civil Celebrants (like us!) are led entirely by the family's wishes. If a family wants "Abide With Me" and The Lord's Prayer because it brings them comfort, but they don't want a full church service, a Civil Celebrant can absolutely do that. We build the bridge between the two worlds.

We can also write bespoke eulogies for delivery in church. We can also incorporate pieces from other beliefs such as spirituality, or should your family wish have no religion at all.

4. We Are Beating the Trend 📈

The shift has been massive. According to recent industry reports, the majority of funerals in the UK now are celebrant led or non-religious, rather than traditional religious services.

We are part of a huge cultural shift where families are choosing "personalisation" over "tradition." However as a friendly bunch we love to work together and share the love.

5. We Aren't Tethered to the Crematorium 🌳

While most services are delivered at the crematorium or graveside, a Celebrant can actually hold a Celebration of Life Ceremony anywhere (with permission!). Community halls, local pubs, gardens, or even a favourite walking spot.

The legal "disposal" of a body is separate from the "ceremony," and many families often don't realise they can have the service after the cremation in a place that feels much warmer and more personal, a great choice for those opting for a Direct Cremation.

Do you have a question? Drop me a message xx

20/11/2025

A really popular heartfelt poem 💗

Look for Me in Rainbows
Time for me to go now, I won't say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, way up in the sky.
In the morning sunrise when all the world is new,
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you.

Time for me to leave you, I won't say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, high up in the sky.
In the evening sunset, when all the world is through,
Just look for me and love me, and I'll be close to you.

It won't be forever, the day will come and then
My loving arms will hold you, when we meet again.
Time for us to part now, we won't say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, shining in the sky.

Every waking moment, and all your whole life through,
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you.
Just wish me to be near you,
And I'll be there with you.

20/11/2025

It is always an honour to work alongside Adrian and Julie. 💗 would recommend their FD services to any family.

The Life of a Funeral Director

We walk where hush and heartache meet,
Along quiet roads of softened feet,
Where stories pause but do not end,
And sorrow leans upon a friend.

We learn to speak in quieter tones,
To honour lives, to gather stones—
The little memories left behind,
Each one a lantern for the mind.

We carry grief with steady hands,
A bridge between two distant lands;
The world of here, the world beyond,
Where love remains its strongest bond.

We stitch a service, thread by thread,
With whispered tales the loved ones said;
A favourite song, a gentle prayer,
A final journey wrapped in care.

We see the tears, the trembling smile,
The courage that appears awhile
When families stand, though feeling small,
To say goodbye once and for all.

And though our days are lined with loss,
We know the worth, we know the cost—
For in each life we help to tend,
We witness love that does not end.

This is the work, both heavy and bright:
To guide the darkness toward the light,
To walk beside, to simply be—
A keeper of humanity.

18/11/2025

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” Albert Einstein

Monday we shared the story of a wonderful man whose smile was everything. The bond he and his daughter shared was like no other. They both loved all the songs by ABBA and in a special moment his daughter sang again.

It was an honour to work alongside Phillip and the team. Thank you for all you do.

18/11/2025

6years - never forgotten Dad 💜

17/11/2025

Absolutely honoured to have been requested by family, and on Friday at Huddersfield we shared the story of a much loved lady, who was a loyal David Essex fan.

Finishing with “Gonna Make You a Star” a song that said so much about who she was, she will be remembered her exactly as she’d want: smiling, dancing, and shining bright, because in her own unique way, she truly was and always will be ‘A Star’.

Thank you Andrew and all the team at Highfields for your excellent care.