Oak Celebrant Services

29/01/2026

I think that appropriate poems add a nice touch to a funeral, and I have a database of many that I've accumulated over the years, but now and then there's a funeral where nothing quite hits the spot, so I'll create a poem especially for that ceremony. It was lovely to receive a thank you card this week that showed the family's appreciation for the poem that I did for their mum. As I've said before, and I'll continue to say, each funeral is bespoke and individual, and that includes the poems. ☺

22/01/2026

Bespoke funerals should be all about the person who has died. They should reflect their loves and passions, be that sports teams, holidays, music and, in Peter's case, cake! It's the first time I've had an actual cake in the chapel, but why on earth not. It was then taken to the wake where those gathered enjoyed a selection of Peter's favourite cakes. What a wonderful way to remember a very special man 🍰

15/01/2026

A new one for me today. The first ceremony that I've led in the woodland section at Worksop's Hannah Park Cemetery. A tree is planted at the head of each grave, and over the years it will become an extension to the adjacent woodland.

08/01/2026

Happy new year to you all. Last year I led a ceremony for a gentleman, following which his wife sent me a lovely thank you and some poems that she had written. It was a complete surprise when, on Christmas Eve, another package dropped through the letter box with a poetry book featuring one of her poems, along with some other handwritten pieces. She also sent me a lovely letter updating me on how she was getting on. It's tough losing a loved one, but I'm so glad that she's still found purpose since her husband's passing. Let's hope that 2026 is a good year for her and for everyone else as well.

18/12/2025

Every now and then, my work and personal life seem to merge. This was very true last Sunday night, when I attended a gig that was held at the Samuel Worth Chapel in Sheffield General Cemetery. The amazing Steve Edwards and his band heralded in the festive period with a few Christmas songs, before performing some of their regular stuff. It was a great night, and the fact that it was held in the former Non-Conformists' Chapel made it all the more intriguing for me as a Funeral Celebrant.

This time next week will be the big day, so I wish all my followers a Happy Christmas. For those who have lost loved ones and find Christmas a difficult time, I hope that the memories of those who have gone bring you comfort and warmth.

11/12/2025

On Monday night I was asked to speak at the Clive Hopkinson Group of Funeral Directors Christmas Memorial Service in the magnificent . It was a privilege to be part of such a poignant evening and nice to chat with some of the families that I have worked for over the past year.

04/12/2025

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking to the members of Anston Womens Institute. It was an enjoyable evening, with me giving them an insight into the day to day role of a Celebrant, along with some of the lesser known elements of the funeral industry. I then spent time answering their questions and listening as they shared some of their own stories. Thank you for the invitation ladies. I hope you enjoy the photos I took at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium in Sheffield.

27/11/2025

Woodland Burial by Pam Ayres

Don’t lay me in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall,
Where the dust of ancient bones has spread a dryness over all,
Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold,
Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.

There kindly and affectionately, plant a native tree,
To grow resplendent before God and hold some part of me.

The roots will not disturb me as they wend their peaceful way,
To build the fine and bountiful, from closure and decay.
To seek their small requirements so that when their work is done,
I’ll be tall and standing strongly in the beauty of the sun.

20/11/2025

Today is World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Sadly, I've done a few funerals for people taken from us by pancreatic cancer, including a good friend in his early 50s. Unfortunately, by the time it's detected, it's often too late, so it's important that we all know the symptoms. These are indegestion, tummy pain or back pain, changes to your poo, unexplained weight loss or appetite loss and signs of jaundice.

Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in the UK, and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths. You can reduce your chances of getting it by making healthy lifestyle choices like quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables while cutting back on red and processed meats.

Don't live in fear of cancer, but be aware of it. 💜

13/11/2025

Last weekend I was sat talking with friends and we got onto the topic of funerals (as often happens to me). They began talking about the different types of funeral, and we got onto resomation, also called water cremation, which is a service offered by some branches of Co-op Funeralcare and some independent funeral directors. The discussion made me think that maybe it's time to reshare the blog I wrote about different types of funeral, back in 2022. I hope you find it interesting.

Introduction Choosing which type of funeral is right for you or your loved one can be tricky. There are some options that we are...

06/11/2025

For some reason society seems to have lost the art of patience. This is something that has been raised by a Beverley Funeral Director recently. He's not the only person to experience this. Several of the Funeral Directors that I work with have had people cut them up, beep them or make hand gestures. Life is fast paced these days, but imagine if this happened at one of your loved one's funerals. If you find yourself in a rage, please count to ten, gather your thoughts, and proceed with patience. It really makes no difference if you're five minutes late. Thanks everyone ❤

Beverley-based Lewis Northen says drivers are pushing into funeral processions.

30/10/2025

Cemetery space is always at a premium, and City Road Cemetery, the largest cemetery in my hometown of Sheffield, isn't excluded from this issue, so it was good to hear, recently, that some additional space is being created, and that, long-term, the Council plans to secure 12 to 24 hectares of new land for four to six new cemeteries over the next 50 to 100 years. These plans include dedicated spaces for natural and faith-specific burials. Sadly, bereavement services always seem to be low down on the list of expenditure, so this is great news, as is the upgrade works planned for Mansfield Crematorium, which I visit several times a year.