Richard Spedding - Humanist wedding, vow renewal & funeral celebrant

23/03/2026

Lovely start to the week by receiving this extremely kind combined wedding/naming review. 😊😍🙏🙂

22/03/2026

Parker Words is such a talent.

Do watch this video that accompanies his cracking poem.

Since moving to Lancashire I’ve grown to love Blackpool and its communities and have seen such different side to it that the media and others wish to portray.

Blackpool - thank you for welcoming me with open arms and I’m here to support your and your wonderful families!

22/03/2026

Blackpool isn’t just famous for its tourism!

As a celebrant, I've gained insight into many important industries here, from coach building and biscuits and sweets to military aircraft and government departments—the list goes on and on.

One notable industry though was the manufacturing of TVR cars, which operated from 1947 until its closure in 2006.

I've conducted many funerals for those associated with TVR, including Brent Jones, who secretly stenciled Gary Numan stickers onto cars during his time there, and John Mleczek, who worked alongside his father and son at TVR and organised various meets and events after it closed down.

Another famous ex employee was the talented singer Alfie Boe.

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of conducting the funeral of Ray Harris, who dedicated an impressive 35 years to TVR, with his favourite model being the Griffith, which he used to skilfully place the dashboards in.

Ray was proud to be part of a Harris dynasty at TVR, working alongside his father, Raymond, and his son, Martin.

His eldest son, Antony, also nearly ended up at TVR, though subsequently did work in the automobile sector working for D Hollowell & Sons "Fylde Funerals", whom, with the Funeral Director, another Anthony, I worked hard with to give Ray the perfect ‘send off’.

However, Ray was much more than just someone who worked in the car manufacturing industry.

He was a devoted husband to Linda, with whom he shared 51 wonderful years, and a loving father to his sons and their wives, Belinda and Sarah. He was also a devoted grandpa to Alea.

Ray met Linda one of the ‘traditional Blackpool ways’ at the Tower Ballroom one night, after which he literally swept Linda ‘of her feet’ and there was no looking back for the pair of them!

Ray knew what brought him joy—including spending time with his mates from The Old Links playing snooker, enjoying pub crawls, and taking family holidays to Wales.

He truly was one of life’s characters, leaving behind a legacy of love and laughter. 🚗❤️🎱

21/03/2026

I love a Saturday funeral—the atmosphere is always so different and there’s a more relaxed vibe!

Today, we celebrated the life of “Essex Girl” Diane Smith, who found her way to Blackpool from the oldest town in Britain, Colchester, with her beloved husband, Ray, and their sons, Clayton and Andrew.

Diane held legendary status as the stewardess at South Shore Cricket & Squash Club in Blackpool for eight years, putting on legendary New Years Eve sold out buffets!

After retiring, she dedicated 18 years to tending her allotment at Acregate, where she found great and won a hat trick of allotment of the year titles.

Family was everything to Diane; she doted on her grandchildren —Lucy, Ben, Charlie, Liam and and her great grandson Leo.

Liam and Charlie spoke at her funeral today, sharing special memories that brought smiles and laughter.

When I asked Diane's family how she would want to be remembered, they described her as having an outgoing and vivacious character—lively, animated, and full of energy. Her personality truly had the power to light up any room.

Diane’s legacy of love and joy will surely continue to inspire all who knew her. 🌼❤️✨

21/03/2026

😍😍Trigger Warning - this post epitomises the meaning of ‘true love’ and may bring a tear to your eyes😍😍

This delightful photo, taken in May 1954, captures the wedding of Audrey and Bob Bretherton.

Yesterday at Lytham Crematorium with Andrew Whittaker from Box Brothers Funeral Services, I had the privilege of conducting their joint funeral, a poignant farewell after 71 years of wonderful marriage.

Both Audrey and Bob died aged 95, and within a day of each other.

They were members of a select group of couples who received a communication from Her Majesty the Queen to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary and also one from His Majesty the King to celebrate their 70th.

The family finds definite comfort in the circumstances surrounding their sad deaths, knowing they were together until the very end in their beautiful home and garden.

It's heartwarming to also think that neither would have been complete without the other. To me, this represents a truly fitting conclusion to a remarkable love story.

Audrey and Bob were proud parents to five children—Colin, Ian, Andrew, Graham, and Yvonne—who went on to bless them with seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren (and counting!).

Audrey embodied the spirit of a devoted homemaker, cherishing her family through three generations.

Bob was known for his hard work as a landscape gardener, operating from land on Division Lane, where they later built their “dream home.”

While all my funerals are special, and a privilege, to conduct, this one definitely stands out up around the top! ❤️🌹✨

19/03/2026

Ken Lee wore many hats throughout his life, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met.

For many years, he was a familiar face in the Revoe area as its cheerful postman, having previously worked at Brown M**f in Bradford as a skilled carpet fitter and a milkman.

After his time as a postie, he took on a part-time job at Morrisons, where he not only won Employee of the Month three months running but also became a favorite among the local more mature ladies!

Raised in Bradford, Ken was a devoted supporter of its rugby league team, Bradford Northern, now known as The Bulls.

His passion for the team was so strong that, after moving to Blackpool, he and his wife, Marj, named their guesthouse "The Northern." They even had the team officially open it when they played against Blackpool Borough.

Golf was another of Ken’s passions. He played for many years with the CTK Golf Society alongside his son, Dean, and a good friend Charlie.

At Ken’s funeral, Charlie shared lovely golfing memories, while Ken’s daughter Joanne read a golf-related poem that resonated with everyone present.

Many who attended the service, including son Dean, were coached by Ken at Foxhall Boys Football Club, showcasing his commitment to nurturing young talent.

Ken’s other passion in life was his talent for karaoke - with two of his go-to songs, ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘Kingston Town’ enjoyed by those present.

Ken was a devoted brother to his sister Marjorie, a loving husband to Marj, and a proud father to Dean and Joanne.

He was also a father-in-law to Julie and Ian, and a cherished grandad to Jordan, Jessica, and Erin, as well as a great-grandad to Bella.

Erin and Bella also shared touching words about Ken at his funeral, celebrating the wonderful legacy he leaves behind. ❤️🏉⛳️

19/03/2026

This delightful photo of George James beautifully captures two of his main passions—running and fishing.

George was a dedicated fell runner for many years, competing in numerous events for the Blackpool and Fylde Running Club.

His love for fly fishing found him often on the River Lune near Lancaster, where he was a valued member of the Lancaster and District Angling Association.

Professionally, George had a significant impact as a lecturer at Blackpool and The Fylde College, ultimately serving as head of the mechanical engineering department.

In 1961, George met fellow college student Elaine at a Valentine's Party, and they married six years later.

Together, they welcomed three sons: Andrew, Alistair, and Angus. Alistair shared some wonderful memories of his father during the ceremony yesterday, I conducted alongside J T Byrne Funeral Directors .

George will be profoundly missed by many, especially his loving family, which also includes his sister Heather, his sons' wives and partner—Kirsten, Nadine, Clare, and Chiara—and his cherished grandchildren: Leigh, Elliot, Amelia, and Annabella.

I concluded the ceremony with a touching quote from one of George’s fishing friends:

“If everyone were like George, there wouldn’t be a single problem in the world.” 🌊🏃‍♂️❤️

18/03/2026

I make no secret of the fact as to how important music is in my life.

So, when I heard the news on Monday that the great Ginger Wildheart from my joint favourite band, The Wildhearts, had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of terminal cancer, I, like many others was simply gutted.

After I read these comments on the photo from the great man yesterday, my mood became so much more positive.

To take charge of your impending death must be so empowering and to do it with so much dignity is simply immense.

To me, Ginger is simply a musical genius and, more recently, and prior to knowing of his diagnosis, he has inspired me with how he’s decided to live his life by taking charge of it more.

I salute you Mr Walls 🎸🤘🎸🎤🎹

16/03/2026

This delightful couple is Loz and Will. At the end of last year, they reached out to me with a unique vision for their ceremony:

“Basically, we want a fun, silly, inclusive ceremony that’s all about us and Zak, but also our wider family and a select group of friends. We’re aiming for a fairly non-wedding-y wedding type of thing! Hopefully, you know what we mean!”

Always up for a challenge, I collaborated closely with Loz and Will to craft a ceremony filled with many elements, including:

- **A “non-wedding-y, wedding part”** that set the tone for their day.

- **A naming ceremony for young Zak**, with the support of guide parents Anna and Miguel.

- **A handfasting ceremony**, beautifully assisted by Loz and Will’s parents.

- **Drinking from a Quaich**, which combined Hennessy brandy and strong vodka from Will’s native Poland. (We swapped, as you can see, the Quaich for a delightful Polish tea cup)

Most importantly though , I shared Loz and Will’s journey since they met, highlighting their love story.

Oh, and I nearly forgot - as it was also ‘Mothers Day’ that was also celebrated during the ceremony.

The ceremony was fantastic and included a lot of guest participation, even featuring choreographed dancing!

It was a pleasure to conduct this memorable event alongside the wonderful staff at the Lakeside Hotel and Spa on Lake Windermere. 🎉❤️✨

15/03/2026

Back to weddings today - lovely ceremony on the banks of Lake Windermere combining both a wedding and a naming ceremony!

15/03/2026

I realise many of you will be struggling today with it being Mothers Day.

So, here is a nice link to some helpful advice from the wonderful Cruse Bereavement Support

May people will find mothers day difficult. There are ways to care for yourself on Mother’s Day, whatever your experience is.

14/03/2026