William Blow Independent Celebrant

01/09/2025

Thenk you to The Vale Crematorium at Evesham for featuring me!

Next in our spotlight feature on celebrants is William Blow 🔦

Bill is a qualified, experienced and award-winning celebrant, based in Worcester. He routinely conducts funerals across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire but is happy to travel further afield where necessary. He trained with Civil Ceremonies, holds the NONC level three Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy and (being a firm believer in continuing personal and professional development) is about to start the level four diploma.
Bill is proud to be a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants and has adopted the Funeral Celebrant Accord.
When it comes to leading a service, Bill is known for the rich tone of his voice and the personal way he delivers each ceremony. Families he has worked with also comment on the empathy and compassion Bill displays both before, during and after the funeral.
Bill was recently nominated in the Funeral Officiant of the Year category in the Good Funeral Awards 2025.

William Blow Independent Celebrant
01905 953753
07962 531185
bill@williamblow.co.uk
www.williamblow.co.uk

06/08/2025

The Good Funeral Guide recommends that, if you're looking to choose a Celebrant, check to see if they have adopted The Celebrant Accord.

I am pleased to say that this was one of the first things I did once I had completed my NOCN Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy with Civil Ceremonies Ltd and I proudly display the logo on my website (https://www.williamblow.co.uk), my business cards and my email signature.

I also limit the number of funerals that I lead in a week so that I can provide a truly personalised service and care for my clients.


Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

03/08/2025

An update about Worcester Crematorium and the Cemetery on Astwood Road.

🕊️ Astwood Cemetery Update 🕊️
While the Crematorium and Chapel are being refurbished, the cemetery grounds remain open as usual. You are welcome to visit your loved ones' graves or memorials in the normal way.
🚧 Please note: Roadworks at the main entrance will take place 4–15 August, with a local diversion in place. Thank you for your patience while we make these improvements.
📖 The Book of Remembrance is now available to view at its temporary home in the Guildhall.
We appreciate your understanding 💚

01/08/2025

I spent a fair amount of time at The Vale yesterday.

Firstly, I was officiating at The Vale Crematorium at Evesham where I had the pleasure of working with Lee Russell of Lee Russell Independent Funeral Directors again.

Westerleigh Group have done a great job with The Vale Crematorium: it's a lovely building in a peaceful, rural setting. Every time I officiate there, at least one of the mourners comment on what a beautiful place it is. The team there are brilliant!

The family that I worked with said how much they loved the service that I had written and how I had led it. They then asked if I would like to join them in continuing to celebrate the life of their loved one at The Vale Golf and Country Club.

I'm no stranger to The Vale Golf Club: I've played there and I've visited the TOP Networking Worcestershire group that meets there. I've also met Katie Hughes through networking and Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, so it was great to see what it's like to attend a wake there.

I have to say I was impressed. I received a warm welcome on arrival and clear directions to the room. The room was well laid out, had a great, scenic view, and the food was good. Also, and very importantly, clean toilet facilities. It's ideally situated for The Vale Crematorium if you're looking to organise a wake, but they can cater for other events as well.

25/07/2025

I recently received a message from Ali Euston asking if I would sub for her at the TOP Networking Worcestershire meeting in Pershore. I've visited the Pershore group before and it's a vibrant club with some great members.
The club meets at Clives of Cropthorne and serves one of the best quality breakfasts on the networking circuit. Clive's is also a great venue for a 1:1 meeting as they have great cake.
On the subject of great cake, I was overjoyed to find out that the ten minute presentation was by Nicola Gossage of Cake-tastic Worcestershire . Firstly, Nicola is one of the best cake makers in the County, secondly she has a fantastic business which she talks about with passion & enthusiasm, and finally she brings samples!! Nicola is the preferred wedding cake supplier for a number of high quality wedding venues, supplies many coffee shops and also makes bespoke commissions. She also runs baking classes for kids and adults.
Many other bakers will buy their cakes in from factories and decorate them to order. Nicola bakes all hers from scratch which results in a better quality cake that stays fresh for longer. If you're after anything from a statement cake to a box of birthday brownies, you know who to contact. I've often tried cake on stands at Business Expos: if it's really good, I'll often ask, "did you get this from Nicola Gossage?" and the answer is invariably "yes."
If you're looking to make quality business connections in the Pershore area, I can't recommend this group highly enough. The next meeting is Thursday 7th August.

12/07/2025

A year ago today, on Friday 12th July 2024, I officiated at a funeral at Hereford Crematorium for a lady who loved Christmas. Jo Gardiner at Bayley Brothers Funeral Directors asked me if I would be prepared to officiate whilst wearing a Christmas jumper. I readily agreed and, thankfully the 12th of July last year wasn't anything like as hot as today! When I met with the family, they also asked if I would let my beard grow for the full Santa effect. I normally keep my beard trimmed quite short, and there's a limit to how long it would grow in the period before the funeral, but I let it grow.
Jo wore green tinsel round her hat and Bayley Brothers pulled out all the stops by setting up a Christmas tree (with lights!) in the chapel.
After the service the family wrote this to me, "...you were amazing and we are so happy it went exactly as Mum wanted."

Dignity Funerals
Association of Independent Celebrants
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

10/07/2025

I usually wear a tie when officiating. There's a story to this photo. Earlier this week I had the privilege of working with Jonathan Wilson of A.V. Band & Holland Funeral Directors.
I ask families what colour tie they would like me to wear when officiating. Sometimes it's a favourite colour, other times it reflects a favourite team. For the first time since becoming a celebrant, I was asked to wear a black tie. I had a black tie and was happy to wear it.
So why don't I have my tie on in the photo? Well, it's traditional in the culture of the family that I was serving, that the close family bearers throw their ties into the grave so I joined in the tribute.
I might add that they also thew their jackets in, but I need mine for the next funeral!
Always happy to go the extra mile to serve a family.
Association of Independent Celebrants Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

11/04/2025

I am thrilled to announce that I've been nominated in the Funeral Officiant/Celebrant of the Year category in the 2025 Good Funeral Awards!
Civil Ceremonies Ltd
Association of Independent Celebrants
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

25/02/2025

I'm grateful to have received another five star Google review from a family that I had the privilege to serve recently at The Vale Crematorium. Thank you to Lee Russell of Lee Russell Independent Funeral Directors for recommending me. I've worked with Lee on a number of occasions now and I love the care and attention that he provides to the families he looks after.
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
Association of Independent Celebrants
Civil Ceremonies Ltd

20/02/2025

Thrilled to receive another 5 Star Google Review for a funeral I officiated at recently alongside Abbotsfield Funeral Directors

Association of Independent Celebrants, Civil Ceremonies Ltd, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

30/01/2025

Today I had the pleasure of being a guest at the Chapel Dedication and Blessing of Merstow Green Funeral Home, Worcester, attended by the Deputy Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Matt Lamb. The dedication was performed by Rev Rosie Moss and I had the privilege of reading a poem. The poem I read was "The Dash" by Linda Ellis. It's a popular choice for funerals, but also has something to say to the living.

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own --
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more,
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?

Thank you to Merstow Green for inviting me!

22/11/2024

Some feedback from a recent funeral that I conducted. A privilege to work alongside Lee Russell Independent Funeral Directors again.