Every Life Tells a Story
Celebrating your loved one’s life
A unique story filled with love, laughter, adventure, achievements, and moments that matter.
Let me help you tell their story.
In times of loss, finding the right way to say goodbye is important. I'm here to help you create a funeral service that celebrates the life and lasting impact of your loved one — and offers comfort and closure to those who remain.
A funeral as unique as the life it celebrates.
“I can’t thank you enough for today. It could not have gone any better, and everyone was commenting on how beautifully it was presented and delivered. You made a very difficult day a much better day”
The Right Words When They Matter Most.
Compassionate Support
Authentic Eulogy
I offer a calm space where you can tell me about your loved one and share precious memories at your own pace. I’m here to support you with kindness, respect, and genuine empathy.
Authentic Eulogy
Drawing upon my experience in storytelling as a journalist, author, and creative copywriter, I’ll craft a funeral service that tells your loved one’s story with warmth and care. And, often, humour.
Professional Presence
With decades of experience in public speaking, you can trust me to conduct the ceremony with confidence, sensitivity, and respect. I’ll do my best to make a difficult day a little bit easier.
Celebrating Life
I’ll work with you to understand the nuances of your loved one’s life – their relationships, achievements, personality, and the anecdotes that bring their memory to life.
Whether it's cherished songs, significant readings, personal reflections, family contributions, or the inclusion of religious elements, I’ll weave your wishes into a comforting ceremony that feels deeply personal and celebrates your loved one’s life and legacy.
Together, we’ll do them proud.
Where I’m Based
I serve Glasgow and the West of Scotland
Three Steps to a Flawless Funeral.
01 | QUESTIONNAIRE
We begin with a fact-finding questionnaire that captures who your loved one was as a person.
Their beginnings, milestones, hobbies, and the funny or touching anecdotes that defined them.
02 | FAMILY MEETING
I’ll come to meet with you and chat through your questionnaire responses. We’ll agree all aspects of the service together. You can invite anyone who has something to contribute to this meeting.
03 | DRAFT SERVICE
I’ll craft the complete funeral service, including the eulogy, reflection, committal, and any other elements. Then I’ll deliver the service on the day, helping to make a difficult day a little easier.
Planning Starts Here.
If you need a funeral celebrant, please complete this form or give me a call. I serve Glasgow and the surrounding areas. The starting point is always an informal chat, with no commitment.
My standard fee for full celebrancy service is £300.
Considering a direct cremation? Go here.
Looking for a humanist? See the FAQ.
FAQs
What is a funeral celebrant?
A funeral celebrant crafts and leads personalised funeral ceremonies that celebrate the life and character of the deceased. By collaborating closely with the bereaved family, the celebrant gathers stories and details to create a meaningful tribute, or eulogy. They also shape the entire funeral ceremony, including appropriate readings, music, and other elements that reflect the individual's personality and beliefs. Celebrants work alongside funeral directors to ensure the funeral ceremony proceeds smoothly and respectfully.
What is the difference between a civil celebrant and a humanist celebrant?
They key difference is about religion. A humanist celebrant will not include any religious content in a funeral, regardless of the beliefs of the deceased or their family. A civil celebrant is not attached to any church or other belief system, and is free to include as much or as little religious content as you decide is fitting. That said, if you want a truly religious ceremony, it is generally better to work with a member of the clergy.
What does it cost to use me as your funeral celebrant?
Your funeral director will usually recommend a celebrant and put you in touch. In this situation, the celebrant’s fee is included in the overall cost of the funeral. It will be itemised as an expense, typically around £250. You can also come directly to me, where my fee for celebrancy is fixed at £300. This includes meeting with you, writing the eulogy, crafting the full service, and acting as your funeral celebrant on the day.
What types of funerals do you conduct?
I offer a range of services, including:
Traditional cremations (crematorium)
Traditional burials (cemetery)
Natural woodland burials
Memorial services
Scattering of ashes ceremonies
Memorials for direct cremation
While funerals are commonly held in crematoriums or cemeteries, other venues are possible, such as natural burial grounds, community halls, private gardens, or even at sea. The choice depends on the family's wishes and the deceased's preferences.
Funerals are changing. Today, people want more personalisation, more choice over location and format, and greater freedom to say goodbye to a loved one in a way that they see fit. I am 100% behind this movement and encourage you to talk to me with any thoughts or ideas you may have about organising a funeral.
What happens when somebody dies?
The usual course of events is that you contact a funeral director and they will guide you through the process. At an early stage, the funeral director will contact a celebrant on your behalf. They will then reach out to you to arrange a meeting at a convenient time to discuss the ceremony details. You can, of course, contact a celebrant directly.
What can I expect during our meeting?
As your celebrant, my role is to write and deliver the funeral service. This includes everything that happens inside the crematorium or at the graveside.
Our discussion will centre on the deceased person's life and character, enabling me to write a fitting eulogy. Or I can support you if you choose to do this yourself. We'll also talk about your preferences for music, readings, prayers, photographs, and reflection, as well as who might have an active role in the ceremony. This collaborative process ensures the ceremony is personalised and meaningful.
Our meeting will probably last for a couple of hours. I always send some fact-finding questions in advance, which makes our time together more effective.
Following our meeting, I will draft a complete service and eulogy, and over the coming days we’ll shape a fitting funeral ceremony.
Can family and friends participate in the service?
Yes, absolutely. I encourage involvement from family and friends, whether through sharing memories, reading poems, or offering prayers. Such participation adds a personal touch to the ceremony. If someone prefers not to speak publicly, I'm happy to present their contributions on their behalf.
Can I plan my own funeral?
Yes, absolutely. Pre-planning your funeral allows you to specify your preferences, like favourite music , poetry, or other readings. You can select which photos and videos you would like to be shared, and any other meaningful elements. And you can choose to tell your own stories about your life, rather than relying on somebody else deciding what’s important.
It’s also worth considering that planning your own funeral can ease the process for loved ones left behind.
Do you have any qualifications?
Yes, I have completed the National Qualification NOCN Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy, which is the highest qualification in this field in the UK. This rigorous training ensures that I can create and deliver personalised and sensitive ceremonies in a highly professional manner.
If you have further questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact me.