I have a grown-up daughter and three granddaughters. I love animals and currently have three dogs and five cats. I’ve just bought a motorhome and plan to visit lots of beautiful places around the UK.

​

I have had a very diverse career, starting off as a technician within the aerospace industry. I went on to complete a degree in production engineering and was involved in building trains and developing engineering software for the automotive industry. But by nature, I enjoy working with, and helping people, so in 2000 I made the radical decision to train as a secondary maths teacher. I spent over twenty years teaching but again wanted to help and support staff and students more, so in 2016 I trained as a mental health first aider and secured the role of mental health lead for two schools. ​I retired from teaching in schools in 2022 but still work part time as a maths tutor.

​

I began my celebrant journey in June 2023 but it really began over 15 years ago when my mom died. I wrote and delivered her eulogy and along with my sister planned the service. 

​

My dad was a retired priest; a compassionate, empathetic and caring man who was always there for others with a soft and gentle demeanour, whose presence alone was a comfort to others. Sadly, he died just before Christmas 2022. I didn’t know back then about the role of the celebrant, but found myself organising readings, music and writing the eulogy and a personal tribute. Despite my emotions I was confident in speaking. 

​

In the few months following the loss of my dad I felt drawn to working with others in their time of loss. It felt as if dad was passing on the baton, along with his empathetic, caring and considerate nature. Since I was already semi-retired, I had time to focus on re-training and completed the Funeral Celebrancy course with The Academy of Modern Celebrancy. I have also completed a course in grief, attend regular relevant CDP courses with Solihull Council Community Development Team and continue to be a qualified Mental Health First Aider.

 

Life experience is the best kind of training any celebrant can have, especially when it comes to the loss of a loved one. Having lost my baby daughter when I was young and then in 2008 losing my mother to suicide, I have personal experience of what it feels like to lose a child or a loved one in this way. After losing my dad to dementia a couple of years ago I began to look at my own grief journey. I decided to join a local bereavement café and made friends with some lovely people. Being part of the group has helped me to understand and process my own grief, but I also found that I found I had a natural ability to support and help others with their grief journeys. A year later I now run three bereavement cafes and encourage anyone who has experienced a loss to attend. They really do help! I will never say ‘I know how you feel’ but I can say I understand your grief and can help and support you at the start of your journey.

 

Many celebrants have trained to deliver weddings and naming ceremonies in addition to funerals. I personally feel it takes a special kind of person to be able to support a family through the loss and funeral of a loved one. Therefore, I only specialise in funeral ceremonies. However, that does not mean that the ceremony needs to be a somber, sad event. I am happy to work with a family to create a celebration of a person’s life or something in the middle. Although not a practicing Christian, I am also happy to conduct a ceremony with a spiritual element, containing prayers, bible readings and hymns.