My own journey into celebrancy began through funerals and I believe passionately that everyone deserves to have their death marked and mourned, their life honoured, in a way that is vibrant and heartfelt.

A funeral conducted with compassion and sensitivity can be a healing time for everyone and can help with the grieving process. Too often, we don't think about funerals until we have to and then we are in such a blur of grief we can make choices blindly, without taking the time to explore our options. The person whom you choose to lead the ceremony can make all the difference - a qualified celebrant will take the time to listen to the life story of the person who has died, to learn about their passions, what made them tick; and will craft a ceremony that reflects them.

I always feel it to be the greatest honour to be entrusted with the telling of someone's story - it is a task I take seriously, but also with lightness and affection. I believe a funeral is a time to smile as well as to cry. A funeral can be simple or extravagant, spiritual or humanist; whatever feels right to reflect the life of the person who has died.