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“I am a part of all that I have met.” Alfred Lord Tennyson |
Having worked in the charity sector for over 18 years, latterly as the manager of the busy community fundraising team in London for the British Red Cross for over a decade, I was incredibly lucky to work with supporters, volunteers and committees from every walk of life, nationality and background. I have years of experience of writing and giving inspiring speeches to audiences of up to 600 people, addressing everyone from City dignitaries at Mansion House, guests at Business Awards events at the Dorchester to small groups in local communities. I organised high profile projects for many years with a particular focus in the City of London, and coordinated large numbers of people when running complex events. All of this has meant that I was able to bring a wealth of experience and skills to my role as a Professional Independent Celebrant.
After losing my lovely Auntie Joan in 2009 and finding the options available locally for funeral services very limited, I wrote the service myself to ensure that it incorporated all of the aspects that she would have wanted, and later research led me to the Independent Celebrancy movement. Feeling that I had the ideal skills to work as an Independent Celebrant where I could help to give people true choice in the creation of any ceremony, I decided to change career and trained with the the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants in 2012. Becoming a Celebrant is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Since 2012, I've had the privilege of telling hundreds of life stories and celebrating extraordinary lives at funeral services and memorials, as well as helping hundreds of couples to begin their married life together with a ceremony that is meaningful to them and celebrates everything unique to their story.
I find working as an Independent Celebrant hugely rewarding and love the fact that no two days...or two people...are ever the same. I thoroughly enjoy working with people to create bespoke, personalised ceremonies that are exactly what they’re looking for, and to then ensure that everything is professionally run on the day, creating a warm atmosphere so that everyone there can feel a part of the proceedings.
Steve Jobs once said "your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking." I am incredibly grateful to have found a second career that I love as much as my first, and I look forward to sharing many more big life moments with all the people I have yet to meet...
Photographs: David Vintiner
After losing my lovely Auntie Joan in 2009 and finding the options available locally for funeral services very limited, I wrote the service myself to ensure that it incorporated all of the aspects that she would have wanted, and later research led me to the Independent Celebrancy movement. Feeling that I had the ideal skills to work as an Independent Celebrant where I could help to give people true choice in the creation of any ceremony, I decided to change career and trained with the the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants in 2012. Becoming a Celebrant is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Since 2012, I've had the privilege of telling hundreds of life stories and celebrating extraordinary lives at funeral services and memorials, as well as helping hundreds of couples to begin their married life together with a ceremony that is meaningful to them and celebrates everything unique to their story.
I find working as an Independent Celebrant hugely rewarding and love the fact that no two days...or two people...are ever the same. I thoroughly enjoy working with people to create bespoke, personalised ceremonies that are exactly what they’re looking for, and to then ensure that everything is professionally run on the day, creating a warm atmosphere so that everyone there can feel a part of the proceedings.
Steve Jobs once said "your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking." I am incredibly grateful to have found a second career that I love as much as my first, and I look forward to sharing many more big life moments with all the people I have yet to meet...
Photographs: David Vintiner