The Humanist Celebrant Podcast

Doug is a humanist celebrant based in Newark and conducts ceremonies in the East Midlands and London. He's done lots of different jobs in his life including gravedigger, customs officer, accountant, actor and teacher of English and he's travelled widely in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He's never believed in a god, but he doesn't have a problem with people that do. From 2016 to 2019 he combined celebrancy with being a “Faith Adviser” on the Lincoln University Chaplaincy team, working side by side with priests, imams and other religious leaders providing advice and guidance to students. Here we talk about local cultural significance, Ashes based ceremonies and ...er... auditing. Doug's Music Choice: Ronnie Ronalde - In a Monastery garden And his reading: Joyce Grenfell If I Should Go If I should go before the rest of you Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone Nor when I'm gone speak in a Sunday voice But be the usual selves that I have known Weep if you must Parting is Hell But life goes on So sing as well. Email: douglas.duckworth@humanistceremonies.org.uk Phone: 07596 774153

In this episode I am joined by three UK based Humanist celebrants, Felicity Harvest, Douglas Duckworth and Roger Payne, and together we offer some advice to anyone who has been asked to speak at the funeral of a friend, relative or colleague. How to tackle difficult lives and difficult deaths, how to deliver a great Eulogy, what to expect in the crematorium, how to manage strong emotion and the whys and why nots of using display technology...we all know the phrase...death by powerpoint.

In this episode I am joined by three UK based Humanist celebrants, Felicity Harvest, Douglas Duckworth and Roger Payne, and together we offer some advice to anyone who has been asked to speak at the funeral of a friend, relative or colleague. How to tackle difficult lives and difficult deaths, how to approach preparing and writing a eulogy that is personal, memorable and thoughtful.

Music Choice: Londonderry Air Beatrice Hamilton with Nightingales Reading: Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep. William Shakespeare From The Tempest, Act 4 Scene 1 Pat says she has been training indirectly for celebrancy since she was in my twenties. She was an actor for twelve years. She left the theatre in 1987 to make space for her writing. Since then she's had seven poetry collections published. Her fiction also appears in a number of anthologies and fiction magazines. She has worked as a writer in residence in a prison and various hospitals and runs writing workshops from time to time in schools and community centres. You can see some of the work she does if you click on her blog. Phone 07857 273695 Email thepatwinslow@gmail.com

With a background of marketing and communications that started in the hotel industry, Stephanie has over 15 years' experience of creating, organising and hosting events, writing scripts and delivering speeches of all kinds. This has proved invaluable in designing and writing bespoke weddings, namings and funerals with all the couples and families she works with to create ceremonies just the way they want them. Music Choice: Phil Collins - You can't hurry love Contact details: stephanie@silverbeeceremonies.co.uk 07786 268446 @sbeeceremonies facebook.com/silverbeeceremonies Visit www.silverbeeceremonies.co.uk to find out more about my ceremonies

Music Choices: Missa Luba by les troubadours du roi baudouin Ian's Reading choice Blessing for the Broken Hearted by Jan Richardson Ian's Biography Born in Zimbabwe and educated in Zambia and Scotland, I've been a radio producer for 30 years or so – working in most of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and quite a lot of South East Asia. I used to live with my wife on a Dutch Barge in London but now our children are grown we've been able to move to a small north Oxfordshire village with a big garden and a medium sized dog. Although I encountered a form of Humanism early on in my schooling (it was promoted by Kenneth Kaunda, first president of Zambia), like many Humanist celebrants my major motivation came from attending too many disappointing ceremonies. I like the way secular celebrations can't hide behind liturgy and therefore reveal the real people involved. And I am constantly fascinated and amazed at the inventiveness and creativity people put into their celebrations – even funerals. Especially funerals. My communications skills, won over many years in broadcasting, help me to understand what people want to achieve in their ceremonies and to find ways to create events that accurately reflect those desires. Contact Details ian.willox@humanistceremonies.org.uk humanist.org.uk/ianwillox/ 07973 221 479 01865 58 9663

Phil's Reading The Dash by Linda Ellis Phil's Music Choices The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd Contact Phil: phil.walder@gmail.com www.philwalder.com/ 07980 241225

Trevor's Choice for a reading: The Life That I Have by Leo Marks Trevor's choice for music Back in Black by ACDC Trevor's Biography Since being accredited as a Humanists UK celebrant in 2010 I have had the opportunity to work with all ages and personalities. My own experience in being part of a large extended family, spanning the generations, has equipped me well to do that. My original career as a lawyer has left me with an eye for detail, alongside the ability to see the bigger picture. So you can be reassured that I will provide a safe guiding hand as you work to achieve your aims. Alongside my commitment to family and community, for diversion I enjoy distance running (sometimes with Harvey the labrador), photography and cooking for others (helped down with some decent wine). Although I live in Southwark and work mostly across central and south London and its bordering counties, I am happy to consider going further afield. I am part of a local network of celebrants operating in the same area. Between us we can ensure that a humanist celebrant is available whenever required. Contact Trevor: Trevor Moore trevoramoore@aol.com humanist.org.uk/trevormoore 07967 000546

Jane Blackman – a multi award-winning Humanist Wedding, Funeral and Naming Celebrant living in West Sussex; creating and leading personalised, non-religious and Humanist ceremonies across Sussex, along the South Coast, regularly taking ceremonies in Hampshire, Surrey and Kent . Jane's Reading: Instructions by Arnold Compton Music Choices: Another One Bites the Dust by Queen Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson Contact: jblackmancelebrant@gmail.com humanist.org.uk/janeblackman www.janeblackmanweddings.co.uk 07814 208087

Felicity's Reading Choice As I grow old I Shall March not Shuffle - Brian Bilston Music Choice Sailing By by Ronald Binge Felicity's Biography: I started my working life as a theatre designer. Then I went on to run several different organisations including a cinema and an environmental project. I worked in arts funding and development, finishing that part of my career as Regional Executive Director for the Arts Council here in the South East. Training as a humanist celebrant has meant that I can bring my belief in humanism together with my creativity. There are also a number of straightforward, useful skills I have learned over the years like listening, being organised, and making myself heard! What I do when I'm not being a humanist celebrant When I'm not doing ceremonies, I'm very involved in supporting other Humanist UK celebrants. I am the Ceremonies Network Support Coordinator for the South East region. This means that I support our local groups and help with recruitment and training of new celebrants. In addition, I'm a trainer, a mentor for new trainees, and one of the people who observes trainees for their final accreditation. I also find time for walking, knitting, baking bread and gardening. Merlin the dog is a big part of our lives, though rarely comes to ceremonies! I am a trustee of a small arts charity locally, which works to bring artists into our community Felicity's Contact details: felicity.harvest@humanistceremonies.org.uk www.felicityharvestcelebrant.co.uk humanist.org.uk/felicityharvest/ 01892 783226 07708 933607