"Words have the power to comfort, to remember, to celebrate and, sometimes, to help us find hope when it feels hardest to hold onto." On Saturday 4th July, I was delighted and privileged to be invited to take part in Paint Abingdon Pink, a wonderful community fundraising event in support of Against Breast Cancer. Standing in the heart of Abingdon, surrounded by people who had come together with a shared purpose, I was asked if I could read a collection of poems honouring those whose lives had...

My BBC Radio Oxford Interview with Phil Mercer It was a real pleasure to join Phil Mercer on BBC Radio Oxford’s Sunday Breakfast show recently to talk about my work as a celebrant, the emotional importance of ceremonies, and the unexpected path that led me into this profession. During our conversation, Phil described celebrants as the people who help guide families through “some of the most memorable days in our lives” — whether joyful occasions such as weddings and baby naming, or deeply...

As a funeral celebrant in Oxfordshire, one of the most meaningful and unexpected aspects of my work is spending time with people who want to plan their own funeral—and, most importantly, tell their story in their own words. Across Abingdon and the wider Oxfordshire area, more people are choosing to do this because they care deeply about how their lives are remembered. Brian was one of those people. “I am a scientist, and I want my story to be truthful and accurate.” I was first contacted by...