Humanist Celebrant - North Shields, Newcastle, North East
Non-Religious Funerals, Scriptwriting and Celebration of Life Ceremonies.
Life Story Documentary Videos, Funeral Filming and Photo Slideshow Production.
Creative written and visual storytelling with a warm, human approach, and a tech-savvy skill base.
We only get one chance to say a formal, collective goodbye to our loved ones. If you're looking for someone to document and deliver a highly-personalised, meaningful non-religious ceremony, produce life achievement award film, or tell your own life story, a Grand Goodbye is probably exactly right for you.
I'm a professional writer and presenter, trained and accredited by Humanists UK. I've delivered over 150 funeral traditional humanist ceremonies at crematoria chapels. But times are changing and formal goodbye ceremonies do not have to follow any rules or traditions. Direct cremations are becoming more popular, which gives families and friends a little breathing space to have the ceremony they want in a venue that meets their needs.
Ceremonies with a Difference
As well as writing and delivering a comprehensive ceremony script loaded with detail and warmth, I bring to the table my Northern Storyboard and SIRA Studio skills and experience with visual storytelling, I am tech-savvy so can put together a slideshow of images, add audio recordings to a series of photos, and organise filming of the ceremony if you need it. I also have a PA and mic. We can keep it simple, or we can hold a toast, light candles, have a collective singalong. Whatever you like. There are no rules.
Do take a look at my reviews. My delivery style is friendly, engaging, modern and relaxed, with a flow that encourages smiles and tears in all the right places - because you want to remember the good times and celebrate the whole life that was lived, as well as hold space for your grief.
I grew up in Harrogate, so I don't have an accent as such. I do NOT do dour, depressing ceremonies. My style is well documented, highly detailed, creative, warm and with gentle humour where appropriate. I'm told I have a calming but great storytelling voice that people invest in from the very beginning to the very end of a ceremony. Although I always invite and encourage contributions from family and friends, I'm a professional writer, a trained poetry reader, and a professional speaker - so I can present everything and anything if you want me to.
I' can guide you through the whole process of your ceremony with incredible attention to detail, and I can work with your venue manager or I can liaise with you or your funeral director on logistics. I make it as easy and as uplifting as possible, when you have other things to worry about.
Telling Your Own Story
More and more people are asking me to write their funeral ceremonies on receiving a terminal diagnosis - taking control over their own goodbye ceremonies so that their families don't have to.. (Please see my reviews for an example of this.) I'm very happy to sit with you for a while, ask your questions and hear your story, I will then go away and write a script, and run in past you for sign-off.
You know your story will be told exactly as it happened, and it will be interwoven with your style, your music, your language and your humour; but you'll also get to see some of the impact your life has had on others; as I will ask those close to you to talk about you too. It all gets written into the script and delivered as and when the time comes.
You could even be present at your own funeral if you like (a living funeral).
The achievement of a lifetime, with audio-visual content.
We can film or audio record you telling your own story. This could be used to keep for prosperity, to slot into a ceremony, to play at a lifetime achievement awards ceremony, or to send to family and friends overseas. There is nothing like video to help you or their children remember how a loved one looks, smiles, talks or moves. Again, please see our reviews. If you would like us to film your own life story, please get in touch.
Funeral filming
As well as writing and presenting ceremonies, as part of The Northern Storyboard, we offer a combined or stand alone service to film funerals, celebration of life ceremonies and memorial ceremonies. We work at all venues throughout Newcastle, Northumberland, the North East and North Yorkshire on request. Please take a look at our dedicated funeral filming page for more information..
Planning
The planning of the ceremony usually takes at least a couple of hours. We can do this face-to-face, or if you prefer (or if distance or logistics dictate) we can meet and plan the content on Zoom. This is a good idea if you want a few people to contribute and you don't all live in the same town.
If you are looking for a good listener, writing skills that document and reflect your loved one's story and character perfectly, and a friendly, supportive, professional, empathetic and experienced celebrant who works within the network of the national human rights charity, Humanists UK - you're in the right place!
Because I come from Yorkshire, 'A Grand Goodbye' seemed an apt name for the service I am offering as a humanist funeral celebrant. We only get one life (that we know about) and so it seems only right that we say our final farewells in a fitting way. - with love and care, respect, beauty and and element of lightness; with story-telling, emotion and in celebration of our being part of the world.
"Thank you so much for all you invested into making such a beautiful ceremony yesterday. I thought it was wonderful, and I have had lots of messages from friends and family watching online to say how moved they were.
You crafted all our memories into a narrative that was just right for Tom – gentle, easy, funny, meaningful. It felt almost as if you knew him. The whole day made us feel closer to Tom, and to each other, even those across the world, which was all we could ask for."
"We really loved today, you did an amazing job. Thank you for such a perfectly delivered service.
You captured our sister and our family so well."
"Thank you so much for your guidance, support, empathy and humour. And most of all for giving mum such a beautiful send-off"
"We are in awe of the brilliant script that Rachael wrote (for our daughter)."
"You have done an absolutely wonderful job, it’s so heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Losing our sister has left a massive hole in all our lives but we feel happy to be able to give her such a nice ceremony."
"The tapestry of life, joy and pain is ours to live but once, and not again.
When I look back upon my richly varied years, I crave no more, thankful that I have lived...... so shed no tears." Leslie Scrase
As an experienced humanist celebrant, I will be there to support and encourage you, and guide you every step of the way. We work together to plan the ceremony, and once I have written the script, you have total editorial control of your loved one's story, readings, music and anything else you would like me to include.
For those looking for inspiration for music and readings, I have included on my website a range of non-religious readings and poems for a humanist funeral, and a playlist of popular music and songs for a secular funeral service. Please do have a browse through. I'm constantly updating it, so keep checking for new additions.
"If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember.
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you." - Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
No two Grand Goodbyes are the same because no two people are the same. Life stories are interesting and incredible, whatever path has been trodden and however long a life's journey has been. And it's important to say goodbye to our loved ones in the right way for them.
When a loved one dies, the effect of grief on family and friends can be traumatic and the last thing you need is extra stress regarding the funeral service. I'm very easy to get along with and will work with you and your chosen Funeral Director to make it as stress-free as possible for you.
Following an informal meeting (face to face, on Zoom or over the phone) lasting a couple of hours, with members of the deceased's family and/or friends, I write a completely unique script that is sent to you for approval before the ceremony. I can advise of all aspects of the ceremony and guide you in your choice of music and readings or other contributions if you need a little help.
Whether your want the funeral to be traditional or a little different, whatever style you choose, your ceremony will be written and delivered to be totally reflective and respectful of the person who has died and comforting to their family and friends..