The Humanist Celebrant Podcast

In this episode I am talking to Janeen Key from Obitus. Obitus are the UKs leading supplier of the technology in crematoria and funeral homes. Janeen explains the process for choosing music, uploading photos and live streaming a ceremony using the Obitus system and we discuss the future for technology in the funeral sector.

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.

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

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

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

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