Ian Hembrow – celebrant

Friendly, professional help at a difficult time

I provide personalised, non-religious funerals and memorial services in Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas (or further afield by special arrangement). My ceremonies celebrate life and help you through the grief that can follow the death of someone you love.

My approach

I see death as part of life – the natural and inevitable end that comes to us all. Accepting death and embracing the emotions it creates can soothe and speed your recovery from the loss and pain of parting.

After 30 years in the social housing and consultancy world, I trained as a Humanist funerals celebrant to help people without religious faith mark the death of their loved ones in a positive and healing way.

A funeral is an important part of someone’s story – an occasion to give thanks for their life, focus on their qualities and achievements and enjoy the memories they leave behind with family, friends, colleagues and others.

I work closely with local funeral directors, crematoria and burial grounds and am happy to consider any kind of service – no idea or request too strange!

I believe in good life, good death and good grief. You’ll find me sympathetic, sensitive and able to find the right words to sum up your loved one and their life. While my services are firmly non-religious, I’m happy to include hymns, prayers and readings by guests if that’s what you wish.

“The ceremony you conducted was excellent and we are so grateful that you took so much time with us and listened and expressed all our feelings on an amazing Dad. Mum has told me that when it is her time to go she would like you personally to conduct the ceremony! Thanks for helping us all.”

“I just wanted to thank you for helping us make Paul’s woodland burial and celebration of life so special. It was an amazing day – one friend described the scene as being like a festival!”