Hello. Are you having to arrange a non-religious funeral or memorial ceremony?

You might never have had to do this before now, but I can gently help you get it done, whether it is for a close family member, a distant relative, or a friend.

I am able to construct and conduct your ceremony, kindly and with compassion, whether it is to be held at a crematorium, a town cemetery or woodland burial ground, or at a place that is more personal to you and the person who has died.

I am Maggie Platts, and I’ve been an accredited Humanists UK funeral celebrant since 2013.

You do not have to call yourself a “humanist” to use the services that I offer, but simply intend to arrange a non-religious funeral.

Every funeral that I conduct is unique to the person that has died.  They may have died very young or lived a long life. They may have a large family and circle of friends, or they may have led a more solitary life by choice or by circumstance. There is no such thing as an ordinary person and no such thing as an ordinary life, however long or short. It is my privilege to do everything I can to make the celebration of that life run smoothly.

If you want to chat, I’m here on 01799 732637 or call/text on 07815 095077. If you prefer to email in the first instance, maggie.platts@humanistceremonies.org.uk will find me.

And then, should you want me to conduct your ceremony, this is how we can make it happen:

• We will have a meeting, usually in your home, to decide on the framework of the ceremony. If it’s not possible to be face to face, then an online meeting can of course be arranged.
• Together we’ll decide the content of the tribute and who might be contributing in person at the ceremony. I can liaise directly with them if you wish.
• We’ll discuss ideas for music and readings that reflect the tastes of the person whose funeral we are arranging, and also those of the people closest to them. All music genres are part of who we are. Just about nothing is inappropriate. And readings range from classical sources right down to modern poetry. I have a wealth of the “in between” to share with you

As a post script, it is not unusual these days for a person to decide on the detail of their own funeral in advance of it being a reality. I can also help people with this if they’d like to contact me: maggie.platts@humanistceremonies.org.uk