After a spell in York and Durham I’m now back in Tynemouth where I grew up, enjoying the benefits of a coastal life! I achieved a First in English Literature at Durham University, then got an MA in Museum Studies at Newcastle.

Getting lost in a novel has always been heaven for me, which speaks to my imaginative and inquisitive nature. I love learning about people and hearing their stories, and so being a Celebrant, and connecting with people at all stages of life, is a dream job for me. I feel very privileged to be able to meet people at important and vulnerable moments, and to hear diverse, wonderful and inspiring life stories.

Creative writing, and particularly poems, is a passion of mine, and so I love getting the opportunity to create ceremonies that warmly capture a person’s unique spirit and personality. Through being a Celebrant, and attending many funerals, I am always astounded by the power of beauty and love. Not everyone can be famous and achieve remarkable things in their lives, but everyone, no matter how humble their lives seem on paper, leaves a remarkable legacy in the world through the connections they’ve made and the people they’ve loved. It’s a truly humbling job as it reminds me every day that life is precious and that the person you are, as opposed to what you own or even achieve, is what matters most in the end.

I’m a friendly, approachable and compassionate person who can adapt well in different environments, which is something I feel to be very important in this line of work. I am diplomatic and tactful, which enables me to work through potential difficulties and conflicts that can arise with sensitivity. Grief is complicated and families are complicated. Trust me, I get it and completely understand!

I have a commitment to ongoing professional development and read around the subjects of grief and philosophy to improve my understanding and awareness. I enjoy attending relevant conferences and workshops hosted by Humanists UK and other organisations so that I can stay up-to-date with new ideas and best practice.