Feedback and recommendations

These are recent comments from couples and families for whom I have conducted ceremonies:

 

Simon was extraordinary. He delivered an exceptional service to celebrate the life of a much loved and cherished husband and father. From the outset, when he visited the family to understand the nature and value of the person he was celebrating, it was apparent he would have the natural instinct to communicate the essence and unique qualities of that person. Subsequently he collaborated with the family when he was creating the brilliant, poignant, and inclusive wording and structure of a wonderful service. The attendees, from all backgrounds and beliefs, expressed that they found it both moving, uplifting and enlightening. It encapsulated the many wonderful qualities of the deceased. Simon had delivered a celebration that was a fitting tribute to a wonderful and unique individual.

Funeral February 2024

Friends and relatives asked if Simon had known my dad as he had spoken so accurately about him. Simon guided us through sadness to celebration during the funeral. He helped us to understand and accept our feelings of sadness but to look forward with optimism

Funeral December 2023

Thanks to all his amazing navigation and compilation skills and experience we had the most fantastic and joyful service.
We are very grateful for all the hours he put into creating this special ceremony. At least 3 if not 4 of our close friends have told us that it was the best wedding service they had ever attended and one other person feels that they could get married now they realise how good a Humanist (they called it Humourist) ceremony can be!

Wedding August 2023

Simon was brilliant. From the outset I felt a connection and that he understood the sort of celebration of life I wanted for my late husband. Simon has great humanity and skill and really captured the essence of my late husband; he clearly listened so well. On the day Simon arrived early to set up and meet everyone giving tributes . He led a beautiful and personal ceremony that was just what I’d hoped and much appreciated by family and friends . Simon made arranging a difficult ceremony a positive experience. I recommend him wholeheartedly. The ceremony experience has also made friends think differently about how funerals may be conducted! Thank you Simon and Humanists UK

Funeral July 2023

We are very grateful to Simon for the great job he did as our wedding celebrant. We wanted a bilingual ceremony that involved our two daughters, and Simon’s suggestions led to a personal ceremony that surpassed our expectations.  We received so many compliments about the ceremony, as many of our friends and family had only been to church and or civil ceremonies before. We would recommend anyone getting married to have a humanist ceremony with Simon as celebrant – every couple is unique – so why not have a unique ceremony too?! 

Wedding August 2022

Simon was amazing. He totally grasped who mum was and everyone who attended said it was one of the best they have attended. Thank you so much

Funeral July 2022

Simon was wonderful. He was really understanding and attentive, and so helpful in guiding us to something we were very anxious about but ended up enjoying. He became a friend

Funeral August 2022

Simon shepherded us gently through the whole process and was pro-active with his ideas. We left the service happier than when we went in.

Funeral November 2020

Simon did an amazing job, my Mum’s service was beautiful and everybody there said to me how personable, lovely and professional he was. I will be forever thankful for his help

Funeral August 2020

Simon conducted the service beautifully. He spent over two hours talking to me about my sister prior to the funeral and made the service very personal and described my sister and her life perfectly. He was very professional and very kind..

Funeral March 2020

There are a number of reasons why Simon was outstanding. His genuine warmth and compassion and ability to get into knowing people in a very short time at a depth of knowing that is impressive. His ability to gauge the pitch and tone of an event and shift sombre to lighthearted and witty in a way that takes an audience on a journey of emotions.

Funeral March 2020

Simon is a very perceptive person who listens very carefully in order to create a ceremony that is appropriate. Really important qualities at a time of grief and sadness

Funeral March 2020

Simon was absolutely superb. He took the time to really get to know the history of our mother and her life. He was kind, attentive, empathetic and made our day of saying goodbye a truly uplifting and comforting experience.

Funeral December 2018

Simon was invaluable in the planning of dad’s funeral. The experience he brought and his sensitivity made a difficult time a bit easier. The ceremony was just right.

Funeral February 2018

A wonderful ceremony, appropriate, life affirming, well thought out and much praised by those attending. It was all we could have wished for.

Funeral January 2018

He was really thoughtful and made the whole thing much easier from start to finish. In the ceremony I felt he knew My husband he had done such careful research and listened to us talk of our memories

Funeral February 2017

Excellent manner, perfect ceremony, exactly what my father wanted.

Funeral January 2017

What a very clever and lovely man…. Can’t thank Simon enough for making a very hard day so easy, a day which he made a day to remember for our son Adam.
Exceptional service for our son. Simon could have been his best mate.  An upbeat, great celebration of life

Funeral January 2017

Simon was fantastic. Everyone has commented at how beautiful the ceremony was. He had a very personable manner. Putting others at ease. The whole day went very well. Simon was very professional at all times

Funeral January 2017

Simon was able to make a real connection with me and my story of Dad. He was the first person outside the family to ask me ‘good’ questions and show genuine interest in my experience of my dad’s life and death. We created a good working partnership that led to a truly shared planning process and positive funeral.

Funeral December 2016

Simon was very good at communicating but mostly listening and making sure that he followed our wishes as opposed to making his important.

Funeral September 2016

He had a very kind and thoughtful approach. He made us enjoy celebrating Pam’s life and also reflecting on our role in it. It was just right for us. Thank you

Funeral October 2016

Simon was absolutely amazing, from our initial meeting to the day itself. He was caring, friendly, professional, approachable, and sympathetic

Funeral July 2016

Simon was very sensitive, emotionally intelligent and kind and everyone felt comfortable in and with the service. I would happily recommend him as a Celebrant. He also took a great deal of time and care with preparation and creating the service which I really appreciated. I’m sure my dad would have approved.

Funeral July 2016

Very pleased that the focus was non-religious but inclusive.

Funeral July 2016

Simon did a superb job at my dad’s funeral in June 2016. It was a horrible time for me and my family, obviously, but when we first met Simon his kind, gentle manner was immediately comforting, and his obvious competence immediately reassuring. As a celebrant he manages to combine gravitas with warmth and humour. Overall, it was a genuine pleasure to meet him and I really can’t fault his work at all.

Funeral June 2016

Simon was very professional and kind hearted. He captured my late father’s funeral perfectly. Always kept me updated. Made the day as best it could be.

Funeral June 2016

Simon was a very good listener and able in quite a short time to get a rich sense of my partner whose ceremony and burial we were organising. He gave me encouragement and space to create the ‘programme’ I felt suitable but intervened appropriately to ‘manage’ timings, liaise with the designer and so on. He was easy to talk to and, throughout, empathetic and supportive which I appreciated. When I was completing things at the eleventh hour he was calm and helped me to keep my cool! For all of which a big thank you.

Funeral May 2016

Simon handled the ceremony excellently & made us feel better during a difficult time. I would recommend him to anyone who wanted personalised service.

Funeral May 2016

Simon exceeded our expectations. Very personal and caring.

Funeral September 2015

An excellent service by a very gifted individual.

Funeral July 2015

Can’t think of anyone who I’d prefer to preside over the funeral of someone I loved. Not just because you understand loss, but, more importantly, you understand life.

Funeral July 2015