Celebrant for All Ages - Weddings, Funerals & Naming Ceremonies

16/08/2022

A HIATUS
A few weeks ago I shut down the page for my one to one healing practice, the energy felt heavy around it and I shifted focus to the healing work I do every moment of every day, with the bereaved, and their families and their loved ones lost. But the energies around us are all shifting so quickly at the moment, that now another shift is upon me/us/the world(?). I originally started FB and Insta for my business, in whatever form that was at that time, to make myself known, to have a presence, to ensure a regular stream of work. It has served me well. For that I am grateful and feel blessed but confident it is not needed now and now I just cant stand the energy of Facebook (Fake-book?), Instagram or any such platform. I thought the issue I was having with it was that I had too many different business pages or accounts on different platforms, now I realise the issue wasn’t with having another FB page or instagram account it was in having ANY page, ANY instagram. So, I am pairing back my postings here and on Instagram. Compassion, Truth and Love make my heart sing and they are rarely found in those places. I have deleted Instagram from my devices so if you send me any messages there they wont be replied to. And I will only post on here moments that feel they really matter and are of truth and purpose. Love, Light and Authenticity 🙏♥️

12/08/2022

RESPECT
Yesterday in the parched earth at a woodland burial site in Northamptonshire I was privileged to conduct the service for C. Everything was brown and burnt, the earth rock hard with very little greenery, yet, at the entrance to the site was this amazing flash of colour, in these ripe Rowan Tree berries. Bright firey red. Despite the intense conditions, something was thriving.

It was very very hot at the graveside, at least 33 degrees, no shade, this is not unusual at a woodland burial. Sadly and disappointingly there were some grumbles. “too hot”, the service “too long” (30 minutes or so was the actual time). Yet despite the singular ripples of discontent here and there, the family and myself stayed true to C’s wishes. We played the music she loved. We spoke the poems she chose. We honoured her with those berries I foraged just before the service began, along with rosemary and lavender from C’s very own garden, and Mugwort from my personal collection. And rather than our own personal comfort…

We chose to honour her memory.

We. Chose.

Respect. 🙏♥️

12/08/2022

A NATIVE NEW YORKER
Today at Nene Valley Crematorium we said goodbye to C. A woman who was born and raised in New York. She made the trip to the UK, alone, at the tender age of 23, with a babe in arms and began a new life in Wellingborough. She married, had more family but it wasnt the end of her USA days for her new husband and children in the 80’s went to live in Florida where she rekindled a love she’d had since childhood - a love of horses. She worked caring for horses for many years. The family did relocate back to the UK and in 2003 she made the bold decision to become a UK citizen but she never forgot those USA roots and so we ended her service with the American National Anthem 🇺🇸

11/08/2022

“KILLER”
Today at Rainsbrook crematorium in Rugby throngs of guest gathered to say a final goodbye to a wonderful man. A husband, a father, a grandad, and friend to so many. A man who loved to be on the go. A man who when he retired never really did! A man who would go out of his way to provide practical help to anyone who needed it. And a man who loved… football, professional or amateur, mens or womens, if there was a ball being knocked about he was interested and his particular playing style as a young man led to the nickname “Killer”! He is deeply missed by all who knew him 🙏♥️

11/08/2022

FULL MOON in Aquarius ♒️
Last night we welcomed in and worked with the powerful energy of this full super moon, for personal transformation. In the lovely local Watford Village Hall as a group of women, we used drums and rattles and welcomed in healing 🙏🏻❣️Thank you
Serenity Sound Healing & Wellbeing Therapies ♥️

09/08/2022

A beautiful card received, accompanied by a lovely gift, from such a lovely family! The service was one of those where I really wished I had met the lady in the flesh and it felt an honour to speak about her and on behalf of her gorgeous family 🙏♥️

08/08/2022

A lovely funeral this morning, one of those where you really feel The Universe aligning with all the effort, the thought, the emotion you’ve invested, gifted, as a Leader of Ceremonies, and… as a “reward” or replenishing of energy perhaps, on the way home, I’m sailing past a bus stop and spy this gorgeous haul. Screech to halt, hit reverse, and forage🙏🏻♥️

05/08/2022

Todays visit to Counties Crematorium in Northampton was an opportunity for some more foraging. Today’s goodies were these lovely elderberries!

05/08/2022

A CHEMICAL REACTION
Today’s service was for a “Professor”! A fantastically talented and ahead of his time gentleman. He was not only preaching about, but also helping countries to put in place processes and practices to streamline the use of resources years before us here in the UK caught on. He was a chemical engineer extraordinaire! He was constantly curious about the world around us and frequently took to taking things apart so he could see how they worked. His first question was always “I wonder how”? What a fabulous example for us all, most of us when faced with a challenge or something new go “ oh heck!” - and run for cover! Not him.
In any chemical equation the formulas on the left side of the arrow represent the reactants, the substances that change in the reaction. The formulas on the right side of the arrow represent the products, the substances that are formed in the reaction. And today we alchemically changed the energy of our sorrow into the manifestation of our tears. 🙏♥️

02/08/2022

What call do you hear?
Today I am writing the service of a lady who was called to “Teach”. She heard that inner child in her say “ take care of us, be a guide for our kind” and so she devoted herself to the care, guidance and teaching of young children all her life. It was her “calling”. She was known and loved throughout Daventry as Mrs S, “The Teacher”.
What call do you hear?
What are you called to do?
True happiness comes when we hear the voice, listen intently and follow its lead.
🙏♥️

29/07/2022

Did you know?
Did you know that the super sweet smelling Freesia is named after a German
botanist called Friedrich Freese, by another botanist who wanted to celebrate their…. friendship.
And this morning, at the lovely Nene Valley Crematorium in Wellingborough we said goodbye to a lovey lady. The Freesia was her favourite bloom and they accompanied her today on her final physical journey and made an appearance on the order of service. And how appropriate for when I spoke to her children they immediately said “she is my best friend”. Yes this truly amazing lady, courageous to the end, with a bright smile and positive outlook left this world doing what she had done all her life, love her husband and care for her family, put others first and always always with a truly infectious smile on her face. 🙏♥️

28/07/2022

“IRISH FOREVER”
Today we said our goodbyes and celebrated the life of an through and through Irishman. He came to the UK from Donegal when he was only 22, many years ago, in search of a better life financially but his heart remained in Ireland. He regularly returned there to refresh his soul. He fathered 10 children, a large brood and worked hard all his life and supplemented his wages with regular “lamping”, poaching to you and me and a good night resulted in several rabbits to feed the family with. And he played hard too. He was a real mans man who loved greyhound racing, boxing, wrestling all washed down with several pints of bitter. His nickname was “diesel feet” as he moved so fast and spent his years as a ground worker. He was known as the best around for many a year. He is sorely missed. 🙏♥️

27/07/2022

This afternoon’s visit to Rainsbrook was not only to conduct a funeral but a bit of foraging yielded these lovelies 😍♥️

27/07/2022

WICCAN & PAGAN
This afternoon we wished T, a Wiccan, Pagan, canal-boat living, Mother Earth loving and Motorbike Trike riding amazing lady, goodbye. As we helped her soul on her way to The Summerland we rejoiced in a life lived and a spirit now free. Her understanding of the power of the elements, earth, fire, water and air and her use of Rune Stones was incorporated into the service and with their energy and power in our hearts we wished her a fine next turn of the wheel 🙏🏻♥️

25/07/2022

A Thank you gift from the bride and groom 🤩♥️

24/07/2022

SUNFLOWERS AND SUNSHINE
Any ceremony that I can conduct barefoot I know is going to be epic and yesterday I was proud to be the Leader of Ceremony at the wedding of S & L. They chose to have their joining ceremony in the round, in a beautiful bell tent at home in their lovely garden, on their own land, the bedrock and foundation of their relationship, with just their “inner circle” of loved ones in attendance. It was beautiful, intimate and moving.
S & L love nature and the Universe, their “relationship superpower” is their ability to have deep and meaningful conversations and really listen to one another. We celebrated with many rituals, a Herb Sprinkling ritual, using lavender, to create a sacred space in which for them to stand. We incorporated a ring blessing and a handfasting but for this family the most important element was a Sand Unity Ritual. On this day this family became blended and all 7 members joyfully participated, one by one. It was truly magical 🙏♥️

22/07/2022

CAKE, CAKE & MORE CAKE!
Today at Counties Crematorium, we said goodbye to an absolutely lovely wife and mum. T had a smile that could light up your soul and she smiled constantly, even through her pain, so that you wouldnt be upset or distressed. She loved tennis and gardening and grew up in a pub. But more than anything else she loved CAKE! Her husband spoke fondly of how, when out for a trip in the car, they couldn’t get further than Tesco’s around the corner before she would say “should be stop for a coffee and a cake”. She was selfless, caring and passed with fearlessness and dignity. 🙏♥️

18/07/2022

SHE LOVED CHIHUAHUAS
Today at Nene Valley crematorium we said goodbye to M. The grand Matriarch of her family. As we lit the Ritual Candle we spoke of what filled her with love and brought her joy throughout her life and one thing that did that was, Chihuahuas. Her love affair with this beautiful breed began on her birthday in the 1960’s when her now late husband, bought her one for her birthday and she immediately fell in love. So there was soon another, and another and then another until before you knew they were breeders who’s claim to fame was, one little pup, once sold, made “best in show” at Crufts for its new owner. She is greatly missed by her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren. 🙏♥️

16/07/2022

There were lots of reasons why J’s service was special. Everything from the music the family chose, to the beautiful personal tribute from her children, to the poem read by her grandchildren. But it is so lovely when the family really appreciate the role of the Celebrant. 🙏♥️

15/07/2022

Words to warm the heart ♥️

14/07/2022

This morning at Kingsthorpe cemetery chapel we celebrated the life of P. An amazing man, soft natured, loving and a through and through MOD. We serenaded him with The Specials while we said our goodbyes. We spoke of his loving care of the birds at Abington Park Aviary, he was the one who would look after them, even on Christmas Day. We finished our service down by the graveside, with many of his colleagues cemetery colleagues present, for P had too been one of those amazing gentlemen who prepare the sacred ground to accept our loved one. We said our final goodbyes with more music, stories, calling in and thanking the elements, Earth, Air, Fir and Water and spent time admiring the amazing floral tributes (I wish I had been able to take photographs of them). A dad, brother, uncle and friend who is missed by so many. 🙏♥️

14/07/2022

My life as a
Leader of Ceremonies is full to the
brim of ritual, symbolism and
working with the elements so last
nights FULL SUPER MOON
was the perfect time to harness it's
amazing power to clear stagnant energy. Full moons are
all about "fullness", they are an
excellent time to look at what has
"risen to the surface" since the New
Moon, ready for clearing out. So, last night, for the first
time since I landed in
Northamptonshire last November, I
found a group to celebrate this full
moon with, a womens drumming
circle. We gathered at the amazing
sat in the
round on straw bales and drummed our hearts out
serenaded only by the sounds of
nature, then afterwards drank tulsi
tea around a wonderful campfire. Thank you so much to Mandy of Serenity Sound Healing & Wellbeing Therapies for hosting and leading.
I look forward
to the next one…🙏♥️

12/07/2022

SHE COULD PLAY THE MOUTHORGAN
This afternoon at the beautiful Nene Valley Crematorium in Wellingborough we said goodbye to R. R who as a girl earned the nickname of “Stubborn Sutton” for her firm beliefs and sheer determination. R who was a real live wire. R, who did everything at top speed, walking, cleaning and in her younger years, even running, completing half marathons and earning many a medal. R who could play the mouth organ to entertain her family.
R who loved her bingo at the village hall and was often the winner of the last man standing.
R who liked a trip to a clairvoyant or two.
R who used praise sparingly but when she did you knew she really meant it. R, the much loved Grand Matriarch of her family.
She passed suddenly and unexpectedly and the service focused the opportunity it provided to say “things unsaid” and “whispered goodbyes” she is deeply missed by all her family old and young 🙏♥️

11/07/2022

“YIAYIA”
This afternoon in the Avon Chapel at Rainsbrook Crematorium in Rugby we celebrated the life of a very special “Yiayia” (pronounced Yay-a) which is Greek for “Nanny/Grandma” for J and her whole family are proud of their Greek heritage. J was a family person through and through but not mumsy, not physically anyway for she was super glamorous! She loved her clothes and shoes and matching handbags and especially loved her jewellery. She was a big supporter of the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Service and would make regular charitable donations to their local shop and while there often pick up something new and one time she was out with her husband and stopped to look in its shop window and said “ooh they are a nice pair of shoes I’ll go in and get them” and hubby had to point out they were here’s that she had donated the week before! The chapel was full of love today and she is greatly missed by so many. A very special lady. 🙏♥️

11/07/2022

MIDLAND RED BUSES
This morning we said goodbye to L who took his first breath in the shadow of the Malvern Hills. He loved them all his life. But along the way he had other passions, including, Midland Red Buses. He was an enthusiastic “spotter” all his life and was even a member of a group who restored them to their former glory. But he was excellent at “spotting” other things as well, in particular rare birds, insects and butterflies. His boys have fond memories of long walks in the countryside around those Malvern Hills doing exactly that. L was always the one to spot the rarest creature. He is missed greatly by his wife, sons, grandchildren and great grandchild. 🙏♥️

Photo courtesy of Chris Sampson at 87347455@N00" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/people/87347455@N00

10/07/2022

A lovely message from a family yesterday 🙏♥️

08/07/2022

This afternoon we said goodbye to an amazing lady, funny, witty, charming, full of fun and a wonderful mum and wife. Her love of language and puzzles sparked a hobby and she began entering and winning competitions. During a short period of time, she won several holidays to Egypt, Florida and flights to Australia. She was very proud of her slogan writing and her first win
came with a Disney and Safeway competition to win a holiday for 4 people to Florida. Her
slogan read: "What Disney did for the silver screen, Safeway is doing for the shopping
scene". And it won!!
This amazing lady right til the end, when she was very very poorly, kept her sense of humour, even joking with the ambulance crew, for the sticky pads they tried to place on her chest for the ECG wouldnt stick and she piped up “Maybe I’m non stick”!
A truly loving and loved lady. Missed by all those who knew her. 🙏♥️

08/07/2022

“SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO”
Yesterday afternoon at Counties Crematorium in Northampton we said goodbye to a courageous man. A man that fought to the very end of his life. A loving husband, dad, grandfather and friend. A man known for being an introvert yet who could surprise us all by belting out, while stone cold sober, “Should I Stay or Should I Go” at a karaoke party. A man who loved music and used it to show his love so many of his family and friends, have tucked away in a drawer a compilation CD, just for them, from him. As a sign of respect to this very special man many of us wore “something red” as tribute to his love of football and in particular, Arsenal. He is greatly missed and leaves a large hole in the lives of all those who know him. 🙏♥️

07/07/2022

A GLASWEGIAN WEE DIAMOND
This afternoon we celebrated the life of one very special lady. A true old style Glaswegian tough cookie, a real diamond and grand matriarch of her family. She came down from Glasgow in 1971 to start a new life and from this one lady is now a tribe of many including over 20 grandchildren! The family jested that she could give Catherine Tates nan a run for her money. She spoke her mind, and was never seen without a fag in one hand and a cup of builders tea in the other - with the bag left in. And you could always spot her in a crowd, due to a very distinctive article of clothing. Her bright red coat. Well she had many actually, all red, all styles and worn in all weathers, heat or cold! But she had a heart of absolute gold and was generous to a fault with her brood. She is sorely missed by all her family. 🙏♥️

07/07/2022

On Tuesday morning I had the honour of conducting my first celebration of life service at this lovely cemetery chapel in Kingsthorpe, Northampton followed by a burial. We spoke of F’s life and then said our final goodbyes to her at the graveside where she was loving placed with her husband. She was an amazing Matriarch of her family and interestingly an awesome record keeper. In her over 80 years of life she had kept an interesting array of photographs, all with information and dates on the rear, magasine articles, clippings, paperwork, family recipes all handwritten and most interestingly her diary from when she was 14 and in hospital for TWO YEARS with TB. In her diary were mundane entries such as “new nurse arrived today”, to the more momentous “had butter” - why momentous? Because the country was still suffering with rationing so butter was a luxury! But then there were historical entries, simply put, such as “king died”. A truly lovely lady who has passed down her skills of cooking and baking to her grandchildren. She is deeply missed by all 🙏♥️

06/07/2022

LEARNT TO SWIM AT THE AGE OF 70
This morning at Redditch crematorium we said a fond farewell to D. Who was 92 years young. D was a loving mum, grandma and great grandma. She loved her family dearly. Like many of her generation she was made of strong stuff. A lady of firm principles, a proud woman who refused to use a stick until she was the grand old age of 90. A lady who put family first. Who was kind and generous, always. She would do anything for anybody, if you needed her help she wouldn’t hesitate to offer it.And a lady who wasn’t afraid to learn new skills. When she was 70 years old she made a new friend, and said new friend loved swimming. D like many of her generation never learnt to swim but she really wanted to spend time with her new friend. So, at the age of 70 she begins taking swimming lessons! And yes she did learn to swim. What a fabulous example to us all. She will be dearly missed. 🙏♥️

01/07/2022

This morning in the South Chapel of Oakley Wood crematorium in Leamington Spa we said goodbye to a well known figure. R was a hard working businessman for much of his life having owned a successful roofing business. He loved a flutter on the horses, tending to the flowers in his garden, and a pint with his mates at the local. He was a man of simple tastes and pleasures and as a younger man enjoyed sea fishing… His family are still reeling from the shock of him being taken from the suddenly and without warning but they like to remember him in happier days enjoying what he loved 🙏♥️

30/06/2022

“Celebrant for All Ages”

Celebrant For All Ages - my name is Adrienne and I am your local “Independent Celebrant” and I craft original, tasteful services and ceremonies. These can be with or without a spiritual or religious element. Large or intimate. At all types and sizes of venues, expected and unexpected. I can help you with celebration of life services, woodland burial services, funerals, interment of ashes services, memorial services, weddings, vow-renewal ceremonies and naming ceremonies.
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Celebrant For All Ages “a celebrant - a person who performs and officiates at ceremonies” I am Adrienne Harrison-Cottrell and I am blessed and privileged to be a Celebrant. I perform all types of Celebrant duties including weddings, vow renewals, funerals, memorial services, and naming ceremonie...

29/06/2022

“BUGGER OFF”
This afternoon at Counties Crematorium in Northampton we celebrated the life of P. A man who lived a simple life. He loved photography, and playing Classic FM on full blast and when he had visitors he didn’t turn it down! 😂 He lived for going to the gym, it was a real passion and loved going until the final 12 months of his life which was heartbreakingly hard for his family to watch, with his arch enemy, Motor Neurone disease gradually gaining more and more ground until it eroded away his physical life leaving him trapped within this bright and humorous and ever so slightly stubborn proper character. As P’s body began to waste he felt the cold and took to wearing his old British Telecom hat and a pair of gloves to keep warm. But the hat we found served another purpose. For towards the end of his days, when he had had enough of your talking or your company, as he could no longer speak, he would just roll it down over his eyes and point to door, an unspoken “bugger off”, testament to that wonderful sense of humour he had. He is sorely missed 🙏♥️

28/06/2022

This morning at the greenhaven woodland burial ground ltd we said goodbye to an amazing lady. C chose a woodland burial. She was a lover of wholesome nutritious vegetarian food (lots of which she grew herself), homeopathy, energy healing and crystals. She was so loved not just by her husband and girls but by so any people in the village. We had a huge turn out and a woodland burial was a new experience for many of them (a give away are guests footwear 😉) but everyone left saying what a beautiful experience it had been. We had music, singing (the hymn Jerusalem), a Rosemary Ritual, and a fabulous original poem written by family. And by the end we had even drawn a crowd of onlookers in the neighbouring field (cows!). The sun shone, the wind blew, but not too much and we said goodbye to a wonderful wife, mum and friend. 🙏♥️

27/06/2022

MASTER VIOLINIST
This afternoon we said goodbye to a master violinist. A man in his distinguished career accompanied Pavarotti, played at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and across the other side of the planet at the Sidney Opera house, a man who travelled the world with “Nic”. For that is what he called his violin because it was made in 1810 by Didier Nicolas in 1810! It was his faithful companion.
A musicians life is one of a ritual. Whether that be the ritual of practicing,
often daily, or of maintaining their instrument, cleaning it, caring for it,
replacing strings and bows. In fact ritual is an important and powerful tool. It
focuses the mind, it provides a guide when we are in unfamiliar territory and
so today, we began our service with a candle lighting
ritual, two candles, one lit by S’s loving wife and one by his devoted son.
And with the extinguishing of those candles at the end of our service we moved our love of Stephen from
the physical realm and into a special place inside us all, within our hearts
which will always be reserved just for him.

The sound that emits from a violin is produced as the string vibrates and
moves in a circular motion, it produces a fundamental tone, while the
vibration produces overtones like a rippling wave. And even though we
said our goodbyes to S today, this master violinist, the ripples he made in this world
and in each of our lives, still are and will always be with us.🙏♥️

27/06/2022

FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES
This morning we said goodbye to a man who loved a corny joke, who adored Spitfire planes and who was a West Ham supporter. We celebrated his life listening to their anthem”forever blowing bubbles” and we concluded our service with one of his jokes…
“What do budgies have for breakfast?
“Ready Treat”! 😂 ♥️

24/06/2022

I’M GOING TO MARRY THAT GIRL
D as a young man was a handsome chap with a love of motorbikes. And it was when he was on his motorbike, on the bridge on the way into Kislingbury, with a close mate Pip that a life-changing moment in his life unfolds right there in front of him… For it was there on that bridge that he catches sight of a very pretty young girl, who was out for a bike ride with her friend. They lock eyes. And Dick turns to his friend and says
“I’m going to marry that girl”.
While nothing more occurs in that moment, D and his motorbike mates would in their virile young man swagger way cruise through Duston where pretty G lived and on one of these trips he makes his move. And with that alluring combination of his bright blue eyes, long curly hair and of course his motorbike, our G couldn’t nor wished to resist his affections. They forge a full and happy life of 59 years together, enjoying rides out on that all important motorbike. Wind in their hair, G gripping firmly onto her man. He is greatly missed 🙏♥️

22/06/2022

Every day is a school day…
Every day is a school day is a saying said to mark the fact that we have the opportunity to learn something new every day. As a Celebrant recently having moved to Northamptonshire that is definitely true! I have been asked to conduct a service at Redditch crematorium, a good hour away from my normal patch to help out a funeral director at another branch to the one I normally assist. The service is in a weeks time so I thought it best to go do a “reckkie” of the crematorium as I have never been before and I am really pleased that I did!
In the service when we reach our “time to say goodbye” (formerly called the “Committal”) the family normally have the option of closing the curtains or leaving them open until they leave. Not so at Redditch where there are no curtains, instead if so desired, the casket “lowers” into the ground… while I have never come across this before I must say it felt kind of nice and very in keeping with the amazing bright and fresh interior. Light streams through large windows and the seating is modern and comfortable. The staff I must say were absolutely lovely too and couldn’t have been more helpful as I took photos. So todays school lesson was “expect the unexpected”! 🙏♥️

22/06/2022

ROYAL MARINE AND ADVENTURER
Yesterday afternoon, on the Summer Solstice and at the lovely Oakley Wood crematorium in Leamington Spa we said our final farewells to a lovely husband, father, grandad and friend. A gentleman who was known to say to his children “I was in the Royal Marines, I met your mum, and from then on I never had any money”. He jested as before he got married he enjoyed the material trappings of being a single man in the Royal Marines (a brand new Jag being amongst them). Of course with marriage come responsibilities and although he joked he loved family life. But he never lost his Royal Marine action-man adventurers spirit. He just took his wife and children with him on his adventures! Including one when the children were small, a memorable 3 month trip where our family of 5 piled into their tiny camper van and drove to Morocco. Yes I said “drove”! They set off across land and on the way, broke down on their first night in London and when they got to Gibraltar had to do a detour as there was a government coo in progress! Along the way R regaled his children with tales of Camel Spiders which they thought he was making up (but it turned out many years later that they are a real thing!) He is much loved and greatly missed. 🙏♥️