About Me

I grew up in Hampshire and have lived in Winchester for over 10 years.  After a career in HR Management in both the UK and New Zealand, including 14 years working with Hampshire County Council, I changed career in 2010 to qualify as a Funeral Director with independent family Funeral Directors Richard Steel & Partners in Winchester.  I commenced training in Funeral Celebrancy in 2017 and during autumn 2018 I became a full-time Funeral Celebrant.

I love the city of Winchester and enjoy supporting the independent and small businesses based in the city.  I volunteer with local charity Winchester Bereavement Support as part of their Referrals team, having been Chair for five years (2015-2019), and also trained with them as a Bereavement Visitor (listener).  I organise a local free to attend baking club, Winchester Cakes and Bakes.

I find working as a Funeral Celebrant (and formerly as a Funeral Director) very rewarding because I am helping people and making a difference, as well as supporting and being involved in my local community.  I enjoy writing so creating a funeral ceremony and finding appropriate words and readings to make a ceremony unique and individual is also very special.  Enabling families to say a ‘good’ goodbye (one which is meaningful and appropriate for their circumstances) is so important.

I am also passionate about encouraging people to think about and talk about their funeral wishes in advance, as I think there are many benefits to doing this.  I co-host regular Death Cafes in Winchester and am also available as a speaker for groups and events.

In my spare time, I love travelling – I managed to visit 40 different countries before I was 40.  I enjoy experiencing different cultures and cuisines, visiting historical sites and seeing new landscapes.  I am the author of ‘High Heels and a Head Torch’, a practical guide to backpacking, and like reading.  I’m a member of a Book Club, which ensures I read a broad spectrum of different books.  I also enjoy food, cooking and baking.  I love trying out different restaurants, and like to go walking to try to burn off some of the calories!

Relevant Qualifications

Diploma Level 3 in Funeral Celebrancy – 2018

Diploma in Funeral Directing – 2011 (National Association of Funeral Directors)

Master of Arts (Death, Religion and Culture) – 2023 (with Distinction)

BA (Hons) English Language and Literature – 1998 (University of Reading)

Insurance and Code of Conduct

Green fuse logoI trained and qualified as a Funeral Celebrant with Green Fuse and have chosen to become a member of the Green Fuse Guild of Professional Funeral Celebrants.  This means that I hold appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance and I adhere to their Code of Conduct.  I have also adopted the Funeral Celebrants Council (FCC) Celebrant Accord.

Green Fuse Funeral Celebrants Guild

All members pledge to abide by this code of conduct, by which they agree to:

  1. Act to a high standard of professional and personal conduct in their capacity as a celebrant.
  2. Work closely with their clients to write and deliver an appropriate and well-structured ceremony according to the reasonable wishes of the client, and which accurately reflects the life, character, beliefs and values of the person who has died.
  3. Endeavour, where practicable, to have a face-to-face meeting with the client before writing the funeral.
  4. Give due consideration to the needs of each ceremony and to write each ceremony script as a unique ceremony.
  5. Use best endeavours to provide the client with a written draft transcript of the ceremony prior to the ceremony if they would like to see one, and take into account any feedback.
  6. Encourage and be open to the participation of family and friends in the preparation and delivery of the ceremony.
  7. Respect the cultural and spiritual beliefs of the person who has died and reflect these in the ceremony, and not promote their own beliefs in any part of their work.
  8. Provide accurate information concerning the services they offer, the prices of the services, and responsibilities accepted on behalf of clients.
  9. Liaise efficiently and maintain good working relationships with other professionals to ensure the smooth running of the ceremony.
  10. Deliver the ceremony to a high professional standard and within any prescribed timescale, as far as that is within the celebrant’s control.
  11. Respect and take reasonable steps to maintain confidentiality of all information received in the course of their work.
  12. Carry professional indemnity insurance.