Brenda Woods, Celebrant

24/02/2026

Today we are celebrating the life of the wonderful Trish Tatt.

Trish lived life to the full and never let life's challenges stop her love of music and adventures. Now she can be reunited with her soulmate Phil and they can watch over the world together again.

I am privileged to have been part of both Trish and Phil's services.

Photo shows Trish and Merlin together when we met her for coffee a couple of years ago

24/06/2025

I was asked to read this poem at a funeral service earlier this year on behalf of the grandchildren.

I hadn't heard it for years but as soon as I looked at it it bought back such happy memories from my childhood. My late mother encouraged us to read and she loved poetry.

When I read it in the service I could hear the memory of mum's voice reading it with me. As I read it I watched the family and friends in the chapel and I could tell they heard their special person reading it with me too.

This is why modern funerals can be personal celebrations of life - reminding those of us left of the happiest times whether huge events or important but small memories.

11/04/2025

I have posted this poem here before, but a service that I had the privilege to lead this week, for someone who left much too soon, reminded me of how important the words in the poem are. WE should always remind those we care for how important they are, and speak our love when we feel it, not wait.

01/01/2025

Twelve candles burned bright last night, representing those whose services I led in each month of 2024. I read out their names quietly, as I lit the candles. While the light of the candles ended, the love and light of those people lives on.

Thank you

31/12/2024

Saying goodbye is never easy, what ever type of 'goodbye' it is. Whether it's goodbye to a friend after you've met for coffee, or after visiting family over the festive period; leaving a place where you have spent time and made memories; or whether it's goodbye to a way of life (changing jobs, being single or leaving an interest group that you have been part of), or a big goodbye when you say farewell to someone or something that has been a huge part of your life. Saying goodbye to 2024 is a BIG GOODBYE for me. It's the end of 40 years of working, in many different roles, and the beginning of a new way of life for me.

On 20th December I led my last celebrant ceremony - a funeral for a lovely lady - and earlier this year my final Naming Ceremony and Vow Renewal took place. It has been such a privilege to lead ceremonies, to mark life events, and tell people's stories and later tonight I will light 12 candles - one for each month of the year - as I remember every person, every story and every ceremony I have been privileged to be part of this year.

Tomorrow I will post the photo of the candles, as I have done every year of my celebrant journey. And then, a new journey starts for me.

This isn't the end - there are people who I have promised to hold ceremonies for, funerals, namings and vow renewals, when the time comes or the time is right for them. And if someone asks for my specific services, then it will be my privilege to help if I can. I will remain part of the professional body I trained with (the FPC), but I won't be advertising or being part of a 'pool' of celebrants looking for regular work and I will be embracing 'retirement' and defining it in my terms. That's the plan. A bit daunting but it's time to try it.

This is goodbye to 2024 but not to you. I want to thank everyone who has been part of this stage of my life's journey, friends, colleagues, families, other celebrants. Thank you if you choose to continue with me and thank you if our paths diverge from each other now. It has been a privilege.

24/12/2024

Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmastime as we make new memories and remember good times from the past

11/12/2024

In between working today I am writing Christmas cards to send to the families that I have led funeral services for this year. I hope the cards remind them that they and their loved ones are not forgotten, and those who are left and still grieving are remembered too. This is the precursor to me lighting 12 candles on New Year's Eve when I remember all those who have died this year month by month.

So, I reread the services and listen to some of the music we have played. This is one of the many beautiful songs of love ... Thank you to the family who reminded me of the beautiful lyrics

Lyrics:If I could save time in a bottleThe first thing that I'd like to doIs to save every day'Til eternity passes awayJust to spend them with youIf I could ...

21/10/2024

I am humbled to have been asked to lead this year's Light Up the Night Service at Huntingdon Crematorium which will take place on 27th November at 6pm. The service is non-religious and is an opportunity for everyone present to remember those friends and family who have died and how they lit up the world around them. It is supported by the charity Cruse. Everyone is welcome - you don't need to have had a service at Huntingdon Crematorium. Afterwards there will be light refreshments in Sapley Lodge.

During the service we will have a space for reflection when we will show photographs of some of those who have died. We will also be lighting candles to leave in memory of those we have lost.
If you would like to attend and to have a photograph on the screen (these are limited in number) please contact Huntingdon Crematorium by email ([email protected]).

I hope to see some of the families that I have had the privilege to support at the service.

03/08/2024

Getting ready for today's Naming Ceremony which includes a Sand Ceremony 😃

06/06/2024

I specialise in ceremonies and celebrations that are personal and positive.
It's always a privilege to be asked to lead a celebration of someone's life, to help tell their story and to say goodbye. As a lover of poetry and music I am always looking for words and images to help this.
Yesterday we celebrated the life of a larger than life figure, a happy gregarious and funny man who made the most of every moment of and who loved to socialise.
I like to finish a service with words of comfort, a quote, song lyrics or a poem to help us look forward as we leave the building. When I found this quote I didn't realise that he enjoyed the music of Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger.
The sunflowers were his favourite flowers so of course I had to wear my sunflower brooch too!
Sometimes it is meant to be ...

19/02/2024

It is always a privilege to lead a funeral or memorial service but when I was asked to lead this year's Mother's Day Service at Huntingdon Crematorium, it was doubly special.

If like me you no longer have your mother or a mother figure with you, Mother's Day can be a negative day full of grief and 'what if?'
But as a celebrant I am sure that this is not the celebration that my or our mothers would want. We should look past the grief and remember the good and happy memories. Maybe our mother would want this day to be a time to say her sayings, cook her favourite meal and play her favourite songs. To remember her silly hats, or her favourite pet or the happy memories of holidays together.

If you have lost your mother or a mother figure the service on 6th March at Huntingdon Crematorium at 6pm will provide space for you to remember and celebrate. And if you want to include a photograph of her, you can send a picture to [email protected] and they can include it in the visual tribute.

More information is below:

If you would like information about the bespoke ceremonies that I provide: Funerals, Memorial Services, Naming Ceremonies, Vow Renewals and more please message me or contact me on 07906 520860

01/01/2024

As 2023 ended I remembered all the people whose funerals I had led during the year, and all the love and light they have left behind as I lit these 12 candles. Then I read the following poem by Peter Wylie.

Today we will remember all those who have walked ahead;
we follow in their footsteps on the road that we must tread.
Their example is a shining light to guide us on our way;
those from our past, whose memories last; are with us every day.
We learned from them the truth of love; compassion; family care;
they left behind a legacy of values we can share.
The good things they have left us will never go away;
we owe a debt of gratitude we never can repay.
And though, by death, just for a while, they’re hidden from our sight,
Our hearts will always treasure their memory shining bright.
by Peter Wylie

Today we begin another year. Their light continues with our own light and our life continues as we take that light with us.