BIE News

BIE News BIE News

Ireland Division

Hi All, Well, on writing this we are now going through a third and probably the most serious wave of Covid 19. I hope everybody is keeping safe and well.

Out of Covid has come a number of initiatives out of necessity, one of which is how we now communicate. The Irish division has had its first Zoom meeting on December 20th with our National President Bobby Hopkin-Hoggarth present. It was a huge success and extremely interesting and insightful. I would urge and encourage every member to invest their time at these meetings as I think everybody walked away from it having learned something new.

Congratulations to John McDonagh who received his membership certificate by virtual means. We are still inviting guest speakers along to meetings but this time we are taking a slightly different approach and again we would like to thank Bobby for her attendance and for her input.

Just on a final note, please take care and stay safe and remember that every deceased in our care is potentially infectious. Hope to see you all at our next Zoom meeting.

BIE Irish Chairman

Cyril Gantley

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List of BIE Officers and Appointed Representatives for 2020

National President:

Bobby Hopkin-Hoggarth MBIE

Imm. Past President:

Dr Phil Gore MBIE

1st Vice President:

Dianne Hughes

National PRO & National General Secretary:

Karen Caney FBIE White Meadow Cottage, Brailsford, Derby DE6 3DA Tel: 01332 349035(BIE) Mobile: 07786 432014 E: karencaney@btopenworld. com

National Treasurer:

Michael Liddle FBIE 10 Yew Tree Close, Silsoe MK45 4EQ Business Tel: 01582 490005 Home Tel: 01525 860117 E: michael@silsloe.wanadoo. co.uk

Editor:

Gwen Schofield FBIE 9 Seymour Walk, Meltham, Holmfirth HD9 4BP Home Tel: 01484 851994 Mobile: 07778 279100 E: gwen.schofield@ntlworld. com

Master Fellow: David Kaye FBIE

Student Liaison Officer:

David Coster MBIE

IRISH DIVISION

Chairman:

Cyril Gantley MBIE 336 Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 Mobile: 085 7671582 E: cyril.gantley@mortuaryscience.ie

Secretary:

Susan Moran 20 Cedarwood Park, Newbridge, Co. Kildare Mobile: 086 0619500 E: susan.moran@mortuaryscience.ie

National Council Rep:

Pamela Murphy MBIE 14 Parknasillogue Court, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow Mobile: 085 7415421

2nd National Council Rep and Treasurer:

John Hawe MBIE 12 Meadow Vale, Smith’s Road, Charleville, Co.Cork Mobile: 087 6390087 E: jmhawe@eircom.net

NORTHERN IRELAND DIVISION

Chairman

Pat Harley, MBIE 67 Creggan Road, L’derry BT48 9DA Tel: 07712 899137 E: pat.harley@hotmail.co.uk

Vice Chairman:

Mrs N Taggart, MBIE 11 Alderley Crescent, Newtownabbey BT36 7WY Tel: 07917 220073 E: nikkiknockaning@aol.com

1st National Council Representative:

Laurence O’Neill MBIE 98 Stewartstown Road, Belfast BT11 9JP Tel: 028 9062 0099 E: oneill8210@hotmail.com

2nd National Council Representative:

Ellison Sloan MBIE Tel: 028 3833 6175

Treasurer:

Andrew McMullan MBIE 22 High Street, Ballymoney Co. Antrim BT53 6AQ Tel: 028 2766 2265 E: andrew@mcmullanfunerals. com

Secretary:

Liam Edwin Boyle, MBIE S. Clarke and Son Funeral Directors 12 Court Square, Newtownards, Co. Down BT23 7YN Tel: 07713 575501 E: liamboyle15@hotmail.co.uk

1st Educational Committee Representative:

Stephen Shields MBIE James Brown & Sons 300 Newtownards Road, Belfast Tel: 028 9045 1021 E: jamesbrown.belfast@ funeralpartners.com

Student Liaison Officer

Charlie Poots MBIE

Humanist funeral celebrants - A time for reflection

As always, the start of a new year seems a fitting time for reflection. There’s no doubt that 2020 was a difficult year for us all. The covid-19 pandemic brought sadness and loss on a scale that was unimaginable. Funeral Directors, embalmers, coroners, pallbearers, and celebrants were - and still are - at the sharp end of the pandemic. Despite the challenges faced - including delivering live streamed ceremonies from home - Humanist Ceremonies celebrants were widely praised for the funerals they conducted in 2020.

Personalisation and customer satisfaction

In 2020, 99% of Humanist Ceremonies funeral clients rated our ceremonies ‘5 out of 5’ for satisfaction (with 1% rating them ‘4 out of 5’). We believe this is because our funerals and memorials are totally personalised.

Humanist funerals and memorials are non-religious ceremonies that support family and friends to mourn and to celebrate the person who has died. They focus on the life they led, the relationships they forged, and the legacy they left. They are based on the humanist perspective that every life is individual and valuable.

Here are some examples of testimonials from our clients about the importance of personalisation:

‘Many people commented on how much they enjoyed hearing about all the different parts of Dad’s life.’ ‘The celebrant found a way to both tell the story of Dad’s life, and to mark his passing.’

‘The service was perfectly tailored to my late father in a way that a religious service would not have been.’

‘One person thought the celebrant was a family friend, as the tribute was so personal.’

Our approach

Clients highly rate our celebrants. So much so that 99% rated their funeral celebrants’ performance 5 out of 5 (with 1% giving a rating of 4 out of 5).

Humanists UK’s training, mentoring, and continuous professional development programme supports celebrants to work with clients in a sensitive and professional manner. We believe it is our celebrants’ attention to detail which means so much to our clients. Here are just a few of the things clients had to say about our celebrants and their approach:

‘The celebrant took the time to speak to, and include comments from, all family members which was important to us.’

‘The celebrant delivered a truly appropriate eulogy in a sensitive manner and made special efforts to include the music we requested. I shall be forever grateful for her help at a time when I felt completely helpless.’

‘The celebrant’s preparations were thorough and meticulous, and the ceremony not only ran like clockwork, but also hit exactly the right tone. Although most of the credit should go to her, it is also clear that Humanists UK provides excellent advice and training.’

A celebration of life

Ceremonies conducted by humanist celebrants are both a dignified, personal farewell and a celebration of a life.

They’re the perfect option for families who want a sincere, personal reflection on the life of their loved one.

This celebration aspect of our ceremonies often resonates with attendees, especially those who have not previously attended a humanist ceremony.

‘The service was both a celebration and a ceremony.’

‘Everyone attending commented on what a pleasant difference it was from the more traditional religious ceremonies they’d attended, and that it was the perfect ‘positive send off’ for the deceased.’

‘A true celebration of my wife’s life.’

Providing comfort

Clients often talk about how comforting they have found both the personalised ceremony and the process of working with a humanist celebrant.

‘Delightful, comforting ceremony for family and friends.’

‘Our celebrant helped us to remember what is good about life and love, as well as bring to the surface wonderful memories of my mother, even at this time of loss.’

‘The celebrant guided us through the process and ceremony with consummate ease, making us all feel safe and in good hands. I cannot thank him enough.’

Making plans

Many people tell us that attending a humanist funeral makes them decide that that is what they’d like for their own send off. This means that celebrants are frequently asked to conduct further funerals and become the family’s trusted humanist celebrant.

Many of our celebrants are now trained in pre-planning funerals for clients who wish to plan their own ceremony. By working with your local celebrant, clients’ wishes about which funeral home to use, can be recorded along with the detailed plans for the Order of Service.

‘A lot of people said they would like a humanist service after being at this one.’

‘Some of those attending the humanist funeral said they now knew exactly what they wanted.’

‘The celebrant made the service about my dad, which was wonderful. I’m going to put this in my will to do the same thing.’

Inclusive ceremonies

Because humanist funerals are non-religious, clients often comment on the inclusive nature of our ceremonies for people of different faiths and none.

‘The humanist ethos and approach really suited our family, and at the same time allowed family and friends of other faiths to experience the ceremony in their own way.’

‘The celebrant conducted an outstanding memorial. Everyone who attended was impressed.’

Bravery

We are proud of our funeral celebrants who, in addition to their usual repertoire of skills of sensitivity, kindness, and empathy, in 2020, conducted themselves with bravery and selflessness. Quickly designated as key workers, celebrants found themselves on the frontline of the pandemic, alongside fellow funeral professionals.

Celebrants made themselves available to conduct planning meetings with families by phone or video. And, they delivered socially distanced and live-streamed ceremonies. We know that their actions have brought comfort to many people at the saddest point in their lives.

If you have clients who are considering a non-religious funeral for a loved one, please share this article with them and signpost them to our website, humanistceremonies. org.uk.

Find a celebrant near you - To find your local Humanist Ceremonies celebrant, check out the directory on the inside cover of this edition of Funeral Times — or visit humanistceremonies.org.uk/find-a-funeral-celebrant.