Some paths to celebrancy are unexpected. Hannah’s journey from General Practice to celebrancy was shaped by over two decades of sitting with people in their hardest moments – and by the profound experience of losing her own mother. A GP, Macmillan doctor, lifestyle physician, and coach, Hannah arrived at funeral celebrancy not by chance, but by calling. This is her story.
“It Showed Me How Powerful a Thoughtfully Held Ceremony Can Be”
What made you first think about becoming a funeral celebrant?
Supporting others through difficult times has always felt natural to me- it’s where I’m most myself. I’ve always needed my work to matter, to genuinely change lives for the better.
When my mum died in 2023, I had my first personal experience with a funeral celebrant. The day was individual, celebratory, and full of love. It helped us grieve for my mum in a way that felt honest and healing. That experience stayed with me. It showed me how powerful a thoughtfully held ceremony can be, and I knew I wanted to offer that same sense of meaning and comfort to others.
I’ve always loved writing and discovered a real joy in public speaking after being invited to speak at a coaching conference. Combine that with a restless curiosity, a desire to try something completely different, and my background in medicine, coaching, and end‑of‑life care, and funeral celebrancy emerged as the perfect next chapter – one that feels both deeply personal and profoundly purposeful.
“I Knew I Was in the Right Place”
Why did you choose to work with Dinah for your training?
I take this work seriously – I wanted training that would support me to be the best funeral celebrant I could be. That meant finding a course that was specific, in-depth, and holistic, one that reflected my own values of inclusivity and compassion.
I also needed something bespoke. We all arrive with different strengths and gaps, and I wanted guidance tailored to mine. The moment I opened the bright purple Celebrant Trainer folder that Dinah sent through the post to me, and saw that the first module was focused around Inclusivity and Diversity, I knew I was in the right place.
The Training That Adapted to Her
What most surprised you about the training?
How adaptable Dinah was. I learn best by reading material first, reflecting on it, and then asking questions. When I suggested switching from presentation-based teaching to a flipped-classroom approach—watching videos in advance and discussing them afterwards- she embraced it immediately and completely. That flexibility made all the difference.
Twenty Years of Medicine – and Everything It Taught Her
Tell us a bit about your career before becoming a celebrant
I qualified as a doctor in 2005 and as a GP in 2011, working within the NHS for over twenty years. For eight of those years I was a Macmillan GP, specialising in supporting people living with cancer and those experiencing bereavement.
In 2020 I became a Lifestyle Physician, deepening my understanding of the science behind wellbeing. A year later I qualified as a coach and began working with health professionals – particularly those navigating long-term illness or grief.
Alongside all of this, I tutor first-year medical students at Hull York Medical School, teaching communication skills and much more.
“Above All, My Experience Has Taught Me How to Listen. Really Listen.”
What skills from your previous working experience do you think will be most helpful in your work as a celebrant?
My years as a GP, Macmillan GP, Lifestyle Physician, and coach have prepared me well for this work. I’m comfortable being alongside people during their hardest moments. I don’t shy away from sensitive conversations, and I know how to hold space with empathy and patience. I understand the power of silence.
Above all, my experience has taught me how to listen. Really listen. That’s the foundation of everything I do.
Every Goodbye Deserves to Reflect a Unique Life
What types of ceremony are you hoping to create?
The ceremonies I create won’t be mine – they’ll belong to the person who has died and to those who loved them. Every ceremony will be shaped entirely by what the family shares with me, so it feels true to the life being honoured.
Some ceremonies will take place in crematoriums, some in natural burial grounds, and some elsewhere, in places that held real meaning for the person who has died – perhaps a favourite woodland, a garden, or a spot by the sea that felt like home.
I’m committed to creating ceremonies that are fully inclusive and reflective of the rich diversity of the people I serve. That means honouring different cultures, beliefs, identities, family structures, and ways of expressing grief and celebration. Whether a family wants something quiet and reflective, joyful and celebratory, or something entirely their own, I will hold space for it with respect and openness.
Every ceremony will be unique – because every life is unique, and every goodbye deserves to reflect that.
Five Things About Hannah
- I’m happiest outdoors – whether I’m swimming, walking in nature, or waging a losing battle against the bindweed in my garden. I’m a year‑round open‑water swimmer, whatever the weather. My husband once joked that I can’t walk past a puddle without wondering if it’s swimmable, and he’s not entirely wrong. Being in cold water makes me feel alive and steady.
- We grow as much of our own fruit and vegetables as we can, and there’s nothing better than eating something you’ve nurtured from seed. I’m also into fermenting and preserving – very handy when the garden produces a glut.
- I meditate twice a day and have done for almost five years. It’s my space to reflect, clear my head, and prepare for whatever comes next. That sense of stillness and presence is something I bring into my work with families too.
- I have four children, aged eight to sixteen, a dog called Harper, and three rescue cats – Sami, Pickle, and Adam. Our house is lively, chaotic, and full of love, the kind of place where someone is always singing, chatting, or hunting for a missing shoe.
- I love baking with my family. We spend hours in the kitchen using recipes passed down from my mum, or experimenting with new ones. It’s messy, creative, and full of laughter – exactly how I like life to be.
Contact Hannah:
And her website
Hannah’s journey from General Practice to celebrancy is a powerful reminder that the skills and compassion we build throughout our working lives can find a profound new purpose. If her story has stayed with you, and you’re wondering whether celebrancy might be your next chapter, I’d love to have that conversation with you.
Book an Informed Decision Session and let’s find out what kind of celebrant you might become.