Anna Battersby Funeral Celebrant

19/08/2026

This was the view from the chapel at Glynn Valley this week. 🌺 Sometimes I just have to pause and appreciate how peaceful our local spaces are. We are so fortunate here in Cornwall to have such stunning, tranquil settings to say goodbye — whether it’s the views here at Glynn Valley in Bodmin, the beautiful grounds at Treswithian Downs in Camborne, or Penmount in Truro.

Looking out at those rolling green hills and blue skies brings such a quiet sense of calm to a room, especially on a day when emotions are running high.

Nature has a subtle way of bringing a little bit of comfort right when it’s needed most. 🌿☁️

13/07/2026

I’ve had the honour of meeting so many lovely families over the last few weeks, which is why I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately.

But my mind keeps drifting back to a service I delivered recently.

I had the privilege of sharing a tribute and a poem on behalf of a wonderful lady who had been in love with her husband for 62 years, and married for almost 50. 🌍

The poem she chose was "The Life That I Have" by Leo Marks. Sharing these words after a whole lifetime of loving someone was just incredibly moving:
"The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours

The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.”

It was such a beautiful, poignant moment, and a huge reminder of why I feel so lucky to do this work and help families put a lifetime of love into goodbye. 🤍

02/07/2026

Receiving a message like this means the absolute world to me. ❤️

When a family trusts me to share the story of someone they love, my absolute priority is to listen carefully and make sure their wishes are completely brought to life.

Knowing that this collaborative process brought comfort and helped make an incredibly difficult day feel "perfect" is exactly why I love what I do.

Thank you so much to this wonderful family for your beautiful words. 🙏✨

21/06/2026

Father’s Day can be an incredibly tough day to navigate when your dad is no longer here. 🤍

I’ve been thinking today about a service I conducted recently, where a son chose "Monsters" by James Blunt for his dad’s funeral. If you know the song, you’ll know just how raw and beautiful the lyrics are, written by Blunt when his father was very ill and expected to imminently lose his health battle.

It’s all about that heartbreaking moment when the roles reverse, and a son has to be the strong one, saying to his father:
“I'm not your son, you're not my father
We're just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you're sleeping I'll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won't you just close your eyes?
Don't be afraid, it's my turn
To chase the monsters away”

It was a deeply moving moment in the service, and a reminder of the unique, powerful bond between a father and child.

For everyone who is missing their dad today, or finding today a little heavy - I am thinking of you. Be gentle with yourselves, and take comfort in the stories and the shared passions that keep their memory alive. 🤍

The official music video for James Blunt - MonstersTaken from the...

18/06/2026

✨ Why transparency matters when saying goodbye. ✨

You might have seen in the news this week that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have banned a television advert for a major national direct cremation company. The watchdog ruled it was misleading because the advert used footage of a family gathering to share memories, giving people the false impression that an attended service or ceremony was included in their standard plan - which it isn't.

Unattended direct cremations absolutely have their place and are the right choice for some people. But as a celebrant, it’s heartbreaking to hear that families are facing real distress because they didn't fully understand what they were signing up for until it was too late.

When people choose an unattended direct cremation without all the information, they miss out on the chance to come together, to hear stories, to play meaningful music, and to have that vital moment to collectively say goodbye.

If you feel a direct cremation (a cremation without a ceremony) is right for you, or if you want to understand exactly how this differs from a more traditional funeral service, I highly recommend speaking to a trusted local funeral director. They can talk you through all of your logistical options with complete honesty and if a direct cremation is right for you then they can work with you - close to home - to make all the arrangements.

Everyone deserves to have full choice and total clarity when planning for the future, so please just double-check exactly what is - and isn't - included in a plan. 🤍

06/06/2026

✨ A question I'm often asked... ✨

After spending the bank holiday weekend with my friends and family, many of which have never organised a funeral, I was asked repeatedly: “How do you know you’ve got the service right? How do you know the family will actually like what you say?”

The short answer is: because we write it together.

I never walk into a service with a surprise script. Every word is approved. My role isn't to guess what a family wants or to impose my own ideas of what a funeral 'should' look like. Ultimately, the service is entirely about what the next of kin instructs me to write, and my job is simply to listen and bring those wishes to life.

After sitting down with the next of kin and family to hear their memories, stories, and the specific tone they want to set, I write the service from scratch based on their direction and send them the first draft. They get to read it in their own time, check the details, and tweak the phrasing until it feels completely right. It does not matter how many drafts we have, as long as it is right.

Because every script is fully approved and guided by the next of kin, there are no guessing games on the day. Whether the service ends up being quiet and traditional, or full of lighthearted moments and favourite music, it belongs entirely to the family and only consists of their wishes for their loved one's goodbye.

By the time the day arrives, they know exactly what’s coming - leaving them free to just focus on saying goodbye. 📝

16/05/2026

Tonight is Eurovision, and while it’s known for being a bit "out there," it’s a great reminder of how much music defines us as individuals.

In my work, music is often the most important part of the service. I’m frequently asked if certain songs are "allowed," and my answer is always the same - if it meant something to your loved one and it feels right for their family and friends, then it belongs.

I’ve helped families include everything from traditional Polish folk music to video game soundtracks and even Christmas carols in the middle of spring. One of my personal favourites was closing the curtains at the perfect, high-energy moment of 'Don't Stop Me Now' - it was exactly the comedic exit he would have wanted as a pantomime villain who loved keeping his fellow performers on their toes! 🎭

Whether it's a grand anthem or something others might find "unusual," it’s about honouring the person in the right way. There are no rules when it comes to the music that tells your story. 🎶✨

07/05/2026

In my role, I have the pleasure of driving all over Cornwall to meet families. When I’m busy, I try to take a few moments on my travels to stop and pause, just to appreciate the beauty of the county I get to call home. There’s something about a quiet evening in the Cornish countryside that really helps you reset after a busy fortnight.

This evening's journey was one of my favourites to do at sunset. I love the drive between the North and South coasts; from the higher ground in the middle, it feels like you can almost touch both coastlines at once. Stithians Reservoir looked too enticing this evening to pass by without a quick stop - though the views from the winding hill roads just a few moments before were even more beautiful!

It’s a privilege to do this work, and I’ve definitely appreciated these quiet moments of grateful reflection lately. 🌅

20/04/2026

I took this lovely photo over the weekend. You can’t really beat a Cornish spring when it looks like this! 🩷

The pink path felt like a bit of a celebration in itself. It reminded me of why I love living and working here - there is something so grounding about this landscape, especially when you’re dealing with life’s difficulties.

Wishing everyone a warm and colourful week. 🌸

15/04/2026

I was so honoured to help a wonderful family say their final goodbye at an ashes scattering last week. As we stood together, looking out over the Cornish countryside, I read this fantastic poem at their request.

Others are often surprised to know that some families prefer to add a bit of humour or light-heartedness to a scattering or interment service. These services don't always have to be formal and sombre. In fact, for many people, the best way to honour them is with a laugh.

This poem, ‘Pardon Me for Not Getting Up,’ perfectly captured their mum's character and had everyone smiling through the tears.

It’s just another reminder that a service can be whatever a family needs it to be—there are no rules when it comes to saying goodbye. 🌳💚