Rich Gordon Independent Humanist

19/05/2026

I’m utterly devastated to learn of the sudden passing of my friend Mary this morning. I met her and her husband Malcolm in 2015 when I climbed Beinn Challuim with them to pipe Malcolm at the summit to mark his final Munro. Sadly with Malcolm’s passing last year the last time I saw Mary was at Malcolm’s funeral in Loughborough. So it is with a profound shock and sadness that I learned of her passing today. Mary was a formidable woman, a true fighting spirit with a tenacious and bold approach to life and a deeply grounded, logical head on her shoulders. Like Malcolm, she was always a pleasure to spend time with and chat to, and her passing now leaves a massive hole in our lives. The small comfort to me at least is that she is now reunited with Malcolm. It’s tremendously difficult to express my grief today. Rest well, Mary. ‘Til all are one. ❤️

13/05/2026

This is a fantastic idea.

Mark and Jack Stewart create memorials with a difference, including plaques with QR codes linking to digital remembrance pages. Read more: https://ebx.sh/Gtbu3N

06/05/2026

Today I had the honour of celebrating the life of Ronnie Duke at Seafield Crematorium in Edinburgh. I was there as celebrant and as piper . Being as I’m friends with Ronnie’s daughter Chelsea it was lovely to be able to help out today. And what a day we got for it too! Fare thee weel Ronnie. That’s a big gap you’ve left behind. 🥰🫡

29/10/2025

Today, we celebrated the life of a brilliant young lady whose life was cut tragically short. I was asked to help at the last minute when sadly the intended celebrant took suddenly ill. As a celebrant this was my first experience conducting the funeral of someone so young; as a piper I’ve witnessed the funerals of all ages of people but always had that distance. As a father myself, days like today really bring home the agony that many parents must experience, and for these people my@heart truly aches. Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe today’s event. However, the amount of people who came to bid farewell to the deceased was overwhelming; there was insufficient space in the chapel to accommodate everyone. This really warmed my heart to see. The outpouring of love and support was incredible, and this put me at ease as I prepared to deliver the script I’d received less than an hour earlier. I hope that she was able to see how many people cared for her and loved her today. It was my honour to conduct today’s ceremony and I wish to extend my sincerest thanks to for entrusting me with the task. 🥰

25/09/2025

It’s official! I have a name badge and everything now. :) Thanks to SICA for welcoming me aboard.

03/09/2025

It's official now:

https://celebrants.scot/profile/rich-gordon/

Scottish Independent Celebrants Association

I’ve had a varied career prior to becoming a celebrant. Despite my education being in Scottish History, for many years I worked in the higher and further education sector in predominantly IT-based roles, branching out into teaching and lecturing along the way.

18/08/2025

Today has been a very good day.

Not only did I get to have an amazing day out with my daughter, enjoying the last few moments of the summer holidays, indulging in our shared passion for roller coasters, I also got some amazing news.

I’ve been formally approved as a full member with SICA; the Scottish Independent Celebrant Association.

This is a big deal as they don’t just let anyone join. 😅 Riffraff from Fife have to work hard to earn membership!

I’d like to extend my profoundest gratitude to fellow celebrant Angela Maughan Ceremonies whose mentorship and general friendship have been tremendous.

I’m also going to thank Mary who graciously permitted me to share the live stream of her late husband Malcolm’s funeral to enable this process to conclude.

SICA is an organisation that offers much more than just celebrants. I look forward to contributing to this and hopefully provide something meaningful to society. 🥰

Photo quite unrelated; just me feeling happy the other week playing sax at Boturich Castle on Loch Lomond.

https://www.facebook.com/ScottishIndependentCelebrantsAssociation

05/08/2025

Rest well, Malcolm. You’ve earned it. I hope you enjoyed the send off. 🥰

31/07/2025

10 years ago this October, I had the privilege of sharing an epic moment with this gentleman. His name was Malcolm and he climbed his final Munro after 36 years, and hired me to play pipes at the summit. He was such a lovely man and chatting to him was so easy. We remained friends ever since and in 2020 I was invited to Leicestershire to play at his brother’s wake. Fast forward to this year and sadly Malcolm passed away after a short battle. However, this remarkable man lived every day of his remaining life to its fullest, raising a whopping £4k for charity by undertaking a tandem skydive. I have been honoured again to both pipe at and deliver his funeral service next week in Loughborough, I suppose it’s very fitting that I should be there to play his final summit again. Learning about his life has been an inspirational experience. A truly remarkable man who overcame a great deal of adversity and never once stopped exploring the world. He climbed many literal and metaphorical mountains in his life and didn’t let anything hold him back. We can all learn so much from this man. I’m truly blessed to have known him and his lovely wife. Rest well Malcolm, I will see you again some day i’m sure.

01/07/2025

Today I had the honour of working back at Brewsterwells Crematorium, with the same family again as I did at another funeral last year. It’s always lovely to be invited back, although I do appreciate that the circumstances are less than ideal.

I also worked with James Ashton & Son for the first time as celebrant today.

Now you may be wondering why there is a photo of a car here?

Well, much to my malign, my car decided that 3/4 mile from the crematorium was the ideal location to stop working.

Mercifully it was a short walk there, and half way between the car and the crematorium, Callum from Ashton pulled over in the hearse to rescue me.

So it was very much a day of unique experiences. I’m just glad it wasn’t as hot and muggy as it has been today. Not ideal conditions to do a quick march in a kilt!

Anyway, I made it and was able to perform my duties, providing a bit of piping at the end.

My gratitude as always to all, and my warmest wishes. 🥰