Oak Celebrant Services

Oak Celebrant Services Funeral Celebrant My name is Simon Oak, and I am a funeral celebrant based on the outskirts of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. I also love to travel.

Born and bred in the city, I genuinely cannot think of an area of the country I would rather live. The city, the surrounding towns and villages, the countryside, the sporting and arts scene. I live in a great place, and the people that live here are some of the warmest, kindest, most genuine and straight talking people that I have met anywhere in the world. I have a wonderful wife, and have been b

lessed with twin daughters, both of whom I am immensely proud of. In my spare time I’m a keen runner, competing at masters level, and I love to watch football and motor racing. I regularly attend live music and comedy, and I like to walk and enjoy the nature that we are blessed with in our area. After 30 years as a manager in the construction industry, a sector I love, but found increasingly difficult to enjoy, I took the decision to retrain in celebrancy. Throughout my life I had been asked to write eulogies and read at weddings and funerals for family and friends, so it seemed like a natural path to follow. I chose UKSOC to train me, as they’re a leading light in celebrancy, and my membership offers you some unique guarantees that other organisations do not give. So what does my new role entail? We all know that we cannot live forever. Some are blessed with a long and fruitful life, whilst others are taken far too soon. Having lost my dad and my brother at an early age, I know this all too well. Regardless of when we go and how we go, I know that we all have a story to tell, and my role is to tell that story. You might like to think of me as a biographer. Losing someone is never easy, but I will work closely with you to give your loved one a unique ceremony which places them at the centre. Whatever you think is fitting, I will strive to deliver. I will play as big or as small a part on the day as you wish, but I will take charge of the preparations for the ceremony, and will see to it that the deceased receives a send of that they would love. If you know exactly what you want, I can make that a reality. If you have no idea where to start, I can guide you through the process of creating a ceremony, and suggest music, poems, readings or prayers that you may wish to include. I am happy to lead funerals from completely humanist celebrations of life through to full on Christian faith-based ceremonies. What is most important to me is that I create a unique ceremony to suit the desires of the one we are saying goodbye to and their loved ones. I will lead cremations, burials, resomations and memorial services at a location that you think suits the occasion the best. My role is to serve and support you however I can, in what can be a very distressing time. I regularly work in South Yorkshire, North East Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire, but if you want me to travel further afield, then I’m happy to discuss that as well. Feel free to contact me if my services are of interest, or if you simply have more questions that you would like to ask. There’s no charge for a chat, and it might just take a weight off your mind. Thanks for taking time to look at my page.

I sometimes post about the beautiful flowers and landscapes at my local crematoria, but this summer has presented me wit...
27/08/2026

I sometimes post about the beautiful flowers and landscapes at my local crematoria, but this summer has presented me with some wildlife encounters as well. At Grenoside Crematorium some blue t**s chose an unusual place to rear their brood, whilst at Mansfield Crematorium I got treated to seeing a couple of deer going about their day. According to one of the staff there, they are regular visitors and live in the woods next-door.

This week I led a memorial for a lovely lady at the wonderful . It's a beautiful building, tucked away behind the parish...
20/08/2026

This week I led a memorial for a lovely lady at the wonderful . It's a beautiful building, tucked away behind the parish church, and it was the perfect venue for family and friends to pay tribute. I have to confess, having lived in Handsworth for four years, back in the 90s, I had no idea that it was there, but I'll be telling people about it in future.

This week saw me lead my first funeral at Babworth Crematorium since their reopening as a SuperVenue. What's a SuperVenu...
13/08/2026

This week saw me lead my first funeral at Babworth Crematorium since their reopening as a SuperVenue. What's a SuperVenue I hear you cry? Well the have developed the concept with to turn the back wall into a huge screen that can have all manner of images and themes displayed. This, along with mood lighting and a few other nifty bits allow families to create an even more unique funeral for their loved one. As you can see, there are several backgrounds that can be chosen, and there are plans for fully bespoke options in the future. And if it isn't for you, then the screen can either be left blank or you can revert to an image of the brickwork that was there previously. Personally, I like that families now have even more choice than before; and if you'd like to check it out they have an open day on Saturday 19th September between 10am & 2pm.

Please note, none of these photos are taken from actual funerals.

Last Friday saw the sentencing of Robert Bush, the disgraced Funeral Director from Hull. Whether his 20 year sentence is...
06/08/2026

Last Friday saw the sentencing of Robert Bush, the disgraced Funeral Director from Hull. Whether his 20 year sentence is sufficient is open to debate, but what isn't debatable is the hurt that he has caused those families that he hoodwinked and the harm that he has done to the funeral industry.

Every sector has a few bad eggs. It doesn't make the entire sector bad, but in an industry that relies on the trust of the families that it serves, this awful situation has been very damaging. What I can say, hand on heart, is that the Funeral Directors that I regularly work with can be trusted. I have been back of house at the majority of them and have seen first-hand the standards that they work to. Having lost my mum earlier this year, I know how important it is to have absolute confidence in the Funeral Director caring for your loved one. I find it crazy that there is no regulatory body for the funeral industry, but that is beyond control. Hopefully it changes soon. But regardless, I will continue to serve my families to the absolute best of my abilities, and I will continue to work with some of the best Funeral Directors in the area.

The grass across the country may resemble straw, but the wildlife pond at Sherwood Forest Crematorium is still looking l...
30/07/2026

The grass across the country may resemble straw, but the wildlife pond at Sherwood Forest Crematorium is still looking lush, despite the long, hot summer. The flower beds are still popping with colour as well. It's a lovely place to work.

For a while now, you have been able to send letters to heaven by popping them in the letterbox that is at most crematori...
23/07/2026

For a while now, you have been able to send letters to heaven by popping them in the letterbox that is at most crematoriums these days, but it was only whilst I was at Sherwood Forest Crematorium this week that I spotted that CMG, the group that operates a few crematoriums local to me, now have a book for children (or adults if you wish), to help you with your letter and to help you to remember your loved one. It's a fantastic idea ❤

Last week one of my families said goodbye to the matriarch of their family, who they lovingly referred to as Queen Bee, ...
16/07/2026

Last week one of my families said goodbye to the matriarch of their family, who they lovingly referred to as Queen Bee, so the florist came up trumps with this lovely floral tribute. Absolutely brilliant!

This week I received a lovely handmade thank you card from a family who I did a funeral for. It had a lovely piece of cr...
09/07/2026

This week I received a lovely handmade thank you card from a family who I did a funeral for. It had a lovely piece of cross stitch on the front that added that extra personal touch 💙

I've been up at Grenoside Crematorium for a couple of funerals this week and some of the summer flowers are looking beau...
02/07/2026

I've been up at Grenoside Crematorium for a couple of funerals this week and some of the summer flowers are looking beautiful. The views today were stunning, even if it was blowing a gale! If you fancy taking a look around the crematorium at Grenoside, without having to go to a funeral, they are hosting an open day on 25th July between 11am & 2pm. It's a fascinating experience.

Last Thursday I was invited to take a look around the new Roseland Park & Crematorium at Shirebrook in Nottinghamshire. ...
25/06/2026

Last Thursday I was invited to take a look around the new Roseland Park & Crematorium at Shirebrook in Nottinghamshire. It is, quite simply, stunning. The chapel is modern and welcoming; the views are beautiful and the building itself (being a construction nerd) is amazing. Along with the chapel there is a wake facility with an in-house catering team, a cafe which is open to the public and some beautiful grounds. I got to meet the team, some of who I know from their previous jobs, and I'm sure that they will make this a huge success. It offers an alternative funeral venue for those living in Mansfield, Worksop, Chesterfield and the surrounding towns and villages, and I’m very much looking forward to leading my first ceremony there once it opens next month.

Address

West Bank Drive
Sheffield
S255

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