Justin Standfield Celebrant

27/08/2026

This Sunday 30 August, is National Grief Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness of grief and encourage more open conversations about loss and bereavement.

Grief is different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and no set amount of time that it should take. Sometimes, simply knowing that someone is there to listen can make a real difference.

National Grief Awareness Day is a reminder to be kind, patient and understanding towards those who may be grieving – including those whose loss may have happened many months or even years ago.

It can also be an opportunity to remember those we have lost and to talk about the memories that keep them close to us.

This Sunday, why not take a moment to check in with someone who may be grieving, or simply take some time to remember someone special. 💙

Our recent research explores people’s experiences and preferences around funerals, including the importance of personalisation and meaningful ways to say goodbye. Read the full research here: https://ow.ly/iukf50ZG5Ro

26/08/2026

Today’s honoured a Welshman who spent the majority of his working life as a sea captain.

I spoke the final part of the committal words in Welsh, “boed i ti orffwys mewn hedd” (may you rest in peace) and his heritage was reflected in the music choices too.

, David. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

25/08/2026

I’ve been a little further afield today, to lead the service for the father-in-law of a friend.

It was an honour to help tell his story and witness all the love and appreciation in the chapel for him.

, Gordon.

24/08/2026

Today I led the funeral for a lady who loved purple, which was represented fully in the crematorium chapel today.

Clothes, lighting, the canvas wall and the flowers - everyone wanted to say goodbye with her favourite colour on show.

, Deana.





21/08/2026

Today I’m sharing a small piece of my own . This Victorian mourning card was printed in 1880 following the death of my great great grandmother Elizabeth Haydon, who died aged just 41 from bowel cancer.

In the late 19th century, these cards were commonly produced by families to announce a death and to honour the person who had died. They often included a short verse offering comfort and the hope of reunion beyond this life. Many were kept by relatives as treasured keepsakes.

Looking at this small card today is a reminder that while traditions change over time, the human experience of , remembrance and love for those who have died remains remarkably constant.

20/08/2026

📕 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Kathryn Mannix’s ‘With the End in Mind’ is one of those rare books that changes how you think about by gently teaching you how to live.

Drawing on her years as a palliative care doctor, Mannix writes with clarity, compassion and deep humanity about what really happens at the end of life, and what matters most in the time leading up to it.

Don’t worry - this isn’t a morbid or heavy read; it is reassuring, honest and quietly hopeful, offering language and understanding where many of us feel unsure or afraid.

For anyone who wants to approach death with greater , kindness and perspective, whether for themselves or for someone they love, this book is a truly meaningful companion.

19/08/2026

Another music-related post today, just to share that I’ve been working with a family today to create a truly unique service for their loved one.

They’ve chosen this amazing cover of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ to be played during the time for reflection.

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19/08/2026

Music has a way of lifting memory out of silence.

Whether it’s an upbeat track from a shared playlist or a gentle piece that feels reflective - when chosen with thought, it can give people something comforting to hold onto in the moment.

At recent funerals I’ve officiated at, we heard the Beatles, Ed Sheeran, Whitney Houston, YoYo Ma and Frank Sinatra. 🎶

18/08/2026

Today’s was for a 90 year old lady who loved pink (among other things!).

Everyone there to say goodbye wore pink, there were pink flowers and a very pink coffin. The chapel was packed with love today.

, Doris.

17/08/2026

Yesterday I had the privilege of leading a small and intimate ceremony to scatter a gentleman’s ashes at the water’s edge, two years after his and cremation.

There was something peaceful about gathering there, with the sea stretching out before us, to remember a life and complete this final act of care. The ceremony included time for reflection, a gentle Christian prayer, words spoken by his granddaughter and, finally, the scattering of his ashes to the sea and the elements.

Ashes ceremonies don’t need to be long or complicated. Sometimes a few carefully chosen words, a beautiful setting and the presence of those who matter are enough to make the moment feel meaningful and complete.