Adrienne has 15 years experience as a fully trained funeral celebrant, many of them with Arka. She is also a member of Bards Ovates and Druids. She has a background in drama, art and performance with a sprinkling of therapeutic training which she finds invaluable. She loves working in different settings and with people from vastly different backgrounds, and believes nothing is inappropriate in creating a fitting ceremony for someone you have loved and lost, and expects the process to be a journey involving collaboration and inclusivity. Coming from the North of England she brings a natural warmth and earthiness as well as a sense of humour to her work.

Em is an independent celebrant who supports people who are dying, and their friends and their families to plan end of life rituals, ceremonies and memorials.
They will work with you to plan and deliver the best memorial possible for your loved one. They create intentional and loving space to celebrate the life that was and make sure that you feel supported in both the love and the grief that comes with that.

Grant loves people’s stories and creating ceremonies that reflect their life, as it was lived. After caring for a family member who was dying, he trained to be a celebrant to support others on this journey. Brighton born and bred, he can often be found spinning records as a DJ around town or supporting Brighton and Hove Albion football club.

Julie is a celebrant with 15 years experience of creating funeral ceremonies, some very simple, others expansive and highly original, all personal and caring. She does not come from any specific religious or spiritual background. Julie believes that everyone deserves a meaningful and beautiful funeral, and she will listen to you to reflect the beliefs, the nature and the individuality of the person you are celebrating and saying goodbye to. She works with warmth, truth and kindness.

Li Mills, who is also one of our funeral arrangers, brings a warmth and honesty that is very much appreciated by families she has supported. She comes from a teaching background but is also very involved in the Death Doula movement and leads various local choirs. Very skilled in so many areas and very much part of the community here in Brighton.

Peter Owen Jones works as a parish priest. He is also a presenter for the BBC, working on programmes such as ‘Around the World in Eighty Faiths’ and ‘How to live a simple life’. In his work for the BBC he has experienced many different faith perspectives, and taken part in many different ceremonies. It is this unique combination of experience that has led him to our door.

Becky has spent her working life as a writer and performer for stage and screen and has written several books for children. When her own children were young she felt the need for some grown-up human contact, so trained as a listening volunteer with the Samaritans which she still loves doing. Her role as a humanist celebrant brings together all her skills, interests and experience. ‘I believe a good funeral is as much about the living as the person who has died. It can be formal or informal, simple or flamboyant; there can be music, poetry, flowers and photos; laughter as well as tears. Most of all there will be memories: memories to celebrate the person’s life and help their family and friends support each other as they say goodbye.’

River Jones is an independent celebrant. She is a member of the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants, River is passionate about upholding the motto of ‘respecting all faiths and none’, and creating ceremonies where everyone can feel welcome and relaxed. She is also a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and very happy to draw on the inspiration of the natural world in her work.

Hello I’m Sarah. Some of you may know me from previously working as a Funeral Director for Arka. I have always loved supporting people with ceremonies. I listen well, ask lots of questions and then interpret that into a meaningful tribute to your loved one. You’re the expert here though, and I do my best to get to the essence of what you need.

Simon’s ceremonies are non religious and are ‘rites of passage’ that offer a chance for people to witness together a transitional moment in their lives. “I believe funerals are about coming to terms with loss, it is my hope that participants enter a ceremony in one state and leave acknowledging that something has changed in them (and for them) for the better.  People tell me I am a kind, funny, pragmatic, approachable and creative man.  I am a widower, so I have experience of Love and Loss, and Love again. I have lived in Brighton for nearly 30 years and have three young daughters to keep me on my toes.”