News
Plymouth celebrant Wendy Coulton was named a national runner up for the Celebrant of the Year 2017 title at the funeral industry Oscars in recognition of her services for the bereaved.
Twenty eight contenders for this award category were considered by The Good Funeral Award judges and Wendy was announced as one of three runners up at a prestigious ceremony in London.
The award judges were impressed by the innovative work Wendy has done above and beyond conducting celebration of life funerals in the city.
Initiatives she has led include the first Death Cafes to encourage open discussion about end of life matters; and organising a free public two day event called The Elephant in the Room to provide guidance on a range of issues from wills and finances to organ donation and bereavement counselling. She has also championed greater choice for funeral service venues with new places being used like Devonport Guildhall, Mountbatten Sailing Centre and the Moorland Garden Hotel. Regarded as the Oscars for the funeral industry, the independent Good Funeral Award organisers says being a winner can be a sign that the public can enjoy the high quality service they deserve.
Wendy, who was the first Plymouth-based celebrant when she created Dragonfly Funerals four years ago, said: “I would be fibbing if I didn’t admit having mixed feelings about being so tantalizingly close to winning the overall national Celebrant of the Year title but the response and support locally and from further afield has been greatly appreciated. It means a lot knowing that my professional peers see the benefit of what I have been doing for the bereaved in my community.”
Wendy added: “This award recognition has reaffirmed why supporting bereaved people is my vocation. I will always strive to serve those who need me to the best of my abilities and where I feel there is potential to enhance the experience of the bereaved I hope to change things for the better. I don’t work alone though and value the relationship I have with funeral directors and their teams, crematorium and cemetery staff and the open minded venues which host funeral services and end of life-related events. And of course I couldn’t do any of this without the support and understanding of my own fantastic family and friends.”
Twenty eight contenders for this award category were considered by The Good Funeral Award judges and Wendy was announced as one of three runners up at a prestigious ceremony in London.
The award judges were impressed by the innovative work Wendy has done above and beyond conducting celebration of life funerals in the city.
Initiatives she has led include the first Death Cafes to encourage open discussion about end of life matters; and organising a free public two day event called The Elephant in the Room to provide guidance on a range of issues from wills and finances to organ donation and bereavement counselling. She has also championed greater choice for funeral service venues with new places being used like Devonport Guildhall, Mountbatten Sailing Centre and the Moorland Garden Hotel. Regarded as the Oscars for the funeral industry, the independent Good Funeral Award organisers says being a winner can be a sign that the public can enjoy the high quality service they deserve.
Wendy, who was the first Plymouth-based celebrant when she created Dragonfly Funerals four years ago, said: “I would be fibbing if I didn’t admit having mixed feelings about being so tantalizingly close to winning the overall national Celebrant of the Year title but the response and support locally and from further afield has been greatly appreciated. It means a lot knowing that my professional peers see the benefit of what I have been doing for the bereaved in my community.”
Wendy added: “This award recognition has reaffirmed why supporting bereaved people is my vocation. I will always strive to serve those who need me to the best of my abilities and where I feel there is potential to enhance the experience of the bereaved I hope to change things for the better. I don’t work alone though and value the relationship I have with funeral directors and their teams, crematorium and cemetery staff and the open minded venues which host funeral services and end of life-related events. And of course I couldn’t do any of this without the support and understanding of my own fantastic family and friends.”
GOOD FUNERAL AWARDS 2017
Plymouth Funeral Celebrant in line for a top honour
Plymouth funeral celebrant Wendy Coulton has been selected from hundreds of nominees to go through to the final stages of this year’s Good Funeral Awards.
Wendy is now in line to win the prestigious title of Celebrant of the Year. Award winners will be announced at a special ceremony at Porchester Hall in London on 7 September 2017.
The Good Funeral Awards are now in their sixth year and recognise excellence in the world of funerals, rewarding the best funeral directors and all associated services that are involved in creating memorable funerals.
Wholly independent of the funeral industry, the awards are supported by consumer advocates the Good Funeral Guide and the Natural Death Centre.
Chief Executive of the Good Funeral Guide and joint organiser of the awards event Fran Hall said: “The Good Funeral Awards recognise exceptional service to bereaved people from all aspects of the funeral industry and supporting services.
“By progressing this far, Wendy has already demonstrated outstanding professionalism, empathy and a willingness to go the extra mile.”
Brian Jenner, awards co-organiser, said: “The Good Funeral Awards recognise all those unsung heroes who work so hard for the bereaved and whose role can so easily be overlooked. Some of the nicest people in Britain work in the funeral business.”
Wendy, who has served the bereaved in Plymouth and surrounding communities in Devon and Cornwall for the past four years, said: “To receive this recognition of my service and care of the bereaved from an independent national advocate of excellence in the funeral industry is a real boost.
“I am very proud to have made it through to the final stage for an award because it showcases the innovative approach and choice I passionately promote to improve the experience of the bereaved. I couldn’t have done this without the open mindedness and trust of key partners including funeral directors and venues where I conduct funerals.”
For more information go to www.goodfuneralawards.co.uk or contact:
Wendy Coulton 07970 857760
Wendycoulton12@gmail.com
www.dragonflyfunerals.co.uk
Wendy is now in line to win the prestigious title of Celebrant of the Year. Award winners will be announced at a special ceremony at Porchester Hall in London on 7 September 2017.
The Good Funeral Awards are now in their sixth year and recognise excellence in the world of funerals, rewarding the best funeral directors and all associated services that are involved in creating memorable funerals.
Wholly independent of the funeral industry, the awards are supported by consumer advocates the Good Funeral Guide and the Natural Death Centre.
Chief Executive of the Good Funeral Guide and joint organiser of the awards event Fran Hall said: “The Good Funeral Awards recognise exceptional service to bereaved people from all aspects of the funeral industry and supporting services.
“By progressing this far, Wendy has already demonstrated outstanding professionalism, empathy and a willingness to go the extra mile.”
Brian Jenner, awards co-organiser, said: “The Good Funeral Awards recognise all those unsung heroes who work so hard for the bereaved and whose role can so easily be overlooked. Some of the nicest people in Britain work in the funeral business.”
Wendy, who has served the bereaved in Plymouth and surrounding communities in Devon and Cornwall for the past four years, said: “To receive this recognition of my service and care of the bereaved from an independent national advocate of excellence in the funeral industry is a real boost.
“I am very proud to have made it through to the final stage for an award because it showcases the innovative approach and choice I passionately promote to improve the experience of the bereaved. I couldn’t have done this without the open mindedness and trust of key partners including funeral directors and venues where I conduct funerals.”
For more information go to www.goodfuneralawards.co.uk or contact:
Wendy Coulton 07970 857760
Wendycoulton12@gmail.com
www.dragonflyfunerals.co.uk
Benefits of self-planning your funeral in advance
Why should we plan our own send-off? The well-known saying goes ‘it’s what he/she would have wanted’, and planning ahead for a funeral can do just that. Everyone is different - some people want a religious funeral, some want it to be a celebration of their life, some want solemnity and some want humour - so it may be worth customising our own send-off in advance.
Wendy Coulton, a funeral celebrant whose job is to help make funeral ceremonies more personalised and memorable, said: “It can be a last act of love to alleviate any distress or hardship to those we love. Someone will be tasked with sorting the funeral when the time comes, so the more your wishes are known, the more helpful it is for the person tasked with organising the funeral.”
Extract from an online feature run by the Daily Telegraph (financial services) on 1 June 2017 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/financial-services/retirement-solutions/funeral-plans/plan-your-funeral/
Wendy Coulton, a funeral celebrant whose job is to help make funeral ceremonies more personalised and memorable, said: “It can be a last act of love to alleviate any distress or hardship to those we love. Someone will be tasked with sorting the funeral when the time comes, so the more your wishes are known, the more helpful it is for the person tasked with organising the funeral.”
Extract from an online feature run by the Daily Telegraph (financial services) on 1 June 2017 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/financial-services/retirement-solutions/funeral-plans/plan-your-funeral/
Making those lasting wishes come true
Wendy Coulton became Plymouth’s first funeral celebrant four years ago and since then has planned a myriad of services, guiding families through the most agonising time before saying goodbye to their loved ones in the best way possible.
A feature run in the Plymouth Herald on 23 May 2017.
Extract from Online version with video interview clips: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/plymouth-s-most-weird-and-wonderful-funerals/story-30342952-detail/story.htm
A feature run in the Plymouth Herald on 23 May 2017.
Extract from Online version with video interview clips: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/plymouth-s-most-weird-and-wonderful-funerals/story-30342952-detail/story.htm