Angela Jane Dann Celebrancy

18/06/2026

REGARDING PURE CREMATIONS ADVERT
You may have noticed in the news over the last day or two that a television advert from Pure Cremations has been banned by the Advertising Authority because of misleading information

Pure Cremations offer unattended direct cremation services. Their advert was deemed misleading in that people were under the assumption they would be allowed a direct cremation with an accompanying service. Some families have subsequently revealed they bought a package from Pure Cremations on the understanding they would have a direct service with an associated ceremony (and have since gone elsewhere for their funeral plans)

Virtually every independent funeral director will offer a direct cremation - many of them have much more flexibility and will include personal touches that can be tailored to the wishes of the families. Your local independent funeral director will be able to take time to discuss with you in full what your options are without the often hostile, fast-paced hard sell that you often get with some of the companies that only offer direct cremation

Funeral directors that operate as part of a chain or in a group will also more than likely offer direct cremation - but these can be very limiting and many are non-negotiable

Your independent funeral director will often allow you to have a chapel visit or to allow your loved one dressed in certain clothes and include keepsakes in the coffin. Chain funeral directors may not do this, and almost certainly a direct cremation only company will not

It's important to know what you want as part of a funeral package and that you are clear with what the funeral provider is offering. There is a section on my website that goes into more detail about what a direct cremation entails - do take a look www.celebrantjason.org.uk


Copied from Jason lightoller funeral celebrant
I will also be writing something in my page regarding this advice too.

Professional celebration of life services across London and the South East. Creating modern, non-religious funeral ceremonies tailored to your loved one.

07/06/2026

Love this, will think of a penny on the floor the same as a feather from now on ❤️

People say that when you
‘Find a penny, pick it up’
And all day long, the saying goes,
You’ll have the best of luck

But what if all the pennies
That you notice and you find
Aren’t coins that have been dropped
Or that somebody left behind?

What if they were never coins
Intended to be spent
But someone reaching out to you
With pennies heaven-sent?

‘Cause maybe all those pennies
Are a copper-coloured love
Raining down towards the ground
From silver clouds above

So go out and collect them,
Fill your pockets with their weight
Collect them from the sunrise
And until it’s getting late

Then you can store the pennies
All together in a jar
The price of love collecting there
Like monetary stars

And as you let them gather then,
They might remind you how
That copper-coloured cost of love
Is always with you now

But so is love itself because
Coins always have two sides
We pay for love with grief
But that’s because the love survives

So, when you see a penny,
Lying, glinting on the floor
And something tells you this is not
Like coins you’ve found before

Then trust the heart that tells you
‘Find a penny, pick it up’
And know that in your pocket
All day long you’ll carry love

*****

Becky Hemsley 2024
Beautiful artwork by Jungsuk Lee

This poem, "Pennies from Heaven" is from my book, I Missed You Quietly Today: https://amzn.to/4fjnHki
(affiliate link)

27/05/2026

A wonderful group for anyone who needs additional support with friends who fully understand ..

The next Grief Support Cafe takes place on:
🗓 Wednesday 3rd June 2026
🏠 Huntingtree, Alexandra Road, Halesowen B63 4BL
🕙 10am - 12pm
☕ £5 to include refreshments
Hosted by Clare Spiers a Grief Recovery Specialist and Melanie Unwin, Independent Funeral Director of Melanie Unwin Funeral Services.
This group is to support any member of the public who is encountering grief.
Grief touches us in many ways — and it’s not only about the loss of a loved one.
Our café is open to anyone who is living with grief of any kind: whether you’ve experienced bereavement, the end of a relationship, loss of health, a change in circumstances, or any other life change that has left you carrying sadness.
Wherever you are on your journey, you’ll find a warm welcome, a listening ear, and gentle support among others who understand.
Turn up on the day or feel free to call or email me to let me know that you are coming.
Tel: 07549 827019 ( Melanie Unwin )
Email: [email protected]
Please feel free to share this post with someone that you feel may benefit from coming along.

13/05/2026

Another wonderful tribute. This actually made me cry. Such an incredible family dealing with such a major loss. Such beautiful words. Thankyou xx

11/05/2026

30/04/2026

Funeral Services - What to expect
After a few enquiries, I would like to clarify what a family would expect from me.

1. Unless you contact me directly, I will typically be passed your details from your funeral director. I will make first contact with you within 24 hours.

2. A family meeting will then be arranged for me to learn and address any questions or concerns you might have about the ceremony.

3. Together we will plan an appropriate order of service for your loved one, this includes assistance with choosing special readings, poems, music, visual tributes, hymns or prayers.

4. We will then have a detailed discussion about your loved one, including detailing their life history their likes and dislikes their hobbies and any special memories from which a tribute will be documented as part of the service.

5. Within 48 hours of the family meeting, I will craft a personalised ceremony and fitting tribute for your loved one. I will email you the first draft, allowing you to fact check and amend as required. Followed by a full written copy thereafter.

6. I'm always available by phone, email or text message if you need to speak to me.

7. Additional tokens of support can be given prior to service as a gift to the family from me. This includes twin hearts to be shared with the passed loved one and yourself or specific healing crystals which can be used to aid inner strength during grief.

8. The experience of a confident, empathetic delivery of service for your loved one, providing comfort, reflection and memories - a celebration of their life.❤️

9. Price is £195 included in your funeral directors costs.
Scattering or internment of ashes are available free of charge as part of the funeral service I provide.

10. Will also provide a supportive check on special anniversaries if required

Additional Services
Memorial ceremony to be decided dependent on content £50 - £100
Separate internment or scattering of ashes £50

For more information about me and the services I offer, please visit my website:

Ajdcelebrancy.co.uk

24/04/2026

Another beautiful tribute, so proud of the families, I have the honour of supporting. It is an absolute privilege being around in their time of need. They certainly did their dad proud.

12/04/2026

With Walters Funeral Directors – I'm on a streak! I've been a top fan for 12 months in a row. 🎉

01/02/2026

Wendy Willetts as promised

Scattering Of Ashes

Many people choose to scatter ashes of a loved ones in a location with a personal meaning for the person who had passed.
But are there any rules regarding this? I hope this advice helps.

Can you scatter ashes anywhere?

In the UK, you can scatter ashes in a variety of open places. This can be in a garden of remembrance, churchyard or cemetery, a green space, over water or in private land following consent from the owner.

Do you need permission?

There is no explicit law at present against scattering ashes, but it recommends you get permission from the owner of the land, including local councils or national trust.

You don't need to request permission to scatter ashes over a river or sea, but you should check advice from the environmental agency.

Whilst there is no major issues regarding permission regarding scattering ashes in flowing water.
The environmental agency usually suggest certain considerations to adhere to.(local rules will also apply)

~ make sure it is not near a fishery or marina.
~ scattering site is no less than 1km upstream from a water-plant or reservoir.
~obviously choose a day with calm weather.

Can you take ashes on a plane?

Most airlines allow you to travel with ashes.
However, you need to provide evidence of:
~ death certificate
~ cremation certificate
~ funeral directors declaration of origin
~ ashes must be carried in hand luggage
~ use a non-metalic sealed urn, allowing it to be x-rayed.
~ check with the specific airline for further advice prior to flying

Can you scatter ashes in churchyards?

Not all cemeteries allowed scattering, so check with the cemetery first regarding their rules.
If you own a family plot, you should be able to scatter over the plot of land. Again discussion would probably be required before this takes place.

Can you scatter in a public place?

To scatter in a public park or green space. You would need to gain permission from the local council or national trust, dependent on who owns the land.

Use of a celebrant?

There is no need to have a celebrant or other provider, but a celebrant can help the family produce a small structured service that is both meaningful and personal.
A final goodbye, a celebration of the person that has passed, but also maybe a celebration of the loved ones they have reunited with once again.

As part of my funeral service to my families, I provide this service free of charge dependent of the locality of the scattering.

If a separate service is required from a family, I have had no involvement with - I will ask for a small negotiable fee dependent on content and locality. This will also include any participants of direct funerals.

Any further queries please do not hesitate in contacting me on my messenger with your mobile number, so we can chat further.

Ref: co-op funeral services






ajdcelebrancy.co.uk