About Me

Hi, I’m Andrew Fairweather. I’m a funeral celebrant with over 20 years experience of caring for the bereaved and I am passionate about creating bespoke and meaningful ceremonies. I’m a Suffolk boy born and bred, currently living in mid Suffolk with my wife and two teenage boys.

Experience in the funeral sector

My experience taking funerals and working with the bereaved began over 20 years ago when I trained to be a pastor. I trained full time for 3 years in Dorset for this and it was during this period we were taught how to take funerals and to care for the bereaved. This included a visit to a local funeral directors. I left college with 3 qualifications (Diplomas in Applied Theology & Pastoral Studies and a Dip HE in Applied Theology).

This led to a 20 year career in the funeral industry, starting as a driver / bearer before becoming trained as a funeral director. I gained the Diploma in Funeral Directing as well as becoming a fully qualified embalmer and held roles as Assistant Manager, Principal Funeral Director and Senior Funeral Director in the largest funeral company in the country. I also helped to run a bereavement support group in my local area.

I arranged funerals for people from all backgrounds and in all places as a funeral director, including trips to Scotland and Wales and all parts of England. I helped repatriate people to and from all areas of the world and looked after people of all faiths and social backgrounds. I’ve even led a burial at sea.

I have led services for people of varying denominations and religions as a celebrant, as well as for people with no faith at all and those of an atheist background. I understand and respect people of all beliefs and strongly believe in reflecting that in their funerals.

Training & Accreditation

I trained as a celebrant with Civil Ceremonies Ltd, obtaining the NOCN Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy (RQF), as well as Level 4 certificates in Creating and Conducting Children and Baby Funerals, and Advanced Tribute Writing.

I am a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants, for whom I have been nominated the last two years for their Celebrant Awards. I am also a Fellow of the Faculty of Funeral Celebrants.

A bit more about me

Outside of work I am a director of The Cogwheel Trust International – an organisation that helps vulnerable children in Uganda. I have made two trips to help with the work there myself which includes its own school.

As a family we like to travel in our spare time and we have a real passion for sport. When we’re not taking our sons to their football and hockey matches you will see us attending some of the biggest sporting events in the world.

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