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Anderson, Neil

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Location: Newburgh
Covering areas: Fife, Perthshire, Kinross, Angus, Stirling and Dundee
Phone: 01337 842 577
Mobile: 07714 411 415
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Me

My background and experience
I have been a Celebrant of the Humanist Society of Scotland since January 2009 and an authorised legal Wedding Celebrant since January 2010. I am also trained as a Sociologist and a Lawyer. Celebrant work is undoubtedly among the most enjoyable and rewarding work I have ever done. I am married with two children and my hobbies include running, organic gardening, travelling, environmental studies, music, reading, and walking.

What humanism means to me
For me, humanism is integral to who I am and my place in the wider world/cosmos and is a positive approach to making sense of day to day living and about trying to live a congruent and ethical life. Respecting the environment and my fellow human travellers regardless of who they are or what they believe is an important part of my humanism. For me humanism is about what helps bring us together, what we share and what we hope for – it is not about walls and flags and tribalism and divisions.

Funerals

How I feel about being a funeral celebrant

Conducting funerals is a real privilege and a huge responsibility. It is such a rewarding thing to be able to do and, paradoxically, it is life affirming. Every time I am asked to help a family through what is often a really difficult time I feel honoured to be invited into their lives.

My approach to funerals

Given that I seldom know the families I am helping in advance it is crucial that I put people at their ease as much as possible and so I will always go and visit the family at their home – where they feel most relaxed. In helping the family plan the funeral and also come to terms with all that entails my approach is to listen, ask questions, empathise and to respond to the family’s needs in ways with which we all feel comfortable. We are celebrating a life and so as well dealing with the sadness of loss it is important we don’t lose sight of the happy and amusing memories and stories.

What I find most rewarding about conducting funerals

Helping you to grieve in your own way and to begin to say goodbye in a way that feels right for you is my aim - and if I get it right for you then that is almost reward enough. If I can make you and your fellow mourners smile and laugh too then that is a bonus! Humanist ceremonies are unique, sincere and meaningful and, hopefully, engage everyone regardless of their individual beliefs. Because we focus on the whole life of the person who has died we find that almost everyone will find comfort in a humanist ceremony.

My advice to you

The period before the funeral can be an emotional roller coaster – and so it is often best to stay busy and occupied; there is a lot to do and think about and I always make myself available to families so that they can call me if they have any queries or worries in the lead up to the ceremony. It’s a great cliché that life is not a dress rehearsal and this is certainly the case for a funeral and so it is vital to have the ceremony you really want for your loved one – you only get one chance to say a formal goodbye, so together we have to make it special.

My favourite piece of funeral poetry

Difficult to chose…and I always like it when the family make their own choice. However, often a family will ask me to select a poem which I think ‘fits’ for their loved one. A poem I find very popular is “Love Life” a Scots poem by Rab Westwater which in turn is based upon a poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

I dinna gie tuppence fur whit ye dae tae earn a shillin

Whit maks yer hert sing, that’s whit I want tae kenAnd yer age, an’ yer badges... jist clitter clatter.I need tae ken if ye’ll chance yer airm and a red neckFur love, fur dreams, fur the adventure o’ bein’ alive.I need tae ken if ye can soar wi pleesure, mine, yer ain, awbodiesIf ye can jig wi nae hint o’ huddin back Till whirlin an’ birlin free frae caution an’ careYer taen tae the pint whawr yer nae langer human, ye jist are.If yer tellin a tale I dinna care how tall it is, let yer geese be swans,But I need tae ken if yer honest, faithfu’, trustworthy, reliableAnd if ye can see beauty e’en if some days it looks grey an’ gyteI wouldnae gie a tinkers curse tae ken whaur ye bide or how much gowd ye haeBut I need tae ken if efter a nicht o’ jaunty japes or the deepest sorrowYe’ll be there the next morn tae dae aw the wee things fur the wains.

Namings

Same Sex Affirmations

Weddings


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