Macclesfield: Award win for local funeral celebrant Lucy Biggs
A Macclesfield resident has won a national award at the Good Funeral Awards as 'Funeral Celebrant of the Year 2024'.
The event, hosted by the Association of Green Funeral Directors, and held at the Eden Project, Cornwall, saw finalists in 18 categories from across the funeral space in attendance over the weekend.
Lucy Biggs is an independent funeral celebrant, who has lived in Macclesfield for ten years, and can now call herself an award-winning one.
The ex-design academic and writer prides herself on working in the Macclesfield area, conducting funeral ceremonies under the moniker Present Ascent.
"I'm so grateful and proud to have received this award, along with the national recognition of how important it is that we get funeral ceremony right for the person we are honouring," she said.
"Many individuals, families and friends of people who've passed away have kindly prepared nominations for me for this award over the past six months, along with funeral directors and others from within our community. I'm so grateful for the time that everyone has taken to do so, leading to this great accolade."
Lucy specialises in being a celebrant for funerals only, performing the rite to honour someone's life whether that's through a traditional or contemporary funeral ceremony at a crematorium or burial ground, or a memorial of celebration of life in a different venue, sometimes alongside direct cremation.
"At the heart of my work is creating the time and space to mark the life and death of someone that you love, in a way that feels right to you," said Lucy.
"I offer something that is personalised, creative and meaningful to the individual.
"What I write for each ceremony is tailored entirely to the life, nature and wishes of the person we are honouring.
"I am an open minded to the possibilities of what a funeral ceremony can be. My role is to help guide us through the planning, whilst also ensuring all practical and professional aspects are carefully navigated too.
"I believe in something 'greater than' ourselves, though I don't belong to any one religion — therefore, I'm an independent celebrant rather than a humanist celebrant."
The benefit of that is that Lucy can appeal to many.
"I spend as much time with a family as is required to establish what they are hoping for in a ceremony, along with learning about the person for whom the funeral is for." she explained.
"I work both alongside funeral directors and also with families directly, if they are organising a celebration of life or memorial service themselves, or if they are researching a celebrant themselves for a service at a crematorium, say.
Other celebrants do weddings and naming ceremonies. However, it is only funerals that Lucy has chosen to specialise in, after getting into the profession following the death of her baby Reuben, who was stillborn at 36 weeks gestation in 2018.
Lucy now channels her personal experience positively by being present for other families as they navigate their own loss and grief.
Coincidentally (but conveniently), Lucy lives in west Macclesfield near Macclesfield Crematorium.
However, she has lived here before she embarked on her new profession. She also works frequently at Birches Remembrance Park & Crematorium who were awarded Crematorium of the Year 2024 at the awards, for the second time.
"I take great care to listen – gently and openly – to the wishes of an individual or family, helping them to honour their special person in the way feels right to them.
"I'm passionate about the funeral space, ensuring good quality care and provision - that is why I do it."
Lucy will work with you to weave elements together into a ceremony which reflects the uniqueness of a life.
By holding joy as well as sadness during this time, she believes it is possible to create a funeral which is both a celebration and a lament.
She also gives a copy of the script to each family, preparing and binding it by hand.
She continues to build relationships with local venue owners, hotels and pubs as she leads funeral ceremonies, including 'Celebration of Life' and memorial events at alternative venues regularly.
She always hopes to maintain her high standard of service for the community.
Lucy also runs a local event called 'Funeral Feast' in collaboration with Macclesfield resident Charis Jones, of Feastable, which aims to provide the rare opportunity to talk openly about death, dying, funeral and grief with others, accompanied by a delicious three-course meal.
An except from some of the reasons for nomination, for the award that she has just won. (Image - Supplied)
For this event, £5 from each ticket supports the Glossop charity, Reuben's Retreat.
The next event is on November 16 at 7:30pm, with tickets available to book from this link.
You can find more about Lucy on her Instagram @presentascent. Lucy can also be contacted via her website. You can also read more about her services on this Nub News article.
To find more about the Good Funeral Awards, please click HERE.
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