Martin Durham | Funeral Celebrant

Hello, I’m Martin and I am your funeral celebrant in North Yorkshire. I spent my childhood in Doncaster and have many happy memories of the area and of holidays on the Yorkshire coast. I studied at university in Hull and in Sheffield and have spent a significant portion of my working life as a lecturer at universities in Leeds and York. I now live in a village close to York with my wife of over 30 years and a very energetic golden retriever who hails from the Outer Hebrides. We have two children, both of whom were raised in-and-around York before studying at Durham University and then moving on to live “the London life”.

As well as being a funeral celebrant I currently work in a range of roles related to higher education and business. When I’m not working, my life alternates between a seemingly endless array of home improvement projects and getting out-and-about in the countryside with our dog. My interest in “all things environmental” runs through all these activities.

I consider myself fortunate to have suffered relatively few losses of loved ones during my life – the most significant ones being my brother and my parents.

My brother died suddenly when I was in my mid-20s. This was the first major trauma in my life it had a significant impact on me, not least because I witnessed the long-term effects his death had on my parents.

In more recent years both of my parents died after long battles with dementia, and my mother-in-law died following a stroke and long-term hospitalisation.

I scattered the ashes of my brother and both of my parents from the cliffs near Bempton in East Yorkshire - so that ultimately they are reunited.

I decided to become a funeral celebrant after reflecting on those losses, and thinking about how I might use my experience to provide support and comfort to others.

I believe that every life represents a unique story, and that those stories deserve to be told with warmth, meaning, and authenticity.

I draw on my own life experiences to support you as you grieve the loss of your loved one.
I create personalised ceremonies that are heartfelt and memorable. As your celebrant, I’ll listen carefully, providing warmth and compassion to create a bespoke ceremony crafted with empathy, care and professionalism - a fitting tribute to the connection you have with your loved one.
Planning a funeral or memorial can be overwhelming, and I’m here to guide you through the process, ensuring the ceremony brings peace and comfort to your family while honouring your loved one’s memory.

I am based in York, but I work throughout Yorkshire and occasionally beyond.
If you’d like me to be your celebrant, we’ll meet face to face, either at your home or online, to talk about the kind of ceremony you want. I’ll take time to hear about the life of your loved one, and the experiences, relationships, attributes and accomplishments which you want to highlight in the ceremony itself.

I’ll then work with you and anyone else who you wish to read, speak or contribute in some other way to your ceremony. I’ll create a ceremony which acknowledges the emotions and memories that are most important at this point in your life. I'll then provide you with a copy of the script for you to treasure.

Being a celebrant is a privilege. I am honoured to stand alongside families during one of the most significant moments of their lives, helping them find the right words, rituals, and tone to express what truly matters.