Polly Alcorn | Funeral Celebrant

Funeral Celebrant in Oxfordshire & Berkshire

Hello, I’m Polly Alcorn your funeral and family celebrant in Oxfordshire and Berkshire and the face behind Myrtle & Thyme, offering personalised, heartfelt ceremonies across Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Whether you’re stepping into a new chapter as a couple or honouring the closing of a life’s journey, I’m here to guide you with compassion, clarity, and creativity. My work centres on crafting ceremonies that feel deeply personal. Ceremonies that honour love, celebrate individuality, and hold space for the full range of human emotion.

A Background Rooted in Facilitation...
Before becoming a celebrant, I spent many years as a facilitator, bringing teams together, designing workshops, and using creative methods to help people explore what mattered most to them. Those skills now sit at the heart of my celebrancy work. Listening deeply, asking thoughtful questions, and shaping meaningful words that resonate. With a background in performance, presenting authentically and holding space for others is something I value deeply, and it’s a privilege to bring these qualities into such important moments of people’s lives.

A Journey into Celebrancy...
My journey into celebrancy comes at a time when I am continuing to explore, learn from, and remain open to all faiths and none. I warmly welcome families from every background and belief system, recognising that spirituality, tradition, and personal meaning look different for everyone. If you choose to include readings, prayers, blessings, or music with a religious or spiritual context, I can support you in selecting pieces that feel authentic and appropriate for your ceremony. My role is not to lead from a place of doctrine, but to honour what matters most to you, shaping a ceremony that reflects personal values, stories, and the way you wish to remember or celebrate, putting you and your loved ones at its heart.

Creating Meaningful, Personal Ceremonies...
Every couple and every life is unique, and every ceremony should be too. I work closely with families and friends to create bespoke, wedding and funeral ceremonies that reflect the true character, stories, and spirit of loved ones. Through gentle, attentive listening, I gather memories, anecdotes, and the small details, which become the threads that weave together a ceremony filled with warmth, authenticity, and connection.
Choosing readings, poetry, or music can feel overwhelming, especially during times of grief. I help families navigate these choices with sensitivity, offering suggestions or crafting original pieces that celebrate couples or honour the life being remembered. My aim is always to create a ceremony that feels comforting, honest, and beautifully reflective.

The Story Behind Myrtle & Thyme...
As a keen gardener, I chose the name Myrtle & Thyme as a nod to my love of horticulture — but also because of the rich symbolism these plants carry.
• Myrtle has long represented love, fertility, and peace in ancient cultures. Since the 1850s, sprigs of myrtle have been included in royal wedding bouquets, symbolising hope, unity, and new beginnings.
• Thyme carries meanings of courage, protection, purification, and spiritual healing, qualities that feel deeply resonant when saying goodbye to someone cherished.
Together, they beautifully reflect the two most significant transitions we experience: the moments that shape us and the memories we leave behind that honour us.

A Compassionate Presence for Life’s Most Important Moments...
I feel incredibly privileged to walk alongside families during times of love, loss, and remembrance. My role is to support you, to listen, and to craft a ceremony that truly captures the presence of a love shared and the essence of a life lived with stories shared, laughter remembered, and space for tears that honour the depth of your connection.