Corinne Firth-Surkitt - Funeral Celebrant

Corinne Firth-Surkitt - Funeral Celebrant I am a funeral celebrant who is trained , assessed and accredited by Humanists UK. Fully DBS checked

I love my job , each and every day I know I'm doing the right thing but even a few years in I'm still settling into self...
20/02/2026

I love my job , each and every day I know I'm doing the right thing but even a few years in I'm still settling into self employment.

This morning could have been scary, I'm coming to the end of my 5 year fixed rate mortgage so this renewal will be my first in self employment.... but I knew with super hero Paul at Kenyon Mortgages I would be in good hands.... and I was right, hassle free, honest and thoroughly understanding of my wants and needs !

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, a high street with an advertising board outside inviting people in for a chat

Every funeral script is different because every single person I speak about is unique.There are always similarities, wel...
17/02/2026

Every funeral script is different because every single person I speak about is unique.

There are always similarities, welcome, turn your phone off, heres the plan, to start, and the end is thank yous, donations, and the afterwards instructions.

But the heart of the script is based on sitting with the loved ones of the person and learning exactly what made them unique... each script, there is always a line that makes me think - I bet I'm the only person saying these words today ... today's phrase is "a buttery hamster" 😊... it came from the household rule of not playing with the pets till after breakfast

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, a stock image of a hamster, it's not my hamster or even a hamster I know , and disappointingly it's not even buttery either , or eating toast like the buttery hamster was but its still rather cute

So the crows at Blackburn with Darwen Cemeteries & Crematorium pleasington site always expect treats from me and now thi...
16/02/2026

So the crows at Blackburn with Darwen Cemeteries & Crematorium pleasington site always expect treats from me and now this floof tail is getting in the queue , honestly I've that many mouths to feed on my travels 😂

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, a squirrel sat expecting some treats to come his way just outside my car

Create the memories whilst you can ! If my job teaches me anything it's that you don't know when it's your last chance t...
15/02/2026

Create the memories whilst you can !

If my job teaches me anything it's that you don't know when it's your last chance to make a memory. So yesterday of course we ate ice-cream on a bench in 0 degree weather, because you can't always wait for summer

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, three 99 ice-cream held out at arms length in a row

Well yesterday at Preston Crematorium there was a weird bright thing in the sky ... and today I've woken up to the same...
14/02/2026

Well yesterday at Preston Crematorium there was a weird bright thing in the sky ... and today I've woken up to the same phenomenon... all very strange.

** please note I did not sleep at the crematorium and wake up there despite what a lot of funeral directors think as I have a reputation for being early 😂😂, I took the photo at preston yesterday and have woken up at home today **

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, a gray cloudy sky over trees with a weak glow where the sun is trying it's hardest to get through

A while back I had the pleasure of working with Dec and Ant the donkeys , I took some pictures on my phone at the time b...
12/02/2026

A while back I had the pleasure of working with Dec and Ant the donkeys , I took some pictures on my phone at the time but I've finally got round to getting my hands on the ones I took on the grown up camera. All of my days are different but that day was a real high point up at Blackburn with Darwen Cemeteries & Crematorium pleasington site

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, 3 photos of twin donkeys , they are wearing straw hats with holes for their ears to poke through

Expectation versus reality I'm my job it is very important to work alongside the funeral director managing people's expe...
11/02/2026

Expectation versus reality

I'm my job it is very important to work alongside the funeral director managing people's expectations. That could be being realistic about how much time we can take , how much we can fit in to a ceremony or like today the reality of a burial.

Whenever I sit with a family planning their ceremony if it includes a burial element I always explain that Hollywood makes us think of flat green spaces with evenly spaced headstones like in the iconic scenes from the top gun films.
The reality is that in the UK, burials are raw, natural , earthy and often when I say earthy I mean muddy. There is something very beautiful and poignant about being outside in nature, the different sounds and feelings it evokes but it's important that we consider the practical issues we may face and are prepared accordingly

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, a still from the top gun film of a fighter yet flypast over a manicured American cemetery , the second is of a muddy scene graveside in the UK today

I love it when a funeral has personal touches , it is exactly how it should be. As a grassroots footy mum and long term ...
07/02/2026

I love it when a funeral has personal touches , it is exactly how it should be. As a grassroots footy mum and long term football fan this video just really touched me.

Humanist Ceremonies
Video description for the visually impaired, a coffin being carried past a guard of honour of referees brandishing cards

Every funeral is different, each is unique, respectful and in keeping with the character of the person and their family...
05/02/2026

Every funeral is different, each is unique, respectful and in keeping with the character of the person and their family. But in some it might be appropriate for that person to include colourful language and that's something I can always incorporate once the family have got over the fact that yes, we really can say that, sing that or do that during a funeral

I for one think there is very likely to be colourful language in my funeral which is why the little sign I've just picked up from Ewood Florist is so me ! In actual fact I am very lucky to have different days filled with lots of lovely stuff but the saying still applies to washing up, hoovering and all the things I don't like 😀

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, my hand holding a black sign with white writing on that says - same s**t different day !

I really would love to see these vans or a little cafe at every crematorium I work at, so many people travel long distan...
04/02/2026

I really would love to see these vans or a little cafe at every crematorium I work at, so many people travel long distances and arrive early it's great for them to be able to get a brew but it also means those visiting the grounds can have the opportunity to. Lovely to see at East Lancashire Crematorium, Radcliffe today and to see the fish so clearly before spring reawakens the pond plants

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired a photo of a converted horse box coffee bar and one of the large pond with its beautiful fish

I can't help it , I'm a creature of habit 🙃, every crematorium I work at regularly I have a spot that if its free I alwa...
03/02/2026

I can't help it , I'm a creature of habit 🙃, every crematorium I work at regularly I have a spot that if its free I always choose.

This morning at West Lancashire Cemetery and Crematorium when I arrived I had lots to choose from but I couldn't not have my favourite, hence why many of my photos there are of the same bushes 😂

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, a photo taken through my cars side window of a copper beech hedge

I struggle when I reach a milestone because for me it's an incredible moment but it's tinged with the sobering thought t...
30/01/2026

I struggle when I reach a milestone because for me it's an incredible moment but it's tinged with the sobering thought that milestones for me aren't just bland statistics, in my role they are people's stories told.
It's a while since I decided to announce a milestone when I got to it but for 350 I decided to make it about my industry colleagues , so over the next few weeks I will be dropping thank you's in when I go past to all those who have helped my journey to 350 funerals held.

Humanist Ceremonies
Photo description for the visually impaired, 2 photos one is of a close up of a thank you postcard and the second is biscuits, the postcard and my arts and crafts coffin business card holders

Address

Darwen

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447726720512

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