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Category Archives: Humanist ceremony

Remembering John the Fish

John the Fish, photo by Greg Martin : Cornwall Live

Our lovely friend, John Langford, affectionately known as John the Fish, died last month and the celebration of his life was held last Saturday. The hall was absolutely packed with people wanting to show their love for this very special man.

Beautifully decorated coffin Photo by Sue Ellery-Hill

On the display table of memorabilia. Photo Sue Ellery-Hill

Live music Photo by Sue Ellery-Hill

John has been spoken of with love and admiration in all the media from our local papers and news site, Cornwall Live,  to Radio 3 where he was mentioned by Petroc Trelawny and his rendering of a Cornish folk song, “Little Eyes” was played.  He was best known as a folk singer and that was how we first knew of him when in the 60’s he’d be the resident singer at the Mitchell folk club where my younger brother would go to play. His name came from his earlier days when he was a fisherman in Newlyn.  (See the newspaper cuttings below)

John became a Humanist Celebrant as you will have read in the Cornwall Live article. His work was greatly appreciated and when we met him and Carrie recently at a Ralph McTell concert, we were touched that one of his couples came over to make themselves known and to thank him.
My parents knew John and Carrie from the beginnings of the Cornwall Humanists group so when my Mum died in 1993, we turned to the Humanists to conduct a non-religious ceremony for us. Another friend conducted the Ceremony and  John sang John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ for us all at Mum’s request.
When we returned to Cornwall in 2008, John asked me to join the Celebrants and was my much-valued mentor as I began to conduct wedding and baby naming ceremonies.

Learning about Baby Namings by watching John at work

At one of the dinners we used to have with John and Carrie and other friends, I made a little thank you gift in the glasswork that I love doing. It was to celebrate John’s time as a fisherman.

The next two photos, which will need enlarging, are of a lovely interview done by Steve Hunt some time ago and tell you much of John’s  history.in his own words.

What follows is a brief quotation from the article in the West Briton 2nd February. It’s a lovely summary of this much-loved man.

 

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Horton, Hearts and A Baby Blanket

Last time we visited our lovely 103 year old friend she asked where my love of elephants had begun. I said my Daddy reading Rudyard Kipling’s story of How the Elephant Got His Trunk might well be part of it. Later that evening I remembered Horton the Elephant, a book by Dr Seuss first published in 1940  which formed an important part of story time when I was little. Not having a copy any longer, I bought a used one from Ebay and it was delivered today. I realise that some of my personal philosophy also came from Horton – to be kind, to be true to my word and, with our children and with those I taught, that I only said what I meant.

“I meant what I said
And I said what I meant….”

The low Autumn sun made a shadow on the ceiling of the glass heart that we have hanging in our front window. I made it in March to show love and support for Ukraine.

We’ve had a quiet afternoon and I finished off the baby rug for the Grandbaby of a friend, in fact the new daughter of the young couple whose wedding ceremony I performed at the beach last year.

 

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Beach Wedding

What a glorious day! Here are a few photos to give a flavour of the happiest ceremony ever!.

Flowers being taken down to the beach

Milk churn full of flowers

Part of the path

Waiting for the Bride to arrive

 

 

Rehearsal, Beach and Crab

I’m to be the Celebrant at my first wedding in two years. We had the rehearsal on the beach today and afterwards, the lovely Mr S and I walked along the sand at a very low tide.It was sunny and quiet and wonderful! The visitors have almost all gone.

Chapel Porth beach

Seaweed tree

Tiny Crab

Bolster’s Cave

 

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View, Weaving and Cake

I arrived at the venue for the Humanist Baby Naming I was conducting this afternoon and what a view! The wind dropped, the rain held off and we had the most joyous ceremony you can imagine.

Across the Carrick Roads

Friends and family were asked to write their wishes for the little boy’s future on coloured strips of linen. They will be woven to make the body of the sailing boat which is made up of cream linen strips on which friends and family wrote wishes for the lovely young parents when they were married. What a beautiful idea!

Linen wish weaving

Also saved from their wedding six years ago, in the traditional manner, was the top tier of their Wedding cake decorated by the bride, to which their little boy, who will be one year old on Monday, has been added.

Wedding Cake

 

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Flowers, A Guest and A Wedding,

What a beautiful Humanist Wedding Ceremony I was privileged to be part of today and in the loveliest of settings overlooking Mawgan Porth.

Flowers on the window sill

Special Guest

The couple

 

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Desiderata, Clematis and A Web

I am preparing for a Humanist Wedding ceremony this coming Saturday and as I started work this morning, a message came in from two of my colleagues who did a Wedding last weekend (no, not that one!) where  Desiderata was one of the readings. I was reminded of how special it is.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Our Nelly Moser Clematis has its first flower and something is eating the petals!

Nelly Moser

I was sitting enjoying the sunshine when I noticed this circular web and wondered what creature may be responsible.

Who made this very neat web in the wall?

 

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Wedding Photo, Recipe and Robert Frost

I conducted a Humanist Wedding Ceremony earlier in the summer and today received an email with some beautiful photos. This one shows the lovely moment near the end when I was signalling to the music man that now is the moment! The delightfully happy event was held at Charlie’s Boathouse and this was taken on the terrace with the sea as backdrop.

Charlestown wedding

Yesterday I showed you the glowing pots of Seville Orange marmalade that I had made in the afternoon. Ark asked for the recipe so I have put it on my Recipe pages. Here is the link to Seville Orange Marmalade

Robert Frost is one of my favourite poets.  Here is Moon Compasses for you.

Moon Compasses

I stole forth dimly in the dripping pause 
Between two downpours to see what there was. 
And a masked moon had spread down compass rays 
To a cone mountain in the midnight haze, 
As if the final estimate were hers, 
And as it measured in her calipers, 
The mountain stood exalted in its place. 
So love will take between the hands a face . . . 
 

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Humanist Wedding Ceremony in Charlestown

That was the loveliest of Wedding Ceremonies! Humanist Weddings are so very personal and each one is unique. This one in Charlestown today was no exception and many, many guests commented on the personal and warm nature of the ceremony. The rain stopped just long enough for us to be outside with a backdrop of the sea which was what the couple wanted. I shall have proper photos in a few weeks and will show you then. For now, here is a small gallery of some photos I managed while the guests were gathering.

The Bridal Arch with the sea behind

 

First Dance? First Swim!

It’s been a very busy day today so here is another photo from Monday’s very special wedding. Instead of a first dance, our beautiful couple had a first swim and were joined by many of their guests. I stayed on-shore with LiveWire 4 who held the flowers.

On Godrevy Beach

 

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