Deb Stodgell and Jackie Aldrich from Just Ceremonies in Taunton lifted the lid on the role of celebrants during West Buckland Women’s Institute’s November meeting.

Opening with an emotive reading from the life story of a local farmer and his love for the land, Ms Stodgell demonstrated the power of personal content at a funeral service.

Stodgell and Aldrich explained that a celebrant officiates at the big moments in one’s life story, creating highly personalised weddings, vow renewals, funerals and naming ceremonies.

It’s a modern approach, growing in popularity and offers an alternative to religious, humanist or impersonal register office ceremonies. This means that ceremonies can be non-religious or semi religious depending on individual wishes.

At a service or celebration led by a celebrant anything goes as families and couples have the flexibility to tailor celebrations in a way that suits them.

Ms Stodgell explained that as celebrants the ceremonies they put together have no restrictions on content, and are highly personalised stories creating unique memories.

Weddings can include jokes, poetry, pets, music and laughter, depending on what the couple wants, to make the ceremony unforgettable.

The same personalised approach applies to funerals, with the focus on celebrating a life, not just saying goodbye. Designed to tell the individual’s story families may include elements that reflect the person they’ve lost.

Ms Stodgell said for one ardent West Ham supporter his beloved club’s anthem, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, was a big part of his final tribute with a bubble machine used at the end of the service.

One lady known for her love of cleaning had an amazing display of feather dusters to replace flowers on the top of the casket.

She said it was also quite common for families to place a bottle of red wine of cans or beer on the casket.

Both Ms Stodgell and Ms Aldrich are former registrars with a wealth of experience and work collaboratively with registrars, wedding venues and with funeral directors.

While celebrants can plan and deliver personalised services for vow renewals, funerals and naming ceremonies, they cannot legally marry a couple, instead delivering a personalised ceremony after the couple has been married officially by a registrar.

Ms Aldrich explained that most couples do this a few days before the wedding ceremony. She said that you don’t expect to get the birth certificate the day you have the baby, or the death certificate at the funeral, so why not separate out the legalities from your wedding day.

WI member Enid Halliwell thanked the pair for their informative talk and great insight into an alternative approach to ceremonies.President Christine Wombwell reminded members that the WI was holding a flower arrangement demonstration on Wednesday, November 19.

This is followed by the West Buckland autumn fair on Saturday, November 29, where the WI will run a tombola stall. Members were thanked for bringing in donations for the stall.

West Buckland WI will also take part in the Christmas Tree festival, taking place at the village church of St Mary’s on Saturday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13. Secretary Cheryl Bailey read a short report from the Somerset Federation of Women’s Institutes annual meeting, which took place on Saturday, November 1.

The West Buckland WI will once again take part in the Somerset County Federation of Wis skittles competition, with the first match taking place on Wednesday, January 7.

West Buckland WI meets at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the village hall and new members are always welcome.

The next meeting is the WI’s Christmas party for members with entertainment from the Wellington Operatic Society Touring Group.

THE annual Remembrance Sunday Parade in Rockwell Green was held at 11am on Sunday, November 9.

The service, which took place at Rockwell Green Cemetery, was attended by more than 60 local veterans from all branches of the armed forces, as well as many of the family members of those who have served.

Prior to the service, those who were able to do so marched to the cemetery, watched on by spectators.

Julian Harcombe hosted the service, which included many readings about fallen comrades and poems, alongside a list of the 33 fallen heroes whose Commonwealth War Graves are located in the cemetery grounds.

This list included Pte Thomas Dawe, of the 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment of Foot, who was a hero of Rourkes Drift, a battle that took place during the Anglo-Zulu war.

The service was rounded off by the bugler playing The Last Post, which was then followed by the two minutes silence, before the bugle was played once more for Reville.

A wreath was then laid by Steve Cash on the grave of Bandsman Clifford Alway, of the Wiltshire Regiment.

Mr Alway was the youngest serviceman in the area to have died while serving in the military, and rests in Rockwell Green cemetery after passing away at the age of 15.

After the parade dispersed, those who attended made their way to the Rockwell Green War Memorial Institute, where a buffet had been laid on for everyone to relax and talk.

This was followed by many of the veterans retiring to the Victoria Arms in Wellington, where they were hosted by the staff.

The memorial service in Rockwell Green was the first to take place in the area that day, being followed by Wellington’s memorial service at 3pm.

THE award for care home team of the year in the South West went to Drake’s Place, Wellington, which was presented at an event hosted by Voyage Care.

The win makes it the care home’s second award in two years, while a member of staff had also been nominated for an award due to saving a resident’s life through the use of CPR.

Having done that for 12 minutes, and waiting for the air ambulance to arrive, the resident made a full recovery. While he would not make it to Voyage Care’s regional awards, he would receive an invitation for the ETHOS award, for which they came runner up.

Wayne Fisher, registered home manager at Drakes Place, said: “We are very proud of what we achieve here at Drakes Place.

“Voyage Care has around 12,000 employees so to come runner up is a huge achievement for the staff member and the company has around 639 homes that we beat to be care home team of the year.”

A YEAR of hard work by volunteers and successes for Taunton and Wellington Liberal Democrats was reported at the party’s annual meeting on Friday, November 14.

It took place at Taunton Rugby Club and was followed by a celebration dinner, attended by more than 130 people.

John Wakefield, chair, told the meeting that work to promote the Liberal Democrat message was more important than ever.

Highlights during the past year had included the opening of permanent offices in Taunton’s Tower Lane, which the local party shares with MP Gideon Amos.

There had also been a succession of by-election victories on Somerset Council, Taunton Town Council and, most recently, Wellington Town Council.

Presentations made at the AGM were: Tim Pugsley Award for individual achievement, Paul Adams; top deliverer, Angela Ashley; top canvasser, Cllr Tom Deakin.

Three Lib Dems MPs were speakers at the dinner which followed – Mr Amos, Rachel Gilmour (MP for Tiverton and Minehead) and Roz Savage (MP, South Cotswolds).

Dr Savage also holds four Guinness World Records for ocean rowing and told of her exploits in becoming the first woman to row solo across three oceans.

The evening concluded with an auction conducted by Cllr Derek Perry.

THE choir of St Marys Hemyock led the Remembrance Sunday parade from the Parish Hall to the church for the annual service where both inside and out was decorated in knitted and crocheted poppies and Military Figure silhouettes.

A large contingent of around 150 from 1st Hemyock Scout Group, veterans and villagers were welcomed by Liz Langdon LLM who led the service with Laurence Blyth organist. The reading was given by Rear Admiral (Rtd) Tim Lowe CBE and the Exhortation at the War Memorial by Tim Barton .

Wreaths were laid by representatives of Hemyock Parish Council, Scout Group and the Primary School.

THERE was double success at this year’s South West Care Awards for the team at Nynehead Court, with two members of staff recognised for their outstanding contribution to the care profession.

Kirsty Norman was named ‘Winner in the Care Assessor’ category, while Emma Lapthorn received ‘Highly Commended Best Newcomer’.

Kirsty’s award celebrates her exceptional skill and commitment to high-quality care.

Newcomer Emma’s award celebrates her “positive attitude, natural warmth, and ability to build meaningful relationships with residents”.

A Nynehead Court spokesperson added: “We would also like to extend our thanks to Nick, who kindly drove the team to the event through poor weather conditions, making sure everyone arrived safely and in high spirits.”