My name is Ros Curtis and I have been a celebrant since 2006. I live in the village of Naphill in Buckinghamshire and I am married with two grown up daughters.
For many years I taught at a local grammar school; my love of English and my role there in senior management means that I am experienced in public speaking as well as in pastoral care; and it has I believe, fitted me well for this work.
I now practise full time as a celebrant and conduct ceremonies of all sorts both locally and abroad through contacts with local funeral directors as well as those made through the Humanists UK website and from people for whom I have written ceremonies in the past.
One of the most rewarding things about the work I do is the opportunity to meet so many lovely people and to help them in a small way through very difficult as well as very joyful times in their lives.
I first came into this work, as do many of my colleagues, through personal experience, when a humanist celebrant conducted the funerals of my parents. The service that was written was a moving and fitting tribute to them and exactly what I and the family wished. It inspired me to find out more about Humanism and Humanist Ceremonies in particular, and brought me to make the decision to train as a celebrant myself.
Following my training with Humanists UK I began working as a funeral celebrant and then took the opportunity to further develop my skills by training to conduct wedding and naming ceremonies.
I have previously been part of the Ceremonies Training Group which trains new celebrants and was for some time also an elected member of the Ceremonies Management Committee which enabled me to be involved in the support of the wider network of celebrants and in policy decisions.