“I… wish to commend Toby as a quite exceptional and gifted celebrant.”
A Good Job!
I’ll start with a simple fact…
At the time of writing (November 2022) I have celebrated 250 funerals over a period of five years, most for A. C. Towner in Hastings (UK). This, I hope, bears witness to my having given a good account of myself consistently over a sustained period.
I feel bashful about blowing my own trumpet, and you might actually feel a bit sceptical about me if I did. But I can share what others have written about me.
Reference from A.C. Towner
Toby Sims Funeral Celebrant – an appreciation and reference
I have been a funeral director at A C Towner for ten years and wish to commend Toby as a quite exceptional and gifted celebrant.
Toby has taken several hundred funerals for Towners over the last few years. He takes extraordinary care and much time in preparation – each service is unique and unlike any other – this is a result of his ability to listen intensely to what families are saying to him, and to pick up the individual ‘mood’ of each situation.
He is the most reflective and intelligent of men, and without exception has something worth hearing in each funeral. No glib over-sentimental cant, but a real and personal attempt to help the people in front of him and to express their wishes in the funeral.
So excellent is his attention to detail and his commitment to his profession, so exact about the timings and details of music, that he has become the safest ‘pair of hands’ and can be trusted without reserve to handle all aspects of the funeral with complete professionalism coupled with warm and generous humanity.
As I retire from the funeral business, I wish to recommend Toby in the most sincere and heartfelt terms. He is indeed a wonderful funeral celebrant.
Alexandr Groves, Funeral Director, A. C. Towner Ltd. June 2022
Thank You!
I have received many emails of thanks from families; their words have touched me deeply. I would like to share just a few. All are quoted with permission. For the sake of confidentiality, I have changed any names.
It was perfect.
It was how she would have liked it.
I don’t think anyone could have done her justice as you did, from my emails and input, it really was lovely and a sense of love and happiness at the same time.
A celebration of Mum.
Once again thank you so much.
I try to get to know the person who has passed on, the better to convey what is important, and offer the kind of funeral service that is needed…
You were so kind when we first met via Zoom, and very patient with Mum, which allowed her to relax, and open up a bit. It must have been a huge task… but this made the eulogy so personal and appropriate – it could not have been done better. You made a very sad day a bit better for all of us, but in particular, for my mum, and for that, I can’t thank you enough.
My sister, my daughter and I all watched the service together here in Sydney, and whilst it was emotional, we all thought it was beautiful and genuine and you were very heartfelt, and we were so grateful to you for that. It was as if you had known my aunt personally, so for that we are so very, very grateful to you. Particularly the words you spoke at the end of the service made us feel at peace with her passing despite everything, so we will never forget that.
A Sprinkling of Brightness
There is often brightness shining through the grief…
I would like to extend my many thanks and gratitude for such a wonderful, caring and inspirational eulogy that you wrote for mum. Mum would have been so pleased with your tone and kind words. I shall cling on to the words you said at the end and try to remain hopeful for a bright future. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart, your words really touched me.
Before becoming a celebrant, I was a performer. Sometimes this can be of immense value when delivering a eulogy…
I just wanted to pass on sincerest thanks from my family and I for how you led Mum’s funeral service yesterday. So many people have made such positive remarks about the service. I really appreciated how much time and effort you put into preparing for the service and ensuring that it met my expectations. It came across as very personal… Your delivery of Mum’s eulogy was lovely – perfect expression and timing which added so much more meaning to the words being said, and your homily held a pertinent message within such thoughtful wording.
And to finish, two short emails of thanks which humble me…
Everyone said that Joyce’s service was lovely – and everyone agreed that you made the occasion really special for us all, giving Mum a really memorable send off.
So thank you, Toby, you succeeded in capturing the Joyce we all knew and presenting her to us in a beautiful and thoughtful way.
I can’t thank you enough for your most eloquent eulogy yesterday. It was a privilege to be there and to listen to you. They were not only kind words but very emotive, thoughtful and intoxicating, she would have loved you.