Dumfries & Galloway Archives

George Smith

August 15, 2017by Fuze Admin

George Smith, Celebrant

"I am very much a people person so I love the opportunity and freedom to work closely with couples to produce a wedding ceremony that is unique to them. The only barriers in a Humanist Wedding ceremony are the limits of your imagination!"

George is available to conduct Wedding, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies

George has been conducting Humanist wedding ceremonies for a number of years and began conducting funeral ceremonies in 2014.

Having worked in Hotel Management for over 20 years, with extensive participation in wedding receptions primarily as Master of Ceremonies, George saw training as a Marriage Celebrant as a natural progression.

He now feels honoured and privileged at being more involved in the actual wedding ceremonies. George has vast experience in events organisation, combined with a love of after dinner speaking and presenting shows on Hospital Radio. These assets provide George with the type of professionalism and confidence which he believes help to provide the best possible wedding experience for couples on the happiest day of their lives.

George has built a reputation for his attention to detail which he believes is very important when receiving details of a loved one’s life story and then telling that story at the funeral. George has all the necessary qualities he believes are required to deliver very personal, moving and fitting tributes in the most professional and dignified manner.

Giving the deceased the ceremony they deserve is paramount in George’s opinion, and George feels honoured and privileged to be able to help families and friends through this most heartbreaking and stressful time. George believes that none of us really know what happens after the committal so these words which were written by his friend Andrew to be read by George at Andrew’s funeral are quite apt. “ I pass through this world towards eternity via the big sleep. If the Galilean fisherman should stop me, then I will realise that my faith was shallow and most probably non existent. However if I were to be unmolested on my final journey, then this could indicate that a secular state exists, and that the final sleep will be everlasting”

George is available to conduct ceremonies in Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Glasgow City & East/West Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire.

You can contact George on georgesmith@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of George on Facebook and Instagram

Nancy Braid

August 15, 2017by Fuze Admin

Nancy Braid, Celebrant

"I became a humanist wedding celebrant because involving family and friends can make the marriage such a personal, intimate and memorable occasion".

Nancy is available to conduct Wedding, Civil Partnerships, Renewal of Vows, Baby Naming and Funeral Ceremonies

Having worked in the hospitality industry for almost 30 years, Nancy commenced as trainee cook, whilst taking day release classes and evening classes to gain her qualifications.

She is known to follow her heart and moved to London to the “big city” to gain further knowledge in the catering and events industry, looking after events and groups of 500 upwards on a regular basis.

However, her love for Scotland was too strong and several years later she returned home.

Nancy's knowledge of events and managing them reach new heights when she embraced working with an outside catering and events company, a very fulfilling and satisfying job whilst it allowed her to travel throughout Scotland visiting some of Scotland's wonderful islands like Tiree, Coll and Islay, and occasionally travelling South again to manage events for the British Open Golf Championships.

It also very much placed her at the forefront acting as Master of Ceremonies for many weddings and other prestigious events announcing in all guests plus the sometimes lengthy and interestingly titled top table guests.

Over the last few years though she has chosen to specialize in weddings, which in turn has found her becoming more and more interested in Humanist weddings; the intimacy and personal involvement of friends and family truly do make this a memorable occasion, of which she feels a wish to be part of ensuring that each couple has that unique memory to take with them for the rest of their lives.

In her spare time Nancy enjoys cycling, swimming, walking and reading. She also still enjoy being hands on in the kitchen and has a reputation for “creating” unique but tasty meals for friends and family.

Nancy is based in Ayrshire and covers Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Edinburgh & Lothian, Glasgow City & East/West Dunbartonshire, North & South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders & Stirlingshire.

You can contact Nancy on nancybraid@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Nancy on Facebook & Instagram

John Leo Scott

August 15, 2017by Fuze Admin

John Leo Scott, Celebrant

"Marriage is a big commitment which I take seriously and I realise it takes more than love to bind a couple together".

John is available for Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies

Coming from a restaurant background, John has gained a wealth of experience working with the public and decided to make the leap into the world of Celebranting three years ago. Since then, he's never looked back! John says "it’s a wonderful job conducting ceremonies in some of the most beautiful venues in Scotland, where the bridal party and guests are in great spirits and I get to share in the euphoria."

John has been married for a mahoosive 23 years and has two beautiful girls aged 20 and 19, not to forget his gorgeous fur-baby, Dave the Groodle (retriever/poodle), who brings him joy every single day. When he's not Celebranting and walking Dave, John loves to snowboard, road cycle and cyclo cross, and is also involved in his local Amateur Dramatics and was last to be seen on stage when he appeared in was Kipps (Half a Sixpence) where he had two parts, chalk and cheese, one a wealthy architect called Mr Maxwell, the other Uncle Bert, the main characters surrogate father.

For John, marriage is a big commitment, which he takes seriously and realises it takes more than love to bind a couple together. John loves getting to know couples, sharing in their happiness and delivering unique Ceremonies with his signature, relaxed, laid back warm and welcoming style, laced with smiles and lots of laughter. Most couples he's married have witnessed him getting emotional, he can't help it : )

John is based in Ayrshire and covers Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Glasgow City & East/West Dunbartonshire, North & South Lanarkshire, Perthshire, Fife & Angus & Stirlingshire.

You can contact John on johnleoscott@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of John on Facebook , Instagram and Tik Tok

Thomas Slavin

August 7, 2017by Fuze Admin

Thomas Slavin, Celebrant

"It's your day, it should be special. Let me help you make it phenomenal".

Thomas is available to conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

Whether it’s your Wedding, Civil Partnerships or Funeral, the day should be bespoke and exactly what you want. Using his knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and passion Thomas will help you create the perfect ceremony.

Thomas strongly believes that no two lives are the same and as such celebrating the end of a loved one's life should be as unique and bespoke as possible. Grief frequently creates overwhelming feelings of negativity and hopelessness sometimes stopping us focusing on the joy, inspiration and memories our departed have left behind.

Thomas's ultimate goal is to provide a tailored, personal and fitting tribute that will not only ensure the best possible send off but also bring comfort and a sense of peace to all.

As a people person Thomas's career has taken him on a varied, somewhat exciting path. He has always worked with the public and enjoy all aspects of public speaking. Often described as having an infectious, humorous but ultimately caring personality he considers it an honour and the utmost privilege to be able to assist anyone who should require guidance, comfort or help in the preparation and delivery of the ceremony.

Thomas has one son and has been with his partner for over 13 years and after 11 years in a civil partnership, they decided to get married!! Thomas now looks forward to many happy years as a married couple.

You can contact Thomas on thomasslavin@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Thomas on Facebook and Instagram

Brian Baxter

July 6, 2014by Fuze Admin

Brian Baxter, Celebrant

“I take enormous joy in helping others to create their own unique ceremony and to assist them in having the most memorable day of their lives.”

Brian is available to conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

Brian Baxter has witnessed and ably assisted with well over 1000+ Wedding Ceremonies across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, particularly so when delivering his Highland Wedding Master of Ceremonies (Toastmaster/ MC) provision. Brian is a highly skilled public speaker and has a Robert Burns recital gift. He has an impressive Master of Ceremonies CV. Some clients have said that he is “the calm in the storm”.

He takes great joy in witnessing the freedom that a Humanist Ceremony gives to his clients, making the occasion even more memorable for the newlyweds, family and guests. He is passionate about creating and delivering dignified and meaningful funeral ceremonies too. In 2020 he decided to study for and gain the Diploma in Public Speaking and Humanist Ceremonies with UKCAPSA. After completing the diploma, he was "chuffed tae bits" when he was asked to become a Humanist Celebrant with the Fuze Foundation and Fuze Ceremonies. Delivering his first ever legal wedding ceremony in September 2020.

Brian married Val in 1989. They have one son. When not delivering weddings, vow renewals, baby naming and funeral services, Brian and Val like to take exotic Cruise Ship holidays, tae the sun!

Since age 16, Brian has had a staggering 40+ years military experience. At age 40, he took some time out from the military, ran a pub for a spell and worked in the Chamber of Commerce, Dundee, as a manager delivering learning & development to clients in a variety of age groups. He also had a 3-year period working for Local Government, as Team Leader of an Anti-Social Behaviour Team! It was back full time with the military again in 2010, and he retired fully from the army in July 2023. He says - "because it was time to use the "bus pass!"

These past working experiences and life skills gained have aided him in developing his consulting, listening, and toned communication skills, ensuring that he always listens to his clients & guides them in their aspiration to create a unique, special, unforgettable, dignified, touched with fun, a bit of witty banter and a truly personal ceremony.

Brian is by far, one of the smartest dressed male celebrants in Scotland. Owning more kilts and trews than a kilt shop, and more dress suits than any high street clothing outlet!

Brian will travel from his home in Scone to conduct your ceremony anywhere in Scotland. Please be aware though that this may involve additional fuel, accommodation and/ or travel costs in order to do so. Just ask.You can contact Brian on brianbaxter@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Brian on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok

Yvonne Hannah

May 7, 2014by Fuze Admin

Yvonne Hannah, Celebrant

Yvonne is available to conduct Yvonne is available to conduct Weddings, Vow Renewal, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

Yvonne just loves getting to know people, a bubbly, happy person who gets super excited about love and anything shiny. She adores writing personal and unique love stories, creating, and conducting a ceremony that will not only be remembered by you for years to come, but by your family and friends too.

As a Fuze bride herself, Yvonne has firsthand experience. From meeting with you both for the first time, throwing around ideas on symbolic gestures like handfasting, or drinking from the quaich, through to being there for you both on the day. She appreciates how exciting each stage is and knows how wonderful it is to hear your own personal story as you make your vows to one another.

The idea of becoming a Humanist Celebrant came as she traveled around the NC500 with her husband Allan and their 3-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Skye. As a couple, their joy of traveling around Scotland and its islands played an important part in their wedding ceremony. As they reminisced about how special their wedding day was, Yvonne decided that she was going to train to become a Marriage Officer herself.

Humanist ceremonies are about you, there are no limits on what shapes your ceremony or where you have it, and that is a beautiful thing. Get in touch with Yvonne to share your story and start to build your perfect ceremony.

Yvonne is based in Fife and covers Aberdeenshire & Moray, Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, Edinburgh & Lothian, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, North & South Lanarkshire, Perthshire, Fife & Angus, Scottish Borders and Stirlingshire

You can contact Yvonne on yvonnehannah@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Yvonne on Facebook , Instagram and Tik Tok

Lucy Haden

May 7, 2014by Fuze Admin

Lucy Haden, Celebrant

Lucy is available to conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

Lucy has had a varied career so far, including being an agony aunt for a teenage magazine, managing the estate of a well-known artist, and running a couture wedding dress shop. She is now a manager in a rehab hospital, and is a great believer in facing and adapting to the challenges that life throws at you – hence the mixture of careers.

Lucy has always written creatively, including stories, plays and pantomimes, and has been an enthusiastic amateur actress for over 30 years, her proudest role being in Calendar Girls.

To be a celebrant combines so many of the positive and exciting aspects of what she has done so far. It’s a huge pleasure and a privilege to play a part in the great milestones in peoples’ lives, whether it’s helping to create a wedding ceremony that’s full of joy and laughter or whether it’s creating a memorable farewell for somebody.

Lucy really enjoys helping people to find the perfect reading or symbolic gesture for you to make a very personal ceremony, and takes great pride in working with couples and families to provide imaginative ceremonies to make their day something they will remember for ever. She looks forward to making your day a unique experience for you to treasure.

Lucy is based in the Scottish Borders and covers Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Edinburgh & Lothian, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, North & South Lanarkshire, Perthshire, Fife & Angus, Scottish Borders and Stirlingshire

You can contact Lucy on lucyhaden@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Lucy on Facebook and Instagram

Chris Alexander

May 5, 2014by Fuze Admin

Chris Alexander, Celebrant

Chris is available to blether for and conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

As an actor Chris has found himself travelling the world. A passion for folk and their stories and the connections, long or short that immeasurably inspire us all our days.

It’s crucial to Chris that your ceremony is your story. In joy or grief.

As a person it was a saunter on El Camino Santiago that ignited a want to aid people. “We share stories all the time. A simple hello could have a million possibilities.” As an outdoor lover, a pal to nature and Munro bagger, Chris is happy to do any ceremony, wherever you want. Mountains, beauty spots of Scotland(What a country) to jumping in the sea(After we’ve checked for sharks). Or the local hall! Nothing is off limits. Mother Nature is a wonderful sculptor.

It was a natural flow to combine the skills as an actor and place it in humanist ceremonies. I love working with people. Travelling is a passion. “It seemed to me, to continue meeting new folk, hearing stories and sharing those stories to the people they love the most, becoming a celebrant is a new bubble of joy. It’s an honour to give the journey of a life to people that love the person or people.”

A humanist ceremony is the perfect way to include anything you want. Let's have a blether.

Chris is based in Ayrshire and conducts ceremonies throughout Scotland.

Buen Camino!

You can contact Chris on chrisalexander@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Chris on Instagram

Jackie Jeffrey

May 5, 2014by Fuze Admin

Jackie Jeffrey, Celebrant

Jackie lives in a small Perthshire village with her partner and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Known by family and friends as the Queen of organising, she really does love a list!

Having worked closely with people all her life, across different career paths, Jackie has always had a genuine interest in people and loves hearing all about their lives and experiences. She is a great peoples person, warm, funny, sincere and has a natural talent to write and tell a story.

Jackie is also a Life Coach, a role that commands a lot of listening and understanding but one that she finds very rewarding. Becoming a Celebrant was the next natural step for her, giving her the opportunity to continue learning peoples stories, meet amazing people and share their life events.

It is important to Jackie that you have a ceremony as unique as you and one that reflects your hopes and dreams for the future or honours the life you have lived.

Jackie is a very optimistic person and it will be an honour and a privilege for her to conduct your ceremony with professionalism and integrity and she won't eat all the wedding cake!

Lifes what you make it, make it the best life you possibly can.

Jackie is based in Perthshire and conducts ceremonies in Aberdeenshire & Moray, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, Edinburgh & Lothian, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, Inverness-shire, Perthshire, Fife & Angus, Scottish Borders, Stirlingshire and Western Highlands & Islands.

You can contact Jackie on jackiejeffrey@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Jackie on Facebook and Instagram

Douglas Gilgallon

May 2, 2014by Fuze Admin

Douglas Gilgallon, Celebrant

Douglas’s passion in life has always been people. At the age of 16 he turned his back on a promising apprenticeship with an American Engine company because he realised he wanted to work with people and not machines. Over the past 25 years Douglas has had a career in Social Work, where he worked extensively within the Glasgow homeless scene, and in the last 10 years with adults with disabilities.

Douglas brings with him a quarter of a century worth of service to people. Over that time, he has honed his interpersonal skills, and his empathy, warmth and compassion are the driving force behind his desire to serve others.

Douglas lives in Glasgow with his wife Pauline. They have been married for 27 years and have 3 daughters and three rescue dogs.

In his spare time Douglas is an avid Munro Bagger and has climbed over 40 Munro’s to date. If ever you needed a guide or advice on some great Scottish Mountains for that special ceremony, he is your guy.

Douglas is also a keen guitarist and learned long ago just how much music moves people. He is always being asked to bring his guitar to parties as it’s a fantastic way to bring people together.

Douglas first attended a humanist funeral service in 2004 and it completely opened his eyes as to what was possible in terms of saying a farewell to a loved one. He loved the idea that a service existed where the focus was based around honouring the memory and the life of the individual.

Douglas has always had a talent for writing, and is the go-to person amongst his family and friends whenever a heartfelt letter or special words are required for a unique occasion. This combined with his 25 years’ experience capturing information for clients, and formulating provision and support based around that information, means Douglas is more than able to help you capture the story that you want told at your ceremony. Be it a marriage ceremony, a civil partnership, a renewal of vows, a baby naming ceremony, or helping with the difficult task of saying goodbye to a loved one, he can help by creating something special and memorable for you.

Douglas is based in Glasgow and conducts ceremonies in Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Edinburgh & Lothian, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, North & South Lanarkshire, Perthshire, Fife & Angus, Scottish Borders and Stirlingshire

You can contact Douglas on douglasgilgallon@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Douglas on Facebook , Instagram and Tik Tok

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