Hello, my name is Judith Bancroft and I am a Wedding and Funeral celebrant in Coningsby, Lincolnshire situated in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds.

Working with people has always been a major part of my life, from my early days as a nurse, following this I looked after my seriously disabled son for 20 years, whilst managing to work part time in various positions always people focused.

I became a volunteer on the management side of Mencap, promoting public awareness of disability issues and where public speaking became a normal part of my role. At this time my biggest “audience” being 500 social workers in an auditorium!

I moved to Scotland when my brain damaged son was 18 months of age and facilities at this time were quite poor for children with learning difficulties, so I set up and ran a toy library which I believe is still operating today.

In my leisure time I enjoyed clay shooting for over 20 years, competitively and for fun.
I actually managed to win the odd trophy too!

So why did I become a celebrant?

I lost both of my parents and then tragically my eldest son in a road accident at 18 years, being a serving member of the RAF, his funeral was conducted and overseen by his Squadron Padre, the whole feeling surrounding his funeral was very different to what is often called by the forces “civvy street” and much more personal than any I had ever been to.

The excellent support I received together with me being involved in the planning as they wished me to, despite being rather harrowing, was when I look back now, so instrumental in helping me through my journey of grief at this terrible time.

I have attended many funerals since, but in comparison often felt that they were quite functional but many lacked something, in so much as the time involved to create a unique story of the loved one lost and to include the family if they wished to be involved, or to read some poems or readings on their behalf, just to make it special to them and to you too.

Together with specially chosen pieces or something of remembrance they know their loved one would have liked, to really personalise the whole experience of celebrating the persons life whether it was long or short.
So many years on I decided to train as a funeral celebrant with UKSOC, to be able to help people through the difficult time of losing a loved one and to be able to create for both them and their loved one a unique ceremony especially written and created for them.

To give a balance to my role, I am also a qualified UK SOC trained family civil celebrant, conducting wedding ceremonies, renewal of vows ceremonies, baby naming ceremonies, retirement celebration ceremonies, bon voyage (emigrating) and any other type of happy celebration ceremonies you wish for.

As a civil celebrant in Lincolnshire, I cover the areas of Skegness, Chapel St Leonards, all coastal towns together with the villages in the Lincolnshire Wolds and Lincolnshire towns.

I would love to share with you, plan with you and deliver your special ceremony, wherever you wish it to be, on a beach, in a beautiful garden, in a very special place to you, but most importantly in your own unique style and taste, so you will always have this special day to remember.