Thanks for visiting this website. It’s built and maintained by me, Martin Poole, to give information about living funerals and my involvement in creating them.
If you’d like to know how I came to be involved in this sort of work then please read on…
I originally trained and worked in the theatre industry as an actor, director, producer and acting tutor. I’ve run my own theatre company and as well as touring productions to traditional theatres and arts centres, I’ve also taken shows to small community venues performing in village halls, pubs and churches, as well as in private homes and gardens.
I’ve enjoyed working in the industry but after about 30 years in it I decided that I’d like a new challenge in my life and as I was approaching 50 I decided that I’d like to try something new, whilst still using some of the skills that I’ve acquired over the years. I think these days many people look at their life approaching 50 and reflect on what they’ve done and what might still be left to do. I’m no different.
Having been interested in counselling, psychotherapy and death for many years I decided to begin training again and in 2018 completed a diploma in Funeral Celebrancy. Since qualifying, I’ve been privileged enough to conduct many civil funeral ceremonies which, whilst being completely bespoke and created following the wishes of the deceased and their family, are slightly more traditional, in that the ‘guest of honour’ had already died.
In 2021 I also completed training as a Counsellor & Psychotherapist and now see clients in my own private practice.
I also support the work of the Natural Death Centre and the organisation Dying Matters.
I currently run free events on the Wirral where you can drink tea, eat cake and discuss death. You can find out more about that here.
Many of the skills that I’ve acquired in my life to date serve me well as I move forward to a new life of helping people to create their own living funeral; I’m organised and creative, I’m used to collaborating with people to create private and public events and, of course, if necessary, I am comfortable standing in front of a room full of people and can clearly be heard at the back.