Hello
My name is Mike Matthews and prior to becoming a celebrant I worked in the banking industry for nearly 40 years, most recently as a Premier Banking Manager, looking after high net worth customers. The skills learned over my long career are put to good use in supporting you.
My Story
I’ve been married to my wife Sandra for 32 years and have two grown up daughters. The love of my life are my two dogs, my cocker spaniels Dottie and Penny.
My passion is wildlife and conservation and in my spare time I have been volunteering at The Big Cat Sanctuary for the last 16 years. I'm also the founder of A Call For Nature, a company I formed in 2013 to raise funds for wildlife and conservation through the design and sale of tshirts and other apparel.
My other hobbies are music, football, travel (ask me about my recent trip to Antarctica), long dog walks, movies and sport. My favourite holidays are Cornwall, the Greek Islands and Orlando.
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I am very personable, likeable, approachable, friendly with a good sense of humour (some may say cheeky) and with very good empathy. I always act professionally with good communication skills, tailored to the individual and I am a good listener, reliable, punctual and will always be smartly dressed.
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I first thought about becoming a Funeral Celebrant back in 2021, after my father sadly passed away from Covid 19. I organised his funeral and wrote and read his eulogy at the service and although it was an emotional time, I felt that it was something that I needed to do, to give him the 'send off' that he deserved. However, I put this career change to the back of my mind and remained working in the bank until earlier in 2024 when I discovered that I was being made redundant. It was at that time that my mother in law sadly passed away, and it was almost like it was a message from above, reminding me what my new calling in life was. So after writing and reading her eulogy at her funeral, I decided that this was something that I needed to do. So I completed my training with The Academy of Professional Celebrants.
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​In addition to the main service, I can also assist with other aspects of the funeral such as selecting readings and music. I know how daunting it can be dealing with the death of a loved one, particularly when they were relied upon for technical skills or making financial decisions. With my many years of banking experiences, I can guide you with the process of notifying financial institutions and dealing with the estate. I can also assist with uploading photos for your video tribute too.
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As well as becoming a Funeral Celebrant, I am also a qualified Will Writer, able to assist you with the writing of a Will, Lasting Power of Attorney and Estate Planning, working for MC Will Writing Services Ltd.
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