I became a vegan around 10 years ago, prior to this I was a vegetarian. I knew I needed to do more, so when my eldest daughter became a vegan, I followed in her footsteps. It took me about 6 months to fully transition (I couldn’t give up milk or cheese!) Now I look back and wonder what I made such a fuss about!

Everyone local to me, knows that I will help with animals, and at one-point I became the local ‘go-to’ for lost pets, hedgehogs found out in the day-time, lost racing pigeons, abandoned cockerels etc. We rehomed two beautiful big, black (unwanted) dogs and they both lived long lives with us. And at one point I also rehomed hens, including unwanted pet hens and lots of ex-commercial hens -it was such a joy to see those ‘girls’ find their happy-selves! Over the years I have volunteered for my local animal sanctuary on their fundraising team and attended an animal-rights protest march.

As a wedding celebrant, it’s not part of my business to offer food or drink to my clients -as I usually visit them in their own homes, but if I do bring a fun gift (like doughnuts) then I will always ensure they are vegan.

As part of my work as a funeral celebrant, I explain to my clients that I am unable to include animal releases in my services, instead I encourage a more natural ritual such as seed bombing or bubble-wands.

Sadly it would seem that ‘The Vegan Traders Union’ and the ‘Vegan Founded’ organisations are no longer in operation, so I recently joined The Vegan Society, and I’m proud that my fees will help to fund the important work they do -in fact I’m rather hoping they will ask me to do a feature on ‘The Day in the Life of a Vegan Independent Celebrant’ for their magazine!