David Somerville Independent Celebrant Reviews 116

TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.9

While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 50 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their genuine care, compassion, and ability to capture the true essence of their loved ones through incredible storytelling. The service provided is frequently described as personal, warm, and incredibly true to the character of the deceased, making people feel at ease during difficult times. Many reviewers highlight the exceptional customer service, noting the professionalism, empathy, and patience shown throughout the entire process, from initial meetings to the delivery of the service. People often mention that the celebrant's ability to listen and understand family wishes results in a deeply personal and fitting tribute that brings comfort and dignity. The overall sentiment is that the company's staff are truly amazing, kind, and caring, making a difficult experience manageable and memorable for families.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers express immense gratitude and satisfaction with the staff, particularly praising their genuine... See more

Service

Clients share positive opinions on service, with many reviewers expressing gratitude for the personal, warm,... See more

Customer service

Consumers find customer service to be a positive experience, with many reviewers highlighting the compassion,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

David conducted the most wonderful eulogy for my father who sadly passed away aged 94. He was able to capture the true essence of my Dad through his incredible story telling and by bringing to life th... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

David conducted the funeral service for our Mum who died suddenly and unexpectedly. From the first phone call with him we were put at ease. He wrote the most wonderful eulogy and poem for our mum, cap... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Dont know where to start... felt like David was an old family friend so comfortable to share our stories! The first draft captured my granda perfectly there was no need for any amendments! Even on the... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

David was exceptional throughout the entire process. He took real time to listen and genuinely understand who my dad was — not just the stories, but the kind of man he was at his core. When he delive... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Funeral Director

Written by the company

Hello, I’m David Somerville, an award-winning independent funeral celebrant based in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. With a background in acting, performance, and mental health advocacy, I specialise in creating meaningful, personalised ceremonies that celebrate life’s vibrant colours. Having grown up in South Lanarkshire and now residing in North Lanarkshire, I am committed to supporting local families during their most challenging moments. My mission is to guide you through grief with compassion and professionalism, honouring each unique life story in a way that brings comfort and peace. Conducting funeral services is an honour and a privilege that gives me a profound sense of purpose. My own journey of loss has shaped my passion for this work. I am continually reminded of love’s enduring power in this sacred role. As a funeral celebrant, I create memorable tributes that reflect your loved one’s unique story and values. Personalised Funeral Services: Tailored ceremonies with music, readings, and tributes. Memorial Services: Informal gatherings to share memories and celebrate life. Celebration of Life Ceremonies: Joyous events that highlight positive memories and connections. Graveside Services: Intimate settings for final goodbyes. Interment and Scattering of Ashes: Respectful services tailored to your needs. Each service is crafted with care to ensure meaningful tributes.


Contact info

4.9

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

116 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

No history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited their customers, so reviews may not be representative

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Celebrant

David instantly put our family at ease during a very difficult time when our heads were still spinning and we couldn't think straight. David wrote and conducted a beautiful speech for my dad and spoke as if he knew my dad with great compassion. David helped our family give my dad the send off he deserved. I cannot recommend David highly enough.

April 30, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you Susanne for your kind words and lovely review. Your recommendation means the world to me. I was extremely honoured to conduct your dad's service, and to support you and your family. The wonderful turnout on the day spoke volumes about how much your dad was loved. Sending love to you all. David ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommended - Professional and Compassionate

David was compassionate, thoughtful and professional from start to finish.
He came to meet our family to learn about my dad ahead of conducting his funeral service. He turned our garbled bletherings into a truely beautiful, well written and personal eulogy.
As well as conducting the ceremony, he was there on the day to make sure we were all looked after.
I could not recommend David highly enough.

April 9, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you very much Shiona for your kind words and lovely review. I was extremely honoured to conduct your dad's service, and to support you and your family. Your recommendation means the world to me. Sending lots of love to you all. David ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A True Professional

If you are looking for a celebrant who obviously cares a great deal about how he portrays your family member then I couldn’t recommend David highly enough. He asks all the right questions at a time when you’re probably not thinking straight and definitely listens carefully to all of your answers. Everyone who attended my sister’s service remarked about how well he provoked memories with his very personal eulogy and poem.

April 14, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you, Isobel, for your kind words. I was honoured to conduct Maureen's service and to be there for you and your family. Your recommendation means everything to me. Sending all my love to you all. David

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Andrew Mckenzie Service

David was introduced to us as part of our funeral arrangements for my dad Andrew Mckenzie.
He called, texted, emailed and we met up throughout the process. He went above and beyond in my opinion.
The eulogy was perfect and he made a personalised poem which was so moving. A genius with his words and a genuinely lovely man. Thank you David.

April 10, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you for your kind words, Abigail. It was an honour to conduct your dad's service and help support you and your family. Sending much love to you all.
David

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent celebrant

David is so helpful, he conducted my mums funeral service he did excellent job of catching my mums personality. It was a pleasure to have David carry out my mum service.

March 11, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you for your kind words, Lorna. It was an honour to conduct your mum's funeral service and help support you and your family. Sending much love to you all. Take care ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When we first met David

When we first met David, he quickly put us at ease. We chatted about my mum and from this, he wrote a beautiful eulogy which reflected her perfectly. Our friends and family commented on how this was the perfect send off and I'm incredibly grateful to David for his kindness and professionalism.

April 7, 2025
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thanks so much, Tracy, for your kind words and lovely review. I was truly honoured to conduct your mum's service and to be there for you and your family. Your recommendation means everything to me. Sending all my love to you all. David ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

David came highly recommended

David came highly recommended by my funeral director Fraser. I am so grateful for that recommendation. David took the time to get to know mum through our eyes. He crafted a beautiful eulogy that had us laughing and crying. It encapsulated mum perfectly. He was warm, compassionate and professional at all times. If you are looking for a celebrant then you need look no further. Thank you David for bringing some light to the darkness x

April 3, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you very much Andrea for your kind words and lovely review. I was extremely honoured to conduct your mum's service, and to support you and your family. Your recommendation means the world to me. Sending lots of love to you all. David ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A truly compassionate celebrant

I can't recommend David highly enough. He helped us shape mum's memorial service, taking all of our stories and weaving them into a beautiful eulogy. He truly captured the essence of who she was with his thoughtful words. He was considerate of all our individual wishes for the day and I appreciate all of the kindness and compassion he gave us at a really tough time. He went above and beyond and helped us make what could have been a sombre affair into an uplifting celebration of mum's life. Thank you so much, Stella

March 23, 2025
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Stella, thank you so much for your lovely review. I was very honoured to have played a part in celebrating your mum's life and to offer you and your family support. Your kind words mean the world to me. It was a beautiful day with the room filled with love for your mum. Sending you and your family lots of love ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

David came highly recommended to us

David came highly recommended to us
And we as a family were privileged that David was available to take our mum Janet’s service
Time wasn’t an issue with David he was more than happy to sit with us for as long as it took to sit and spk about our mum
David captured the essence of our mum with the information we were able to provide him with
On greeting family and friends at the end of mums service everyone said how lovely it was and for someone who’d never met mum the way he spoke about her you’d have thought they’d known each other all their life
We as a family cannot thank David enough for everything he did not only for us her children but most importantly for our mum
I most definitely wouldn’t hesitate to use David’s services again
Thank you David
Marjory Blaikley

March 17, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Marjory, thank you very much for your kind words and lovely review. I was very honoured to be asked to conduct your mum's service, and to support you and your family. Your recommendation means the world to me. Sending you all love ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Robert Masons Eulogy


David was recently the celebrant at my father in laws funeral, and from the initial meeting he immediately put my wife and I at ease, which made an emotionally tough time a lot more bearable.

His attention to detail is excellent and his ability to take all the information and capture someone’s life is truly a gift. He wrote a poem which perfectly encapsulated my father in laws life and made the whole service genuinely personal.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to a funeral where everyone commented on how perfect it was, and several people actually asked if he and my father in law had been friends. I couldn’t recommend him enough.

March 27, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you very much, Chris. It was an honour to conduct Mel's funeral service and help support you and your lovely family. It was a privilege, too, getting to know you all and hearing the stories about Mel. Sending much love to you all. ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Celebrant david Somerville came highly…

Celebrant David Somerville came highly recommended to our family after the sad passing of our mum Janet. David captured so much of our mums life in such a short space of time. Family, friends and colleagues commented very highly on how david carried out such a beautiful service remembering our mum. Thankyou so very much from the bottom of our hearts. Would definitely recommend David.

March 17, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you for your kind words, Janet. It was an honour to conduct your mum's funeral service and help support you and your family. Sending much love to you all. Take care ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I can’t thank David enough

I can’t thank David enough for the service he gave my Dad. From bits and pieces he got from myself and family members he captured my Dads whole life and who he was 100%. People who attended the service who didn’t know my Dad personally left feeling that they knew him. David is an amazing man and what he does for grieving families is truly a gift.

March 22, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you very much Mary for your kind words and lovely review. It was an honour to conduct your dad's service, and help support you and your family. Sending much love to you all. ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful celebrant - fantastic eulogy and service

David was a wonderful celebrant, he spent time with us learning all about my Dad and wrote and conducted a eulogy that would make you think he'd known my Dad as well as we did. He was very patient with us and did a great job teasing out all our wee stories and really getting to know all of us and my Dad.
David's presentation was respectful, enjoyable, humorous in the right place and all of the guests commented on how well the service and eulogy was carried out by David.
I would highly recommend David as he provides a great and kind service in what is a difficult and challenging time.

March 13, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thanks very much, Derek. It was an honour to conduct your dad's funeral service and help support you and your lovely family. It was a privilege getting to know you all and hearing the stories about your dad. Sending much love to you all. Take care, my friend ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful, compassionate service by a soul destined to do the role he’s doing.

On behalf of our family, I wanted to thank you so much David for being our Celebrant, for the heart warming service you produced and how you delivered it with such sincerity, kindness and care.
It felt like you knew my mum and made it very professional yet so personal with attention to detail throughout in celebrating her amazing life.
So many people complimented the beautiful service that you delivered.
Your support meant so much to our family and whilst incredibly emotional, you helped us all to get through the saddest of days.
I would not hesitate for a second in recommending David.

Thanks again, Debbie

February 26, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you very much Debbie for your kind words and lovely review. It was an honour to conduct your wonderful mum's service, and help support you, your dad, brother and the rest of your family. Sending much love to you all. ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I recently had the pleasure of working…

I recently had the pleasure of working with David Somerville as an Independent Celebrant, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. Thank you very much for a lovely service, David. You are truly amazing at what you do.

My Nana was incredibly worried about meeting with you on Sunday to discuss the arrangements, so much so that she even asked me to cancel the meeting. However, you were so kind and compassionate, putting her completely at ease during such a difficult time. Your professionalism and genuine care made a world of difference, and I can’t thank you enough for that.

David, your warmth and understanding meant so much to our family. You helped make a tough situation a little easier to navigate. Thank you again for everything.

February 6, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thanks very much Kirsty. It was an honour to conduct Tony's funeral service, and help support you, your nana and your family. Sending much love to you all. ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

David recently did my aunts funeral

David recently did my aunts funeral , from the start he was so professional and made us as a family feel at ease . The euology was outstanding and he got everything down to a fine art . He made it fun and celebrated my aunt life the way it should have been . Everyone that attended the funeral expressed how professional he was and made the service about the person .

February 12, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thanks very much Kirsty. It was a real honour to conduct your aunt's funeral service, and help support you and your family. Sending much love to you all. ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Eulogy by David

What a fantastic Eulogy David did for my Mum. He captured her to perfection.

David is friendly, caring, compassionate, and the service he delivered was commented on by practically every one in attendance, with all of them glowing in praise for how he conducted the service.

A total gent, and true professional. A 10/10 service form David. He made, what was a tough day for the family, so much easier

February 10, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Greg, thank you very much for your kind words and lovely review. I was honoured to conduct the service and help you and your family celebrate the life of your wonderful mum. Sending much love to you and all your family. ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Esther Wilkinson

What an outstanding eulogy delivered by David!!!!! He transformed a very sad occasion and filled it with humour and love. His delivery was second to none and he showed the upmost care and compassion to my family. The poem written by David also added the personal touch. It goes without saying that I would highly recommend David who has the ability to lift the saddest of occasions and turn them into a celebration of life and for that I will be forever grateful x

February 11, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Gillian, thank you so much for your lovely review. I was very honoured to have played a part in celebrating your mum's life and to offer you and your family support. Your recommendation means the world to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support your family. Sending you all love ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommended

We called upon David's services for my dad's funeral which was in February.
David showed true professionalism and empathy.
The eulogy he presented on the day was as if he personally knew my dad and had everyone who attended saying how lovely the service was.
Would highly recommend David and thank you on behalf of my family once again.

January 21, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you very much for your kind words, Anna. I was honoured to conduct the service and help you and your family celebrate the life of your wonderful Dad. Please take care. Sending much love to you and all your family. ♥️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

David officiated my mum's funeral…

David officiated my mum's funeral service and his professionalism and empathy throughout this process cannot be faulted. His support in the lead up to the service took so much of the stress out of what is one of the worst times for any family. His eulogy, fashioned from our family's individual memories of my mother, created a beautiful and moving picture of her and a true celebration of her life.
I cannot recommend David highly enough.

January 16, 2025
Unprompted review
David Somerville Independent Celebrant logo

Reply from David Somerville Independent Celebrant

Thank you, Paul, for your heartfelt words. It was truly an honour to conduct your mum's funeral service. Thank you for trusting me with this. Sending much love to you and your family. ❤️

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.

Learn more about other kinds of reviews.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look