Originally from Perth, Scotland, I was born in March 1977, the eldest of four, I was a quiet and reserved wee soul — how that would change later in life! I lived in Perth for the first twenty five years of my near fifty years on the planet and Dundee has become my home ever since, a place I absolutely love being.

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My dad worked hard throughout his life in Perth, doing any and every job he could before committing his efforts into building and becoming a busy, respected local newsagent. Growing up, we never struggled for anything and indeed did very well.


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At a very early age I too became involved in the family business, delivering papers initially, and also helping to serve the local hospital patients on his newspaper and sundry trollies at both Perth Royal Infirmary and Bridge Of Earn hospital! I remember working out the patients’ change by scribbling sums on the back of a paper bag!

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Through those early experiences and the exposure to customers, I began to develop the ability to speak to anyone and everyone. When I was old enough, I served behind the counter in my dad’s shop until I was seventeen and then I set out into the big wide world working as an assistant manager for Safeway, in customer service and the front end of the store. I later joined the retail motor industry at eighteen and the years that followed worked in aftersales and the service departments of the local busy Ford and Vauxhall dealerships before joining car manufacturer Daewoo (UK) as an aftersales controller.

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I progressed further up the tree and when I moved through to Dundee and taking two years out, worked in accounting and finance with both Cattles plc and then KPMG in insolvency the Corporate Recovery team.

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For the next fifteen years of my life, I returned to the motor industry and run successful million pound aftersales operations in Aberdeen then Dundee, with Skoda, SEAT, Mazda and Volkswagen on two occasions as a senior manager until I became a family celebrant.

 

Going back to the more personal side of me, my early life, although we didn’t want for anything, due to home circumstances, life wasn’t always the easiest of times and in parts, was very traumatic. My own mother’s psychiatric illness paved the way for a number of obstacles which would get in the way for many reasons. My dad continued to worked hard to hold things together, and it was extremely tough.

 

Looking back, the solid loving presence of my grandparents, my granny especially, immeasurably shaped me in so many ways — from being able to cook, sew, knit even, and also keep an immaculate house which sadly is a downfall of mine — I hate mess! And of the solid, loving and stable warmth of a family home filled with genuine care. I shared a very special relationship with Granny Morgan.

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The positives that came from those times meant I developed a huge heart and a deep sensitivity for other people, their feelings, emotions and also a deep desire to help others. Around this time, I also began my journey with hypnotherapy and counselling, both of which were of incredible benefit to me during some very dark times.

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It had that much of an impact on me, I went on to train with British Hypnosis Research at the Royal Masonic Hospital in Hammersmith in London, and then completed a year long training course in clinical hypnotherapy, psychotherapy and counselling, graduating in the summer of 1996 having been trained by Mrs Vicki Watson of the National Society of Professional Hypnotherapists in Blairgowrie.

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I went on throughout my life to continue my CPD with several institutions and specialisms, including NLP, grief and bereavement and in analytical psychotherapy. Although no longer practicing as much, in recent years I trained with both Dr Richard Bandler and Paul McKenna. My training and experience with mental and emotional health was instrumental in helping two very close family members negotiate the almost unsurmountable challenges they had with psychiatric disorder and the mental health system in Scotland.

 

I was eventually awarded an advanced diploma and the Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council and a Senior Practitioner with the General Hypnotherapy Register.

 

Since the age of seven, one thing that I found great solace in was music. Thanks to my dad’s encouragement, seeing me master the electric keyboard, he supported this as a hobby and through the years, I quickly learned the keyboard, and the electric organ with Vi Bridgeman and then Bob Ray, and by the time I was sixteen, played in front of crowds and entertained people in local clubs, associations and for a hotel chain in Perth every year for a long time.

 

As I found a social life playing music took a back seat, however DJ’ing and singing came to the fore and there started years of singing in front of people once my confidence had found its feet. To this day, I love music, and still sing and now play the piano for the absolute joy of it.

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I’ve enjoyed a great hobby singing and entertaining locally, and also latterly in Spain prior to Covid and having the privilege  of singing  in front of audiences of thousands, including on stage at the Benidorm Palace and the Julio Iglesias stadium amongst some lovely beautiful venues. For years now, I continue to sing, play and enjoy music and it's  a huge part of my life. I love listening to, singing and entertaining others and some ways this comes out in my ceremonies too.

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I love to be involved in the emotion, escapism and fun music brings to my life and listening to all kinds of music keeps a huge smile on my face!

Over the years I have also had interest in the Japanese martial art Aikido, achieving several graded belts in that time, a very spiritual, peaceful and effective art. Throughout my earlier years, reading, developing myself and also being involved in many other hobbies and interests gave me a welcome escapism. My friends are a huge part of my life, and throughout the years, many very special friends have been instrumental in building who I am as a person.

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At school I was great with maths, numbers, reading, music, and computers especially and also loved playing in the chess team in the school lunchtimes. I also loved playing tennis and played for Darnhall Tennis Club for a while in my early years too.


Celebrant work for me began in 2015 when I trained with the United Kingdom Society of Celebrants as a funeral celebrant. This was brought about after a hugely important person to me in life, saw the potential celebrant in me! I had experienced some loss in my life, none more so than my granny. I didn’t realise it at the time, but it had a hugely profound effect on me. I’ve since lost my mother after a lifelong struggle with psychiatric illness, and in many ways celebrancy drew my passions together with therapy, music and people together.

Since then, I’ve conducted thousands of ceremonies be it funerals, namings, memorials and wedding ceremonies with not only compassion, but with humour and genuine authenticity — helping to smooth the journey from loss to living with loss and helping those in need find peace in their own lives. And also bring some of the happiest of memories alive too!

 

Although I've done numerous weddings and vow renewals over the years, in August of 2025, I became a Marriage Officer with TLC Faith, whilst in the search for something that resonated with my own beliefs and a way of life that I connected with. In my time as a celebrant, I have helped people through some of the worst times in their lives, through trauma, suicide, loss, bereavement, emotional distress and of course some of their happiest times too in friendship, success, emotional freedom, enjoyment and laughter and of course celebrating births and unions.

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In my spare time I still enjoy spending time with my close friends and family, playing piano, listening to music, singing, socialising all while living what I consider to be every moment, as balanced and as happy as possible, while not taking myself too seriously either! Everything I do, I do with heart and by being unapologetically myself.

 

Thanks for reading just a little part of my story!

Alan