Sarah Was my best friend. We were born in the same week, on the same ward at Treliske and we lived two doors apart. Our dads worked together down Wheal Jane, and we were inseperable as kids.

As we grew up, we never grew apart. When I moved to Bath she always wrote to me, and She loved getting my letters back. We always kept in touch. She was always my biggest champion where my writing was concerned and would always encourage me to go for it. When I had doubts she would talk me through, and would always say exactly what I needed to hear. I miss her so much.

 She was adamant that I would write and deliver her eulogy. I found this rather morbid, and I would tell her to 'shut up and behave'. I said she would make old bones, and I would probably go first. She used to mention this all the time and she would even say it to my husband. When she heartbreakingly passed away last year -I didn’t have any choice but to honour my best friends wishes. I was scared I wouldn’t get through it; I was scared it wasn’t good enough for her, but, there wasn’t any question of anyone else performing it on the planet, but me.

 I performed the eulogy in Truro Cathedral as my dearest friend had been telling me for years; it was my duty.

 I was broken.  I didn’t want to let her down, I couldn’t let her down, it was not an option.The pressure was immense, as was the grief.

 I wrote and delivered the eulogy.  I’m not sure how I did it, but I managed to give her the best tribute I could think of. It was simply our lives. And it was the truth. It received the biggest round of applause. As soon as I heard that, I knew she was proud of me.

When I took my seat, I felt her sit with me. As I sat there listening to the Cathedral Choir sing Fix You.. A white butterfly landed on the arm of the pew. She was happy, and she was saying thank you.

I was given the most amazing feedback. People came up to me and after sent me messages saying that I should be doing this for a living. I pondered this for a while and then eventually contacted Civil Ceremonies Limited and applied for the Diploma in Celebrancy.

I qualified in August. I know she is up there taking the credit for it. And rightly so, I wouldn’t be doing this now if it wasn’t for Sarah.. And that’s why she has her own page.

I am including her eulogy for people to read because it is very special to me. It shows both my humour, and my heart. My heart will always belong to Sarah.