CALLING all proud and broad speaking Scots.

A volunteer is being sought to record some of the most celebrated works of Robert Burns for humanist funerals.

Linda Morgan, from Thorrington, has been performing ceremonies for nine years.

But every time a Scot asks for some Rabbie Burns she cringes, because she can’t do him justice.

Now she is seeking someone to help her add to the personalised ceremonies with recordings of the works.

She said: “I have been doing weddings, baby namings and funerals since 2001 and every ceremony we write is intimate and refers to the life and personality of the person.

“We get quite a lot of Scots, especially with the Garrison connection, who want Robert Burns poetry to be read, but I am too English for it which is not ideal.”

She is hoping someone will be keen to help her with the non-religious ceremonies.

Mrs Morgan said she has always had humanist beliefs even before she knew about humanism. She went to a ceremony once and it felt like the right place to be and something she wanted to do, so she began training.

Now she carries out funerals and other ceremonies at crematoriums, including Colchester and Weeley, as well as other venues.

She said: “As I understand it, the purpose of religious funerals is to prepare the deceased for heaven and recommend the person to God. Because I have no faith, a humanist funeral is based around reflecting on the life of the person who has died and expressing it as a good life and being glad to have shared in it. The tone is different and it is very personal which is why it is important for it to sound right.

“Having someone record Robert Burns with a broad Scottish accent would do better justice to the poetry.”

To help, call 01206 252117.