Gala Night!

The Gala Jubilee for Lewisham Humanist Group was a glorious evening on June 17 2010 to celebrate 50 years of humanist activities and meetings. Attendance  was at a level unprecedented compared with regular meetings; members brought friends and family who were new. From their teens to nineties they came from across London, or returned after some absence from Group meetings.  One newcomer said,  "we had a throughly wonderful evening and enjoyed some discussions about what we heard over the next few days.   A very entertaining and thought provoking evening".

James Dobson, Group chair welcomed everyone and introduced our MC Isabel Russo. Isabel, originator of the Gala,  gave brief profiles of each speaker and a brilliant elucidation on the historical background for the half century in which the Group has existed.  She portrayed the situation over the years: she said -  a litre of petrol was cheaper than a pint of milk at 2.7p in today's money when the Group started.   Group President, founder member and long time Chair  Barbara Smoker recalled the first meeting in February 1960 had taken place in the old Town Hall, demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the Civic Suite in which we were assembled.  Barbara, resplendent in gold dress, spoke about one of our most successful campaigns: after a long crusade, the Council’s eventual replacement of a cross fixed to the wall at Lewisham (now Hither Green) Crematorium with a small  brass cross which can easily be taken down for humanist funerals.

Martin Rowson - cartoonist in The Guardian and New Humanist - gave a dazzling diatribe to the backdrop of his own and other historical caricatures.  Then Jeanne Rathbone's creation   'Sheela na Gig'  -  featured at Edinburgh Fringe and feminist events -  punctured priestly paedophiles and monkish masturbatory machinations. Combined, Rowson and Rathbone gave religious bigotry a ribald battering.

Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA),  under the title  'Objections to Humanism'  brought a gentler, measured and  positive approach to humanism and its role today.

Billy Jenkins, bluesman and jazz guitarist, concluded the evening with a spirited rendering of his own versions of some well known arias and invited audience participation.  His comments on the secular rites of passage for arrival, bonding and deparure brought mirth to the finale.

Barbara Smoker and  Denis Cobell -Secretary of the Group for 35 years - were both awarded the accolade of Honorary Life Membership of the BHA by Andrew Copson and Tana Wollen (Head of Ceremonies at BHA). As both Barbara & Denis had been previously honoured as past Presidents of the National Secular Society with  Honorary Life membership of the NSS, they are a unique duo!   Denis had pointed to the Lewisham Borough Coat of Arms and motto, "Salus Populi Suprema Lex"  - 'the welfare of the people is the highest law' - written by Cicero (born around 100BCE) . Cicero is included in a 'Humanist Anthology' (compiled by Margaret Knight, revised by Jim Herrick 1995, Rationalist Press Association, London .  ISBN 0-301-94001-0).  A fitting reminder that Humanism is Alive and Well in Lewisham today.