Funeral Service Times August 2017 April 2019 | Page 32

32 SOAPBOX
How to live forever
when you’re a humanist
Being a humanist means - amongst other things - not believing in life after death. So, if you’re a
humanist, how do you live forever? Humanist Nick Pineger explains
N
o one really lives forever, but for
humanists being remembered
and thought about are ways in
which we ‘live on’.
Humanists UK has provided thousands
of humanist funerals since the 1890s,
pioneering the concept of the non-religious
funeral. But, it was not until after the
death of TV presenter, Dale Winton, that
we created a way for the memories of
fellow humanists to ‘live on’ not just in the
memories of people who knew them, but
forever in an online archive.
The Humanist Funeral Tribute Archive
makes it possible for people anywhere in
the world to read about the interesting lives
and the funeral tributes of anyone who has
had a funeral ceremony conducted by a
Humanist Ceremonies celebrant. The idea
was conceived by Humanists UK celebrant
Patsy Wallace and it was established in
2018 at the Bishopsgate Institute.
The archive focuses on the tribute; the
central part of a humanist funeral where
the life story of the deceased is celebrated
and recorded. Each tribute in the archive
has been written in consultation with the
deceased's loved ones, by the celebrant
who conducted the funeral. Some families
have also added photographs and other
information to their loved one’s archive
entry, adding even more colour to these
tapestries of life.
From the archive, we learn that Dale
Winton played a cameo role in the 1996
film Trainspotting, and was ‘always happy
to send himself up’. We can also learn
about the life of Frank Brown who was
born in Ramsgate, and gained a PhD from
the Open University before becoming
a university lecturer; Sue Steward who
started out working in the mail order
department of Virgin Records before
becoming publicity officer, a DJ, and
photography critic for the London Evening
Standard; Harold Leo Rhodes who was a
‘quick-witted, humorous man’ and a keen
walker - a crossword ace, who used to set
crosswords for the Financial Times; and Ida
Rado who survived the Holocaust and lived
APRIL 2019
until the age of 104.
In addition to being a wonderful way to
keep someone’s memory alive, the archive
provides a fascinating window into recent
social history and an insight into the lives of
others. It makes for a riveting read.
A place in the Tribute Archive is available
to commemorate anyone who had a
Humanists UK funeral. Get in touch with the
celebrant to ask them to record your loved
one’s memory for the benefit of future
generations.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information about the archive and how to have a tribute added to the
archive, visit: humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/funeral-tribute-archive/
Humanist Ceremonies has a network of over 400 accredited celebrants across
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Isles. Find your local humanist
celebrant: humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/find-a-celebrant/
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk