Barbara Smoker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Smoker
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In Bloomsbury in 2017
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| Born | 2 June 1923 Catford, London, England, UK
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| Died | 7 April 2020 (aged 96) Lewisham, London, England, UK
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| Nationality | British |
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Main interests
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Humanism |
Barbara Smoker (born June 2, 1923 – died April 7, 2020) was a British activist. She worked to promote humanism and freethought. She was also the President of the National Secular Society for many years. She helped lead the British Voluntary Euthanasia Society, now called Dignity in Dying. She was also an honorary leader of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association in the United Kingdom.
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Barbara Smoker's Early Life
Barbara Smoker was born in Catford, London in 1923. She grew up in a Roman Catholic family. From 1942 to 1945, she served in the Women's Royal Naval Service. She worked in southeast Asia during this time.
In 1949, she became an atheist. This change was inspired by the writings of Hector Hawton. He was a director at the Rationalist Press Association. He also edited a magazine called The Humanist.
Joining the Humanist Movement
In 1950, Smoker joined the humanist movement. She became a member of the South Place Ethical Society. She also joined the West London Ethical Society. She volunteered with the Ethical Union, which later became Humanists UK.
She became good friends with Harold Blackham. They worked together to plan the first World Humanist Congress. This big meeting happened in London in 1952. It followed a conference in Amsterdam where Humanists International was started.
During this time, she also worked with Ashton Bural. Bural ran the Progressive League. This group worked closely with the Ethical Union.
Her Work as a Celebrant and Author
Barbara Smoker became a popular humanist celebrant. She led non-religious ceremonies for many life events. These included funerals, weddings, and baby-namings. She also helped train other celebrants for the British Humanist Association.
She wrote a popular children's textbook called Humanism. This book was used in many schools. It helped young people learn about humanist ideas.
Leading the National Secular Society
Her longest role as an activist was leading the National Secular Society. She was its President for almost 25 years. This was from 1972 to 1996.
In this role, she shared atheist and secularist views. She wrote articles and gave many speeches. She also appeared on radio and television.
Awards and Recognition
In 1986, Barbara Smoker became the last female Appointed Lecturer for the South Place Ethical Society. She was the only living Appointed Lecturer by May 2014.
In 2005, she received the Distinguished Humanist Service Award. This award came from Humanists International. She was also made an Honorary Member of Humanists UK. This was to recognize her important work as an activist.
Smoker lived in southeast London. In 2012, she was made the Honorary life president of the South East London Humanist Group. This was because she was the last founder member still alive.
She passed away in Lewisham Hospital on April 7, 2020. She was 96 years old. She had been ill for a long time.
See also
