The Little Book of Humanist Funerals | Book launch with Alice Roberts
Join The Little Book of Humanist Funerals co-authors Alice Roberts and Andrew Copson, alongside Humanist Ceremonies celebrants Zena Birch and Blake Hutchings, and Director of Ceremonies Deborah Hooper for a very special little book launch.
The Little Book of Humanist Funerals introduces readers to what makes a humanist funeral, and offers inspiration on how to commemorate the life of a loved one. It also invites readers to begin thinking about mortality, death, dying, and grief. It draws inspiration from some of history’s greatest thinkers, and from the collective wisdom of Humanists UK’s funeral celebrants – trained experts who have helped hundreds of thousands of people create memorable and meaningful ceremonies that truly reflect the lives of their loved ones.
Much like the Little Book of Humanist Weddings and the Little Book of Humanism before it, the book is peppered with quotes, stories, and meditations – mainly from humanists – and will help people answer questions that we all so often put on hold.
Alice Roberts
Professor Alice Roberts is Vice President of Humanists UK, having served as President from January 2019 to June 2022. She is Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham, Director of Anatomy for the NHS Severn Deanery School of Surgery, and holds honorary fellowships at Hull, York Medical School, and the University of Bristol.
She is an honorary fellow of the British Science Association, a member of the Advisory Board of the Cheltenham Festival of Science, Patron of the Association of Science and Discovery Centres, and a member of the Council of the British Heart Foundation.
She combines her academic career with one as a science presenter on television. She has appeared as a human bone specialist on Channel 4’s Time Team and in various projects on BBC2, including Coast, Don’t Die Young, The Incredible Human Journey, Wild Swimming, Digging for Britain, Horizon, and Origins of Us.
She has authored many popular science books and, alongside Andrew Copson, is author of The Little Book of Humanism and The Little Book of Humanist Funerals.
Andrew Copson
Andrew is Chief Executive of Humanists UK. He became Chief Executive in 2010 after five years coordinating Humanists UK’s education and public affairs work. Andrew is also current President of Humanists International.
He is the author of Secularism: A Very Short Introduction and, with Alice Roberts, The Little Book of Humanism and The Little Book of Humanist Weddings. The Little Book of Humanist Funerals, also with Alice Roberts, will be published in May 2023.
Zena Birch
Zena Birch has been a humanist celebrant for 12 years creating deeply personal and meaningful wedding, naming and funeral ceremonies. Led by her belief that everybody deserves a ceremony which best represents them, she has promoted the importance of craft led, personalised ceremonies across the UK and Europe since qualifying back in 2011. Honoured to have worked on The Little Book of Humanist Weddings, Zena was delighted to have been asked to help with The Little Book of Humanist Funerals too – helping once again to draw wit and wisdom from the myriad of celebrants from within the network to help pepper the book with on the ground experience and unique insights into the creating of a humanist funeral.
Blake Hutchings
Blake Hutchings is a humanist funerals, weddings, and namings celebrant who is dedicated to producing uniquely personal non-religious services. With public speaking and performance experience of around 15 years, as well as a wealth of creative writing experience, he is committed to working closely with clients in order to provide a personal and perfectly fitting funeral ceremony.
Blake has been always been a humanist – long before he had ever even heard the term.
Deborah Hooper
Deborah leads Humanist Ceremonies, and oversees the training and developing Humanists UK’s network of more than 560 accredited celebrants for funerals, weddings, and naming ceremonies. She also makes sure more and more people are aware of their choice for an inclusive, personal, and meaningful non-religious ceremony at the most significant moments of their lives.
She is also herself an accredited humanist celebrant for funerals, weddings, and naming ceremonies. As a French speaker, she specialises in heartfelt and authentic bilingual ceremonies.
