--- title: "Legacy stories" date: "2026-11-02T18:19:15+00:00" modified: "2026-11-02T18:19:15+00:00" url: "https://humanists.uk/support-us/leave-a-legacy/stories/" post_id: 201755 --- # Legacy stories [Support us](https://humanists.uk/support-us/) › [Leave a legacy](https://humanists.uk/support-us/leave-a-legacy/) › Stories Why our supporters are leaving a gift in their will =================================================== Humanists believe we have one life, and that the good we do can outlast us. [Read their stories](#stories) [Leaving a gift: how it works](https://humanists.uk/support-us/leave-a-legacy/) ![A grandfather plays the ukulele to his granddaughter among autumn leaves in a wood](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/legacy-stories-hero.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1) > It is a relay race. I have to pass the baton to those who live after me. **Jane, Ponsanooth** In their own words ------------------ All storiesCeremonies and careChanging the lawYoung people and schoolsIdeas that last ![Photo of Trevor](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/legacy-story-trevor-dulwich.jpg?fit=640%2C800&ssl=1)I show pictures of trees in my local Dulwich park – planted hundreds of years ago by people who knew they'd never see them fully grown. And now I do the same.**Trevor, Dulwich**Former humanist celebrant, now a school speakerRead Trevor’s storyI show pictures of trees in my local Dulwich park – planted hundreds of years ago by people who knew they'd never see them fully grown. And now I do the same.**Trevor, Dulwich**Former humanist celebrant, now a school speakerRead Trevor’s storyI retired as a humanist celebrant in 2024 after 14 years conducting mainly funerals. Today I speak in schools about humanism. I'll always remember a soldier who wrote to me after his mother's funeral to say he'd ordered an introduction to humanism. Moments like that confirm you're doing something worthwhile. Leaving a legacy to Humanists UK felt like a natural extension of everything I've given my time to. The work matters too much to stop just because I'll no longer be here to do it myself. Best decision (in terms of ethics and values) I have probably ever made.**Fran, Deal**Her gift will go towards more celebrantsRead Fran’s storyA long and winding road through religiosity led to wisdom of a sort: I joined about five years ago. Best decision (in terms of ethics and values) I have probably ever made. My bequest is to be 'ring-fenced' towards the provision of more celebrants and general volunteer support services for the public. The older I get, the more certain I am that this is the right side to be on.**Norman, North London**Member for more than 20 yearsRead Norman’s storyI grew up in Govan in Glasgow and, like many children of my generation, I was sent to Sunday school and became an active young Christian. Then, when I was 15, I read Bertrand Russell's Why I Am Not a Christian and that was it. The thing that bothers me the most is the unearned privilege that religion still enjoys in public life – bishops in the House of Lords and the assumption that people of faith should have their voices heard above everyone else's. That's what I want my legacy to push back against. With both my parents having had terminal illnesses, I support the assisted dying bill.**Ellen**Name changed at her requestRead Ellen’s storyI wanted to support the campaign to end compulsory worship in schools. I think pupils should be able to use the time for education. My memories of school assembly – as a multidisabled person – one of being paraded as a failure because I could not compete physically or emotionally with my peers. Secondly, with both my parents having had terminal illnesses, I support the assisted dying bill. It makes me happy to know that they will be able to continue their good work after I'm gone.**Julie, Buckhurst Hill**Scored 100% on our ‘How humanist are you?’ quizRead Julie’s storyFrom an early age (about eight, as I recall), I struggled with religion. I simply couldn't believe in God and couldn't understand why so many people believe in religion. Then in 2017, I took the ‘How humanist are you?’ test. My result showed I was 100% humanist and, on reflection, I realised I probably always had been a humanist. There are several charities that I care deeply and passionately about, and I am leaving them gifts in my will. It makes me happy to know that they will be able to continue their good work after I'm gone. Atheism just tells you what you don't believe in and I wanted something positive, something I could stand for.**John, Herne Bay**Former head greenkeeperRead John’s storyI was a Christian for 35 years but had growing doubts that came to a head when I contracted multiple sclerosis (MS) and ended up in a wheelchair. Everyone came together and prayed for my healing. But it made no difference at all. I went looking online and that's how I found Humanists UK. When I read about it, I thought that's me. That's what I am. A humanist! I'd like any legacy I leave to Humanists UK to go towards that – widening the reach of the campaigns and helping more people discover that humanism is an option. Young people in this country deserve the chance to learn that you don't have to believe in God to lead a good life.**Trevor, South Cheshire**Volunteer coordinator for humanists on RE councilsRead Trevor’s storyI've been a humanist in everything but name for most of my adult life. I didn't find my way to Humanists UK until many decades later, during the dark days of Covid. When I took on the coordinator role, we had humanist reps on around 60% of SACREs and it's now over 90%. I am leaving a legacy to Humanists UK and I would like it to contribute to the work of the Understanding Humanism team, with particular reference to giving young people an opportunity to consider adopting a non-religious philosophical worldview. On all the objects that I have designed and made I have put my mark. It is this mark, signifying balance, which might remind others of me when I am gone.**Ray, Canterbury**Engineer, designer, sculptor, and makerRead Ray’s story![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/legacy-story-ray-square.png?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1)On all the objects that I have designed and made I have put my mark. It is this mark, signifying balance, which might remind others of me when I am gone.**Ray, Canterbury**Engineer, designer, sculptor, and makerRead Ray’s storyI was born in Manchester, christened in Hale Barns, confirmed in the Church of England in Chester, but became a humanist in the big wide world. I became an engineer and designer, a sculptor and maker of precious objects before becoming also an academic and administrator. On all the objects that I have designed and made I have put my mark, an omega. It is this mark, signifying balance, which might remind others of me when I am gone. I hope the gift I am leaving to the Humanists in my will will help to continue the reform that is needed to make my descendant's world a better and fairer one for all. I hope that somewhere those acts of kindness live on.**Ruth**Name changed at her requestRead Ruth’s storyI do not need the promise of reward or threat of punishment in an imagined afterlife to guide me towards good behaviour. My first encounter was with a humanist celebrant who arranged the funerals for my mother-in-law and then my husband. Now retired, she remains a friend. My husband and I had no children, so my legacy can only be the echoes of any good (or bad) I have done. I hope that I am mostly a kind person (though I admit fallibility) and I hope that somewhere those acts of kindness live on. I hope that my children and grandchildren feel I built roots for them and then gave them wings.**Christine, Swansea**Married in a humanist ceremonyRead Christine’s storyMy father first introduced me to humanism when I was about to marry for the second time! We did and wrote our own meaningful vows for our humanist wedding and have been involved ever since. I hope that the things I have achieved in my life, both here and in Zambia, will live on in others' thoughts of me. I hope that my children and grandchildren feel I built roots for them and then gave them wings to travel and be kind, empathetic people. When I am gone, I would like to think that I contributed to making the world a better, more compassionate place.**Mike, Potters Bar**Found humanism through Alice RobertsRead Mike’s storyI first became aware of the humanist movement when following the tweets of Professor Alice Roberts. On doing my own research, I realised that I have always shared the humanist way of thinking about the world and our place in it. As I strongly believe in removing religious indoctrination from schools and its influence from politics, I decided to become a member and do what I can to support these and other campaigns. I intend to leave Humanists UK a legacy so that it can continue working to build a fairer society and promote respect for all people, no matter what race or religion they represent. You want your ideas to survive and your influence to carry on after you're gone.**Blaise, Chelmsford**Former board memberRead Blaise’s storyI was brought up in a strict Catholic family but loved astronomy from a young age, which led to a lifelong interest in science. At the end of class, he recommended I read Alfred Jules Ayer's book Language, Truth and Logic. I discovered Ayer was president of something called the British Humanist Association. So from the age of 15, I knew I was a humanist too. As for leaving a legacy – I want the ideas I care about to carry on. A J Ayer said he'd be happy if his body could be turned into a paving stone, something useful. That resonates with me deeply. I hope that some of my research and writing, my passing on of craft skills and my interactions with my sister's grandchildren will be fruitful.**Glenys, King's Lynn**Born in 1936, joined in lockdownRead Glenys’s storyI was born in 1936 in a small industrial town in a rural part of Lancashire. I took an interest in several environmental and feminist causes from about the 1960s onwards, have subscribed to New Humanist for a long time and got around to joining Humanists UK in Covid lockdown when the 2021 Census returns were an issue. After I've gone, I hope that some of my research and writing on historical and heritage subjects, my passing on of craft skills and my interactions with my sister's grandchildren will be fruitful. I have been proud to support it for nearly 60 years and I want that support to continue after I am gone.**Charles, Wembley**Member since 1967Read Charles’s storyI became a member when I was 23, in 1967. Back then, Humanists UK was known as the British Humanist Association. I'm 82 now so I think that might qualify me as one of the oldest inhabitants of the humanist village! I would love to see Humanists UK itself become more active as a publisher and I hope my legacy donation will help build that kind of resource. [Could your story be next?A gift of any size, from £50 to £50,000, keeps this work going.How to leave a gift](https://humanists.uk/support-us/leave-a-legacy/) Show more stories Thinking about your own legacy? ------------------------------- Find out how a gift in your will works, download our legacy brochure, or talk to us in confidence. [020 7324 3060](tel:+442073243060) · [Find out about leaving a gift](https://humanists.uk/support-us/leave-a-legacy/) [Download our legacy brochure](https://humanists.uk/support-us/leave-a-legacy/#brochure) Some names have been changed at the supporters’ request.