People travelled from as far afield as Clitheroe and were pleased to be given the opportunity to meet with so many other like-minded people from around the county who had come to listen to Television Screenwriter and University lecturer Bill Dawson; a Humanist Celebrant accredited by The British Humanist Association.

So many people attended that the extremely helpful staff at the new Great Eccleston Village Centre went to great lengths to help the meeting move into a much larger room just to accommodate the numbers.

And all those who attended agreed that the journey was well worth the effort.

Bill entertained his audience with stories about how many years ago he had attended the very disappointing church funeral of his Uncle Billy in Liverpool and came away convinced that he couldn't possibly do it any worse and feeling that he could probably do it infinitely better.

He described how he made contact with The British Humanist Association and was accepted by them for training in Humanist ceremonies and then talked about the huge variety of ceremonies he has conducted.There were stories both tragic and humorous about some of the predicaments he'd encountered including his own, real life version of the Dead parrot sketch.

He talked about his own recent very moving Humanist Wedding ceremony and of some of the wonderful people whose weddings he has been privileged to have officiated at, and some of the strange and unusual locations where they have taken place.

And Bill's genuine enjoyment in conducting Baby-Naming ceremonies was obvious for all to see.

Everybody present had the opportunity to throw questions at Bill about Ceremonies in particular and Humanism in general and, at the end of the evening he was roundly applauded by a very appreciative audience.
Lancashire Secular Humanists begin their programme in earnest, in January 2008.

Meetings will be on the third Wednesday of every month throughout 2008 at Gt. Eccleston.

Forthcoming events already planned will include Dignity in Dying. putting the case for elected medically assisted death and no doubt including information about 'Living Wills'.

'Faith schools should form no part of the state education system'. Andrew Copson (BHA Education Officer) will be leading a debate.

How the Chaplaincy Services in The Health Service, Palliative Care, Universities, Prisons, and The Armed Forces; are failing to address the needs of those who are not religious.

R.E. in Schools. Many year six Junior School pupils having found out which High School they have got into will want to know where they stand on issues such as R.E.; Collective Worship Assemblies, Home to School Transport etc. Particularly if they have concerns about being allocated a Church school simply because it's their nearest school.

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