Hall of Fame
Long-term members, current or former, who have made significant lifelong contributions to Humanism in general and to Bromley Humanists.
Hall of Fame
Bromley and South East London Humanist
History is shaped not by fate, but by the conscious choices of people who care. This Hall of Fame honours a dedicated local group of humanists who looked at our community, saw where it was hurting, and used reason and empathy to build something better. Through their tireless advocacy, support from the secular community, and commitment to human rights, they have shaped our shared story.
True community is built by those who create sanctuary where isolation once stood. Here, we honour a remarkable group of humanists who became a lifeline for non-religious citizens navigating the difficult journey out of controlling faiths and the loneliness of choosing a non-belief way of life.
Guided by reason and radical empathy, they did not just build a local group; they created a home for non-religious people and humanists in their area. Through open doors, unwavering support, and the simple, profound act of listening, they showed that walking away from dogma does not mean walking alone. We invite you to explore the stories of these community pillars, whose compassion turned vulnerability into strength and whose friendship showed us the true power of human connection.
A Short History
Bromley Humanists began as a local branch closely linked to the history of the South East London Humanist Group (SELHuG), which was established in 1960. The group was founded under the auspices of the Ethical Union, the forerunner of Humanists UK. The very first meeting took place at the old Lewisham Town Hall.
After some time, the group was restructured and reformed at the Unitarian Meeting House on Bromley Road in Catford in 1973, where it continued to meet regularly for the next 33 years.
The central SELHuG network, after more than 60 years of grassroots community service, formally closed at its AGM in 2024, but regional branch activities and community roles continue through localised structures such as Bromley Humanists.
The group's early development and management were led by Barbara Smoker, one of its founders in 1960 and a prominent British secular activist. She publicised the group's launch in the South London Press, famously describing its mission as "morality without religion". She later served as the group's Chair and long-term President.
Denis Cobell, a well-known UK secularist and former President of the National Secular Society, served as Honorary Secretary of the South East London Humanist Group (SELHuG) in 1974, helping keep the regional branches united for 40 years before becoming President of the Bromley Humanists group. In 1997, Denis succeeded Barbara Smoker as national President of the National Secular Society and served until 2006. He later stepped down as Secretary of the regional group and became Honorary President of the local Bromley Humanists branch, a post he still holds.
The prominent and long-serving members of Bromley Humanist include Asad Abbas (died in 2025), Chris Purnell (died in 2026), Dorothy/Diana Elvin, Sally Stevens, Brian Venables (the group's current treasurer), George Scott, Brenda McCormack, Anne Garret, and Patrick Hawkins. The newest member is Reza Zolfagharifard, who serves as the group's secretary. Many more attended sporadically, partly because the recent meeting time (14:30 to 16:30) did not suit some members.
Request for Help
We started this hall of fame for Bromley and South East London humanists to celebrate the remarkable contributions of our founding figures, who shared core values of reason, compassion, and human agency in making this world a better place without relying on dogma. However, our records are incomplete and need help to include everyone and all necessary facts related to their activities. Please contact and share any evidence that can do justice to their story and recognise their dedication to serving humanity. Together, we can prove that our greatest strength lies in our responsibility to one another.
Asad Abbas (19 - - 2025)
Ex-cofounder of Bromley Humanist Group
Asad Abbas was a dedicated member of the South East London Humanist community and a longtime Secretary of the Bromley Humanist Group. A clinical psychologist by training, Asad brought empathy, clarity, and commitment to everything he did. He was a passionate voice for those who risk everything to think freely and live honestly.
In 2008, Asad was elected to the management committee of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain(CEMB), where he helped shape the organisation's direction in its crucial early years. He was a steadfast advocate for ex-Muslims, secularism, human rights, and freedom of conscience. His contributions were formally recognised at the first International Atheist Conference in 2019, an event that celebrated those who dared to speak the truth in the face of adversity.
On 21 November 2009, several hundred people joined a rally in London’s Hyde Park, organised by One Law for All (which campaigns against Sharia and religious arbitration in the UK, Iran, and around the world), to oppose Sharia and religious-based laws in Britain and elsewhere and to demand universal rights and secularism. At the rally, more than 20 speakers and performers highlighted the discriminatory and brutal nature of religious laws, including the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain’s Asad Abbas. He criticised the right of religion to special status, saying it undermines fundamental human rights. On the day, many others took part in simultaneous acts of solidarity with the rally and its demands in 23 countries worldwide.
Asad suggested the “World Humanist Day Card Competition” in 2021, when Humanist UK invited budding graphic designers, artists, photographers, poets, and creatives of all kinds to design a card that it would offer for purchase on its website.
Asad was a quiet force, steady and principled. He was driven not by ego or recognition, but by a deep moral clarity and compassion for those around him. His legacy is woven into the very fabric of our movement.
Barbara Smoker (1923-2020)
A life-long Humanist Activist
Barbara Smoker was a humanist activist for seven decades and president of the National Secular Society(NSS) for a quarter of a century (1972 to 1996). After renouncing religion in her 20s, Smoker became one of the UK’s most prominent voices for humanism, putting her boundless energy behind many causes. These included campaigns for dignity in dying, peace, and animal rights, and opposition to faith schools, blasphemy laws, and the death penalty.
Barbara Smoker was born in Catford, London, into a Roman Catholic family. She served in the Women's Royal Naval Service from 1942 to 1945 in Southeast Asia. In 1949, she became an atheist, inspired by the writings of Hector Hawton, managing director of the Rationalist Press Association and editor of The Humanist.
She was a founding member of the South East London Humanist Group in 1960 and served as its Chair for many years. She was a passionate anti-war activist, a champion of LGBT rights, knew Bertrand Russell, was a friend of Harold Blackham, and wrote a book called Humanism, which has been in print for nearly 50 years.
My Godforsaken Life by Barbara Smoker is an autobiographical volume published in 2018. It is a charming, funny, and well-written account of the long, unusually brave life of a remarkable, determined woman.
Barbara Smoker became the South Place Ethical Society's last and only female Appointed Lecturer in 1986. She died of cancer in Lewisham Hospital on 7 April 2020, aged 96.
As a grande dame humanist, her style of campaigning, like her prose and her conversation, was direct and uncompromising (The Guardian).
Donald Langdown (1931-2020)
Ex-cofounder of Bromley Humanist Group
Don Langdown was a devoted activist, treasurer, and long-serving member of the South East London Humanist Group and Bromley Humanists. He helped build the local humanist community in Lewisham and Bromley over many decades. He worked alongside notable British humanists, including Barbara Smoker, in shaping the South East London group in its early years. He passed away in 2020 after a long illness. His family, including his son Mark and grandson Peter, continues to take part in local humanist remembrance and events.
He was a cheerful humanist who had a ready smile and bright words, even if he didn’t always agree with you. He was a very active participant and, every year, had a stall at Mountsfield Park on Lewisham People’s Day in the 1980s and 90s.
Don had a distinguished career as a civil and construction engineer, serving as chief engineer during the construction of the Thames Barrier. In retirement, he was a regular volunteer at the British Humanist Association (now Humanists UK) in their Theobalds Road office.
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Ex-cofounder of Bromley Humanist Group
Asad Abbas was a committed member of the South East London Humanist community and long-time Secretary of the Bromley Humanist Group.
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Education Manager
Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience.