At its first open meeting (on 9th February) since lockdown the Bromley Humanist Group paid tribute to its former President Barbara Smoker, who died in April 2020 from cancer. Denis Cobell, who has been elected as the new President, opened with a few memories of Barbara’s long and active life. Probably her greatest legacy is her small book ‘Humanism’, first published in 1973 with several later editions. She was President of the National Secular Society from 1972-1996. She was chair of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society (now Dignity in Dying) from 1981-1985. She was President of the South East London Humanist Group, of which she had been a founder member, and also an honorary vice President of Gay & Lesbian Humanists and the Shaw Society. Her special interest in GB Shaw related to ‘alphabet reform’.
In 1994, with Barbara’s encouragement, the National Secular Society purchased a building in Holborn adjacent to Conway Hall. This was to become a ‘humanist centre’ with all the major national humanist organisations occupying offices under one roof. Unfortunately it was soon evident that the building was inadequate and there was friction between the various groups. Barbara said: ‘her ecumenical dream came to an end’.
She published her autobiography ‘My Godforsaken Life – Memoir of a Maverick’, in her own characteristic egocentric style in 2018.
Asad added his personal tribute:
I can’t remember when I first became aware of Barbara Smoker’s existence. It may have been when I watched a television programme in 1999 called ‘Living with the Enemy’. It showed her debating with a number of religious people in a residential setting.
I was an atheist long before it, but it was the Rushdie affair in 1989 which prompted me to become a member of the National Secular Society, the British Humanist Association, the Rationalist Press Association, the South Place Ethical Society and the International Humanist & Ethical Union. I started going to some of their meetings but wasn’t very active. I am not sure how but in 2003 I learnt that Barbara was giving an autobiographical talk to the Bromley Humanist Group. I found the talk absolutely fascinating and very inspiring. In it she talked about the various areas she had contributed to and had been active in. I became convinced that the way to overcome muslim bigotry and jihadist frame of mind was to spread secularism and humanism. And also that humankind generally needed secularism and humanism. I have to thank Barbara for this turning point in my life.
I started attending regularly the Bromley Humanist Group meetings and ended up as its secretary. It was hardly ever that Barbara didn’t come to these meetings even though she wasn’t able to fully hear the speakers because of her deafness. I think it was her sheer commitment to the cause. She used to bring biscuits to these meetings which she encouraged members to eat. She would display her books on humanism and latterly her autobiography. I used to ask those speakers who didn’t show slides to bring a short summary of their talk which she could read. Barbara was the one who usually initiated the discussion following the talk. As she was the President of the Group, at the AGM in December she chaired the meeting during the election of the executive committee. She would also cheerfully distribute her Egotistical Annual Newsletter. At this meeting we have mythmas celebrations after the AGM and share food which members bring. Barbara used get everyone to try the food items she had brought.
At the World Humanist Congress of the International Humanist & Ethical Union in 2005 Barbara was awarded the Distinguished Services to Humanism Award by its President Roy Brown.
As a child she suffered many illnesses but as an adult she enjoyed good health and was extremely active. She went every Sunday to the talks at Conway Hall and was to be seen at many meetings and conferences. She was mugged a few times but it didn’t stop her from going to meetings in the evenings. She had an abundance of both moral and physical courage. She would participate in demonstrations and did so when Pope Benedict visited this country in 2010. There was a gathering in Trafalgar Square where the speakers gave talks and then the demonstrators marched to Downing Street. I started walking with her and was amused to find that, in spite of being younger, I couldn’t keep pace with her as she walked so briskly.
She went out of her way to be friendly but I have a feeling that she made a special effort to make friends with ethnic minority people. At her 90th birthday celebration in Conway Hall I was amazed to see a youngish woman wearing a hijab. To me this was totally unexpected in view of Barbara’s severe criticism of Islam and the hostility she had received from the muslim community. I approached this hijabi lady and asked her how she happened to know Barbara. She told me she was her neighbour and Barbara had been very friendly and kind.
I happened to give Barbara a cutting from the Guardian a few years ago in which she showed a lot of interest. Following that I made a practice of giving her cuttings every time we met. When reading the newspaper it became my habit to ask myself whether or not an article I had read would interest her. Most, but by no means all, of these articles were to do with Catholicism or the Pope.
At our encounters I often used to say to her that she should write her autobiography and was so pleased when she presented me with an autographed copy of ‘My Godforsaken Life’ and told me that she had written it partly because I had urged her to write it. I discussed with her the humanist archives the Bishopsgate Library holds and she gave me the manuscript and some other papers which they were very pleased to have. They will, of course, be of great interest to future generations of humanists and secularists.
Her sense of humour has been remarked on by many. I happened to say something about the second coming and she quipped, “What second coming? Didn’t he do enough damage the first time?”.
I cherish the memory of the last two times I met her. She came to my home on 16th October 2019 as I was recovering from broken ribs as a result of a fall I had due to a blackout. The last time I saw her was on 11th March 2020 at our monthly Bromley Humanist Group meeting. Denis Cobell, who succeeded her as the President of the NSS, gave a talk at this meeting and as usual Barbara contributed in the discussion that followed.
I spoke to her on the phone on 30th March and when I asked her how she was she replied that she was just waiting to die. This was so startling and distressing to me that I couldn’t bring myself to ring her again. She died eight days later on 7th April.
I so miss her.
