David Warden and Swami Manavatavadi at the World Humanist Congress in Oxford. Swamiji, who died in 2018, was the director of a humanist school and institute in northern India. He was also a leading member of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.
David Warden and Swami Manavatavadi at the World Humanist Congress in Oxford. Swamiji, who died in 2018, was the director of a humanist school and institute in northern India. He was also a leading member of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.

History of Dorset Humanists – some key milestones

2023 Participation in the World Humanist Congress in Copenhagen

2021 David Warden becomes humanist advisor in the chaplaincy team at Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth

2021 25th Anniversary on 22nd November at the Brunswick Hotel

2020 Humanistically Speaking magazine launched with key involvement from Dorset Humanists

2020 We continued our programme online throughout the pandemic

2018 Launch of the South Central England Humanists Network

2016 20th anniversary party at Green House Hotel

2016 David Warden awarded Honorary Membership of Humanists UK

2015 Dorset Humanists becomes an associate member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (now Humanists International)

2015 First participation in Bourne Free – Bournemouth’s LGBT Pride Festival

2014 Dorset Humanists attend the World Humanist Congress in Oxford

2014 Dorset Humanists obtains charitable status

2014 Dorset Humanists becomes affiliated to the National Secular Society

2013 First participation at Bournemouth Remembrance Service

2013 Dorset Humanists wins ‘Humanist Website of the Year’

2012 ‘One Life’ Course on Humanism started

2012 Dorset Humanists becomes a Partner of the British Humanist Association (now Humanists UK)

2012 Darwin Day moves to Bournemouth International Centre

2011 Dorset Humanists plants a shrub and ‘Darwin Tulips’ in the Weymouth Peace Garden

2009 David Warden becomes chair of Dorset Humanists

2009 West Dorset Humanists launched (Weymouth/Dorchester)

2006 10th anniversary party at Moordown Community Centre

2003 First contact with Swami Manavatavadi (1960-2018). Swamiji ran a humanist school in northern India. Dorset Humanists had a friendship link with him for many years.

2001 Jane Bannister (1944-2013) becomes chair of Humanist Association Dorset

1999 David Croman becomes chair/secretary of Humanist Association Dorset

1996 ‘Humanist Association Dorset’ founded by Tony Tiffany, Jeff Goodwin, Liliane Apers and others on 22nd November at Casa Pepe Restaurant in Bournemouth. There was an earlier group led by Ted Butterworth but no records survive. Our founder Tony Tiffany (1940-2015) conducted hundreds of humanist ceremonies in Bournemouth and the surrounding areas.