Barbara
Smoker was born in London in 1923 into a Roman Catholic family.
She served in the Women's Royal Navy from 1939-1945 on the Pacific
front. It was during her time at the service that she became an
atheist.
In 1949 Smoker
joined the secular humanist movement, and eventually became President
of the National Secular Society for the period (1971-1996). In
that capacity, she represented the atheist viewpoint in print,
on lecture platforms, speaking tours, on radio and television.
She officiated at non-religious funerals, wedding ceremonies,
gay and lesbian commitments and baby namings. She became active
in various social campaigns, such as the abolition of the death
penalty, nuclear disarmament, legalization of abortion and voluntary
euthanasia.
Smoker
is considered one of the most powerful advocates of the freethought
movement in Britain. In 2005 Smoker received the Distinguished
Humanist Service Award from the International Humanist and Ethical
Union. |
