Radio broadcast of a Humanist Naming Ceremony

This afternoon I switched on the radio and found myself listening to a Humanist Naming Ceremony taking place by the River Dart at Spixwitch Common. The celebrant was Alison Orchard and the programme was introduced by the poet Ian MacMillan as part of a series called Rites of Passage.

It was heartwarming to feel myself sharing in a celebration at the start of a new life journey. It was a joyous occasion which culminated in the release of red balloons (biodegradable) carrying personal wishes for Imogen's future from family and friends. There was none of the solemnity of a church service and I wished it could have been seen on television so that more people would be made aware that Humanists are not some odd sect but individuals who value and celebrate life and the natural world because that is all we have.

Hazel Fuller