User:Cswinburn

This is a user page for Colin Swinburn. The following is the text for an article on Denis Cobell.

Denis Cobell (Retired)

Denis Cobell (1938 - ) is a prominent UK Secularist and Humanist who is also well known for his views on Republicanism and Pacifism.

He was president of the National Secular Society for nine years from 1997 to 2006. He is known in the community, for his ceremonies work which consists of Non Religious/Humanist Namings, Weddings and Funerals.

Contents [hide] 1 Early Life 2 Working Life 3 Secularism 4 Works 5 References 6 External links

Early Life
Born in Hove, in 1938 just before the 1939-45 Second World War. His parents were strict kind evangelical Christians and his father was a lay preacher. He was baptised and attended St Nicolas’s Church of England School in Portslade and then after the Eleven Plus Examinations, went to Hove County Grammar School for Boys.

Working Life
Left school and undertook Nurse Training at Southlands Hospital, Shoreham by the Sea from 1956. He moved to London in 1960 and worked at Guy’s Hospital for over 30 years finally as a senior nurse. He finished full time work in 1994 and worked on a part time basis for the NHS until he finally retired in December 2004 (after 48 years in the NHS).

Family
He married in 1968 and has three children and two grandchildren.

Atheism
In his late teens, Denis Cobell spent time at Hove Public Library reading a variety of books including works by [[Media:Bertrand Russell]]. He met his 'hero', Russell at his North Wales home in 1959. During this time he found both the Unitarian Church in New Road Brighton and the Brighton and Hove Humanist Group. In terms of developing his atheist views, Denis Cobell had some interesting conversations. He talked with the Rev John Rowland of the Unitarians. John Rowland had worked for the Rationalist Press Association on the Literary Guide (precursor to the New Humanist magazine) and wrote in The Freethinker. During this time Denis Cobell also met Mrs D L Hobman, author of books on feminist topics, who was the initiator of the Brighton and Hove Humanist Group. Denis was invited to give a talk at the Group's first public meeting.

He was Treasurer of Brighton Young Liberals in 1959-60; the Chairman was Navit Dholakia, later Lord Dholakia, who was President the Liberal Democrats (2000-2004).

He started writing for secular / humanist and socialist publications from the late 1950s and also spoke at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park during the 1960’s and 1970’s. He also co edited the Hyde Park Socialist quarterly paper from 1968 to 1984; a regular contributor to this paper was F A Ridley a former President of the National Secular Society (1951-1963).

He joined the Lewisham Humanist Group in 1973 and has been the Hon Secretary since 1974.

He continues to officiate at many secular funerals, baby namings and weddings.

He was president of the National Secular Society for nine years from 1997 to 2006.

He was Humanist Chaplain to the Mayor of Lewisham 1998-99 and also the Humanist Chaplain to Greenwich Hospital, and Chaplain to UK Armed Forces Humanist Association.

He is a Director of Secular Society Ltd, which is the holding company of G W Foote & Co Ltd, which publishes the Atheist magazine “[[Media:The Freethinker]]”.

Other Activities
He is a pacifist and is currently Chair of the Right to Refuse to Kill (RKK) Group for recognition of conscientious objectors.

Works and Articles
Over 300 articles and reviews in various journals - including Freethinker, Guy’s Kings & St Thomas’ Gazette, New Humanist, Nursing Mirror, Nursing Standard and Socialist Leader.