LETTER:Death with honour for all

Nicolas Walter
Sunday 21 January 1996 00:02 GMT
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JOAN Smith says "the question of how to honour celebrated citizens who don't believe in God needs to be addressed", and adds that her "preference is for a simple secular ceremony at which people who knew the dead person are allowed to speak" ("You get atomised for sin these days ...", 7 January). There is no problem here. Non-religious funerals have been conducted in Britain since the 1830s, are becoming increasingly popular, and are familiar to most funeral directors. You can have whatever kind of ceremony you like, you can organise it yourself, or you can contact the Humanist Ceremonies Network (01608 652063) which has officiants across the country.

Nicolas Walter

London N1

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