We had our first ‘Meeting in the Pub’ in February, in the Unicorn, Lower Corve Street, Ludlow. This informal meeting involved a free-wheeling discussion on various topics in the news: – the situation in Palestine, is it resolvable? – the recent death of Diane Munday, a Humanist campaigner very instrumental in getting the Abortion Act passed in 1967. We also discussed books some of us had read, including Primo Levi & The Periodic Table, leading to a discussion on quantum physics & chemistry, & Tom Leher’s songs, among other things…
Next meeting
Join us again, in the Unicorn, at 7:30 pm, on Tuesday March 17th. Bring your own topic (or book) you’d like to discuss. Humanists tend to be interested in most things, and we’re a friendly bunch, especially after a drink or two. You may learn something or teach us something, enjoy it.
Here’s an update from Malcolm Rochefort, Chair of Ludlow and Marches Humanists, about the group’s social plans for the year ahead.
Lunch at the Charlton Arms, January 2026
Dear Friends,
As you probably know, we have stopped arranging formal talks this year, but we do intend to continue with informal meetings, allowing everyone to chat and keep in touch. Also, Neil has kindly agreed to continue maintaining the web site, so check that out.
I think all of you who came to the January lunch at the Charlton Arms enjoyed the chat, food and great views of the Teme in (almost) full flood (see attached). Luckily the rain had eased off temporarily, so the river was still dramatic, but not at immediate risk to those living nearby. And the Charlton does enable very good views along with good food and ambience.
Looking out over the River Teme in full flow
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 17th February, at 7:30 pm at the Grade II listed pub, The Unicorn, 66, Lower Corve Street, Ludlow SY8 1DU. We’ve reserved the snug area at the back of the pub, which should be quieter, though without the impressive log fire in the front. We have no fixed agenda, but I’ll bring along some topics that we might want to discuss, and please feel free to bring along your own. We can stay as long as we like (the pub closes at 11 pm!), it’s up to you. We’ll probably leave by about 9:30 as we’ve the unenviable drive back over the hill through Mortimer Forest to get home, dodging the deer.
We’re planning to continue these meetings monthly on the third Tuesday of the month, so after the February meeting, the next one will be on Tuesday, March 17th, also at the Unicorn, which has been pre-booked.
All ideas for future meetings/events/activities welcomed.
On October 25th 2025, our dear friend Owen Elias was laid to rest at Ludford Memorial Meadow, with a wake held at the Beacon Room at Ludlow Castle. Owen was a longtime member of Ludlow and Marches Humanists. Another of our members, David Trotter, spoke in tribute of Owen’s full and varied life and we wanted to publish those words here.
My Name is David Trotter.
I was honoured and touched to be asked by his family to say a few words about my friend Owen Elias.
Owen died at his home on Wednesday 1st of October at the age of 97. It was his wish to be buried in the Ludford burial ground next to his beloved wife Joan who died in 2016.
In this event report, Malcolm Rochefort summarises the thought-provoking talk by Jeremy Rodell, Dialogue Officer for Humanists UK
Jeremy Rodell
We last had Jeremy talk to us over 10 years ago, so it was a pleasure to see him return to Ludlow.
He began by outlining what he would talk about – the national and local landscape for belief systems in Britain, covering challenges and some worrying developments, and the dialogue necessary.
In looking at a measure of religious belief, three aspects were important – belief, behaviour and sense of belonging.
Belief: some surprising answers have come from recent surveys: Only 34% of UK Christians believe “Jesus was God in human form, who lived among people in first century CE Palestine”. 33% think he was “a prophet or spiritual leader, not God”; 16% “a normal human being”, and 15% “don’t know”.
Ludlow and Marches Humanists will be laying a wreath
Remembrance Sunday Civic Service is on Sunday 9th November 2025.
Ludlow and Marches Humanists will be laying a wreath at the Peace Memorial during the ceremony. Participants have been asked to arrive by 10:40 a.m. at the Market Square, Ludlow.
I’m writing to let you know that Tony Mason, a long-time member of Ludlow and Marches Humanists died on 23rd September at the age of 96, I believe.
Tony and his wife Joan were two of the founder members of the Welsh Marches Humanist Group, as the Ludlow and Marches Humanists were originally called, back in 1994 and Tony went on to serve as the group’s chairman for many years.
Both Tony and Joan have remained stalwart supporters of humanism in Ludlow so Tony’s death, though not unexpected, is a sad loss to all of us.
Joan has told me that Tony had slipped into a coma and had excellent medical care for 3 days before dying peacefully.
There are no plans for a funeral, just a family memorial later in the year.
With regards,
Malcolm Rochefort Chair, Ludlow and Marches Humanists
In this event report, Malcolm Rochefort summarises the intriguing talk by Dr Ian Jefferson, a retired paediatric endocrinologist
Dr Ian Jefferson
Dr Jefferson talk was enticingly entitled ‘Sugar & Spice or Slugs & Snails?’
We’re familiar with the rhyme suggesting that boys and girls are made from different things – pleasant (girls) or unpleasant (boys)! In fact, apart from the obvious external signs of sex, what are the genetic determinators and what do they really affect in terms of sexual development in human beings?
A talk by Jeffery Rodell, Dialogue Officer for Humanists UK
Jeremy will explore some of the big questions currently exercising Western Liberal Democracies:
What’s really going on in our religion and belief landscape? Is there a Christian revival? What about religious nationalism? How can humanists make a positive contribution?
Tuesday 21st October 2025 7.30 p.m.
At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ
A talk by Ian Jefferson, a retired paediatric endocrinologist
We’re familiar with the rhyme suggesting that boys and girls are made from different things – pleasant (girls) or unpleasant (boys)! In reality, just how do these differences come about? Ian will explain about the mechanisms of sex differentiation, how to manage clinical problems and ethical decision making.
Tuesday 16th September 2025 7.30 p.m.
At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ
