Scots Makar Liz Lochhead becomes distinguished supporter

December 18, 2014

    Later today (Thursday 18th December 2014) at a cross-party Humanist Yuletide Lunch event, Liz Lochhead the Scots Makar (national poet) will be announced as a new ‘Distinguished Supporter’ of the Humanist Society Scotland.

    Liz Lochead
    On Thursday 18th December (2014), the Humanist Society Scotland will host a cross-party Humanist Yuletide Lunch in the Scottish Parliament. This event is co-sponsored by Marco Biagi (SNP), Dr Richard Simpson (Scottish Labour), Ruth Davidson (Scottish Conservatives), Willie Rennie (Scottish Liberal Democrats) and Patrick Harvie (representing Scottish Greens and Independents).

    The event will be open to all MSPs and Parliamentary staff, with many MPSs expected to attend.

    The event will feature a speech by Douglas McLellan, chief executive of HSS as well as an address by Marco Biagi MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment.

    Speaking about the news of Liz Lochhead’s appointment, Mr Biagi said:

    “As Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead continues to inspire our people and enrich our nation, both as a poet and advocate. Scotland’s diversity is our strength, as we build a nation where people of all faith and none can achieve their potential. We are all the richer for her contributions to every part of our civic life.”

    Accepting the invitation to become a ‘Distinguished Supporter’, Liz Lochhead said:

    “In a world where we sometimes feel despair about the human race and where differences of race culture and religion are used by the unscrupulous and powerful few to fuel hatred and violence among the powerless, what could be more important than to meet in the middle of this bleak midwinter to assert our commitment to trying in every way — in wee ways and very big ways — to assert our common human capacity for change. For human goodness and mercy all our lives.”

    Speaking at the event, Douglas McLellan, chief executive of HSS, is expected to say:

    “Since time immemorial human beings have gathered together in midwinter in solidarity with one another. In doing so we are also mindful of those in our society who are less fortunate, for whom life is tough and the rewards too few and far between.

    “It’s often said that politics is the art of the possible, and for as long as Members of this Parliament put the wellbeing and fulfilment of human potential at the heart of our politics – they will have an ally in humanists.”

    Latest Related Stories

    A group of young people laugh and chat over their laptop screens. They are around 15-16 and dressed in casual clothes.

    We launch our new education guides for non-religious young people, parents, and carers

    We launch our new education guides for non-religious young people, parents, and carers
    Three horizontally aligned images show activities for World Humanist Day. There are people serving a range of world foods from a long table to the left, part of the Pollokshields event. In the centre are cubscouts designing community gardens with pen and paper on the floor of their scout hut. To the right is a group of humanists on a walk in Edinburgh at the foot of Salisbury Crags.

    Looking back on World Humanist Day

    Looking back on World Humanist Day

    Membership fee increases August 2023

    Membership fee increases August 2023
    Fraser Sutherland stands at a lectern addressing a room of people, some of whom are visible behind him, as the crowd spreads in a circle round the speaker's stand. He wears a blue suit and red tie and has short brown hair.

    On World Humanist Day 2023, we have more to fight for than ever

    On World Humanist Day 2023, we have more to fight for than ever