B&W photo of Les Reid, wearing a suit with a tie and a flower in his lapel. He is laughing and smiling.

A tribute to Les Reid

Jackie Grant, humanist celebrant

January 27, 2025

Our Charity

Humanist celebrant Jackie Grant remembers humanist campaigner Les Reid, who died this month aged 76.

Les was well known to many in Edinburgh and beyond as a committed humanist. Les lived most of adult working life as a teacher in Northern Ireland. He and his wife Heather moved to Edinburgh in 2012 to help with the childcare of their grandchildren. In Edinburgh, Les started a course on humanism as part of the Edinburgh City Council Adult Education Programme. This is where I and many others first met Les, delving into the history, literature, philosophy, and ethics of humanism.

Les himself always had a thirst for learning. He had a love of science and nature, but also literature and poetry. Having studied philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast and later obtained more qualifications in education, media studies, and astronomy, he made a career he loved teaching English and philosophy.

As a teenager Les questioned and rejected the strong religious upbringing. He held strong principles with a concern for social and environmental issues, justice and equality, and he strove to make a difference.

As a teenager Les questioned and rejected the strong religious upbringing which came from his mother’s side of the family but held fast to his father’s socialist views. He held strong principles with a concern for social and environmental issues, justice and equality, and he strove to make a difference. In Northern Ireland he stood as a local councillor for the Alliance Party, which aimed to find agreement and consensus between the two communities, under the slogan “pull together, not apart”. But he was before his time and campaigning for the moderate centre ground was then not yet a vote-winner. 

Les was chair of the Belfast Humanist Group and a celebrant there for weddings and funerals.  He organised an annual multi-faith debate and was an active member of the campaign for integrated education. Throughout his life he wrote many letters to the press and posted on social media.  Topics ranged from politics to environmental issues, human rights and many others, such was his wide range of interests and informed opinion. BBC Northern Ireland interviewed Les about his humanist outlook as part of a series on Varieties of Belief (ca. 2000).

With the move to Edinburgh, Les joined the committee of the Edinburgh Humanists group, organising and participating in many meetings. Les’s adult education course led to the establishment of a number of humanist discussion groups. Whilst Les was firm in his views and forthright in stating what he believed in, he had a great sense of humour and a real enthusiasm for building a community of humanists.

He derived much pleasure from the HELL group (Humanists Enjoying Living Life), an arts appreciation group with monthly visits to exhibitions. Les was great company on the annual trips away, especially those extending beyond Britain, to Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid and Berlin. Music always played a huge part in Les’s life. He started playing guitar and bass early on, before acquiring a tenor saxophone in his 30s and pursuing his love of jazz.  He played in numerous jazz bands and attended jazz schools. It was always a pleasure to hear him play or join him at a jazz concert.

Family was central to Les’s life. Les died at home on 6 January 2025, aged 76 years. He is survived by his wife Heather of over 50 years, his daughters Katy and Rosie and grandchildren Penny, Jess, and Leo. Les was much loved, and whilst we celebrate his life, he will be sorely missed.

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