Events

Vignesh Rajahmani & Karthick Ram Manoharan   This public conversation brings together Vignesh Rajahmani (The Dravidian Pathway) and Karthick Ram Manoharan (Periyar: A Study in Political Atheism, co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to Periyar) to explore how the Dravidian movement reshaped the meaning and practice of secular politics in India. From Periyar’s radical anti-caste and rationalist critique of religion to the DMK’s transformation of social reform into a durable political project, the discussion will examine how secularism can function as a mass political ethos grounded in social justice, dignity, and democratic mobilisation. Vignesh Rajahmani is a researcher affiliated with King's College London and KITLV-Leiden, specialising in Indian and Indonesian politics, with a PhD from King’s College London. His work spans public policy, political strategy, and democratic development. Karth...

Jack Campbell A discussion and performance of classical music composition through historical mathematical methods and translations ...   Jack Campbell is a Canadian composer, concert violinist, arts producer and recording artist. Called a “Prodigiously Gifted Young Violinist” (Pwyll ap Siôn; The Strad) and a “Young Master of the Arts” (London Daily News), Campbell has performed in many countries.   All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover  costs. 

 We have a break in our programme at Yuletide, Easter and in the summer holiday period. The new programmes commence in January, April and September.

Joshua Thorpe Elizabeth Heyrick was a pioneering abolitionist and philanthropist whose contributions to social justice have been largely forgotten. This talk will explore her life, her impact on Leicester and beyond, and the reasons her memory has faded. It will also highlight the work of the Elizabeth Heyrick Society.  Joshua is Chair of the Elizabeth Heyrick Society. He gained an MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2020 and then  taught English and History in Girona, Spain. He is now a UK Civil Servant, working for the Department for Business and Trade. Joshua is originally from Leicestershire and has deep roots in the county.  ...

An informal evening with the creative talents of Red Leicester Choir and Leicestershire Guild of Storytelling. Hear songs with a story to tell and enjoy tales to make the heart sing.   Members of Red Leicester Choir Red Leicester is Leicester’s socialist choir singing songs expressive of social and political protest, and songs of worldwide celebration, struggle and change. To find out more about them, including how to join, please click here.   The Leicestershire Guild of Storytelling is a not for profit community association and, using their brand ‘The Story Tree’, aim to promote the traditional oral storytelling art in Leicester and Leicestershire. This is done by: running a free monthly club night to which anyone is welcome to come and tell a story or simply to listen to others tell; ...

Megan Manson   Female subordination. Sexist 'modesty' codes. Violence against women. These are forms of misogyny we would expect charities to try to combat. Yet as the National Secular Society's ground-breaking report " Mission and Misogyny " reveals, too many charities are promoting these ideas – all under the cloak of 'advancing religion'. Report author Megan Manson will explain how religious fundamentalists are exploiting our charity sector to promote regressive and harmful ideas about women. Her presentation will summarise the report's findings, and include video clips from sermons revealing how religious charities have used the cover of 'the advancement of religion' to promote or condone misogyny.  Megan Manson is head of campaigns at the NSS. She previously worked for the Japanese government promoting cultural exchange and lang...

Professor Lala Meredith-Vula   Lala Meredith-Vula is an artist and Professor of Art and Photography at De Montfort University. Lala has worked extensively in the Balkans since 1988 and has a huge archive capturing life in the Balkans, following blood feud reconciliation ceremonies and the Yugoslav Kosova war.  Born in Sarajevo, Lala moved to England in 1970 and became part of the Damien Hirst-led Freeze exhibition in 1988, after her graduation from Goldsmiths College, University of London. This was followed by postgraduate studies at the University of Prishtina, Kosova. Since 1989 she has lectured at various colleges in the UK, USA and Kosovo. In 1995 she set up the first photography department...

Mariam Shalvashvili   At the beginning of the 2000s, the Western countries and Russia had a common goal – to eradicate terrorism in a small region in (the republic of) Georgia. Yet, the reality was more complicated and new policies led to the stigmatisation and persecution of Muslim communities. By using the case of Caucasus as an entry point, this talk investigates the notions of securitisation and terrorism.   Mariam Shalvashvili is a social anthropology PhD candidate at Ilia State University in Georgia. Mariam has worked as a researcher and collaborator for several prominent Georgian NGOs and as an adjunct lecturer at the Free University of Tbilisi. She has extensively written about ethnic and reli...

Dr Anna Joy Drury Did you know Earth’s climate varies with a semi-periodic beat that is controlled by Earth’s location in our solar system? Using oceanic sediments recovered from deep below the sea floor, we will explore how astronomical processes influence Earth’s climate beat and why it sometimes changes – seemingly unpredictably.   Anna is a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow with the Geography, Geology and Environment Unit at Leicester University. Her research interests span palaeoceanography, geochemistry and stratigraphy, with a strong focus on understanding climate evolution and dynamics. She has helped develop the Code for Ocean Drilling Data (CODD) to facilitate analysis of ocean drilling data and the creation of composite core images. ...

Guest Speaker: 'Polyp' (author of the visual biography of Tom Paine)  plus readings, music from the Falling Angels , traditional fayre and toasts at Secular Hall.     Tickets £16 (members £12)  We can only accommodate 40 so it is "first come first served" and the final date for booking a place is 31st January (provided there are places remaining).   For tickets contact Mike either by email to tickets@Lsec.org.uk or phone 07722 782727. Please indicate if you want the vegetarian option. No bar, bring your own drinks.    

The lived experience of female ex-Muslims often involves profound liberation and self-discovery alongside significant challenges, including social ostracision, family rejection, fear of violence, and navigating a new identity free from religious constraints, with many finding community and empowerment through public activism or support groups. Key themes include escaping patriarchal control (like forced marriage or FGM), reclaiming autonomy over their bodies and choices (hijab, career, relationships), battling shame and stigma, and the difficult process of rebuilding lives and finding belonging.  The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session.  For security , registration through Eventbrite is required. This event is free for LSS members and £5 for non-members.  Ima...

Hugh McClintock   River bridges cause obvious points of convergence and are often very heavily populated by motor traffic, making such routes unpleasant for walkers and cyclists. Separate bridges for these travel modes can encourage active travel by providing shorter, safe and pleasant routes. This talk will concentrate on the proposed foot-cycle bridge over the Trent to connect the former Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station site and East Midlands Parkway Station on the south side with the Chilwell, Toton, Attenborough and Long Eaton areas on the north side.   Hugh McClintock is a retired Nottingham University lecturer in town planning and is very active in cycle campaigning, nationally, regionally and locally, with Pedals (Nottingham Cycling Campaign) since 1979.   All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover  costs. ...

Ned Newitt Ned will look at the post World War II decisions relating to housing in the City and how it arrived at a programme of improving housing rather than demolishing and rebuilding.   Ned was born in Southend-on-Sea in 1946. He studied at Cardiff College of Art and came to Leicester in 1971. From 1984-2003, he was a Leicester City Councillor. He is a long standing member of the Society and is the current Chair.   Ned has written several books, most relating to the history of Leicester, including -   The Secular Hall - A History The Anthology of Leicester Chartist Song, Poetry & Verse...

Christopher Hitchens was known as one of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism (along with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett). His epistemological razor, which states that "what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence", is still of mark in philosophy and law. Hitchens described himself as an anti-theist and saw all religions as false, harmful, and authoritarian. He endorsed free expression, scientific scepticism, and separation of church and state, arguing science and philosophy are superior to religion as an ethical code of conduct for human civilisation. All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover  costs.

 

Alejandro Sanchez Alejandro Sanchez from the National Secular Society asks whether this practice is a harmless tradition or a violation of human rights    All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover speaker and other costs. Image generated by Gemini AI.

Anthony Matthew Apart from religion there are many other ways in which people view their identity: by sex, race, class, sexual orientation, politics and others. The general question is: how far is it a matter of individual decision?   All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover speaker and other costs. Image generated by Gemini AI.

Dr Sara Lemos How to get the best out of neurodivergent friends, colleagues and family and the best out of yourself.   All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover speaker and other costs. Image generated by Gemini AI.

George Locke This engaging talk will explore how early Christian communities understood and navigated issues of sex, gender roles, and identity. Our speaker sheds light on the theological, cultural, and social influences that shaped early Christian views and practices.    All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover speaker and other costs. Image generated by Gemini AI.

The Society's annual general meeting is only open to members.