Humanists UK is pleased to announce the appointments of three distinguished new patrons from diverse areas of public life. They are Dr Miriam Stoppard, popular writer and physician; Paul Sinha, stand-up comedian and professional quizzer; and science writer and author Piers Bizony.
Humanists UK has over 170 patrons who support its work in various ways through their expertise and prominence in various fields. Existing patrons include significant figures from the spheres of science, philosophy, human rights activism, politics, the arts, and broadcasting. Alongside its patrons, Humanists UK has a President and a number of Vice Presidents. From January 2016, its President has been writer and comedian Shappi Khorsandi, supported by Vice Presidents Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Polly Toynbee, and Professor A C Grayling.
Dr Miriam Stoppard is a physician, writer, and broadcaster who has been at the forefront public health information and communication for over forty years. After seven years practising medicine, specialising in dermatology, and later holding research posts in the pharmaceutical industry, Miriam developed a career in television, becoming a household name as well as a leading authority on parenting, child care, and women’s health. To date she published more than 80 books, selling 25 million copies worldwide, on an array of health topics, as well as having a long-running and popular column in the Daily Mirror.
Like Miriam, Paul Sinha is a qualified physician, but is perhaps better known for his work as a professional quizzer and stand-up comedian. He is probably most well-known for his regular appearance as a ‘chaser’ on the ITV programme The Chase. Paul’s comedy career has seen him perform in nineteen countries across the globe, take eight solo shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, and sell out his latest national tour, ‘Shout out to my Ex’. In 2014, he performed at a Humanists UK’s benefit gig organised by Stewart Lee, ‘Stand Up For Free Expression’, appearing alongside Humanists UK patrons like Lee, Shappi Khorsandi, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, and Richard Herring.
Piers Bizony is a science journalist, space historian, and author. He has written about space, science, and the history of technology for a variety of publications including the Independent, the BBC, and Wired. His book 2001: Filming the Future is considered to be the authoritative account of the making of Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Piers was also involved in the curation of ‘Space: 50’, a joint venture between the publishers Harper Collins Worldwide and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., marking the 50th anniversary of Sputnik and the dawn of the space age.
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘It’s a great pleasure to bring on board Miriam, Paul, and Piers as patrons of Humanists UK. Between them, they exemplify the diversity and breadth not just of our network of patrons working to promote understanding of humanism among the general public, but also the extent to which humanists continue to advance society across all areas of life – be those cultural, scientific, social, legal, or political.’
Notes
At Humanists UK, we want a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work helps people be happier and more fulfilled, and by bringing non-religious people together we help them develop their own views and an understanding of the world around them.
Humanists UK has over 170 patrons who support its work in various ways through their expertise and prominence in various fields. Existing patrons include significant figures from the spheres of science, philosophy, human rights activism, politics, the arts, and broadcasting. The President of Humanists UK is the writer and comedian Shappi Khorsandi, who is supported by Vice Presidents Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Professor A C Grayling, and Polly Toynbee. For a full list of patrons, see https://humanists.uk/about/our-people/patrons.