Date: Saturday 17 September

Time 11am – 3pm

Place: Brookwood cemetery, followed by the White Hart pub in Pirbright, near Woking.

An opportunity to pay your respects to NSS founder Charles Bradlaugh by joining NSS council and staff in a visit to Bradlaugh's grave at Brookwood cemetery near Woking, followed by a social event at a nearby pub.

Brookwood Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe. The cemetery is listed a Grade I site in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The cemetery includes a remarkably rich range of 'all faiths and non-faith burials'.

Bradlaugh formed the NSS 150 years ago in 1866. Between 1880 and 1886 Bradlaugh fought for the right of non-believers to sit in the House of Commons, and he was the first atheist to become an MP. His Act of 1888 established the legal right to affirm the Parliamentary oath rather than swearing the oath on a bible. Bradlaugh is buried in a family grave in plot 108.

Following a visit to Bradlaugh's grave, join us for drinks and a bite to eat at the nearby White Hart pub situated on the village green in Pirbright.

Transport to and from the pub can be arranged for those travelling to the cemetery by public transport.

Please register for this event by emailing admin@secularism.org.uk or calling us on 020 7404 3126

Getting there:

Brookwood Cemetery is about 4 miles west of Woking in Surrey. The postcode for SatNavs is GU24 0BL.

How to get to Brookwood by Car

Join the A322 either from the M3 (junction 3) or from Guildford (via the A3). Cemetery Pales, the road which runs through the Cemetery grounds, is a direct turn off the A322.

Bradlaugh is buried in the northern section of the cemetery, reserved for Nonconformists. There are a number of entrances to the cemetery. The only entrance that gives access to Bradlaugh's grave is marked from the roadside as 'ahmadiyya Muslim cemetery' and 'Zoroastrian cemetery'.

Please note: you can't access Bradlaugh's grave from the main cemetery entrance where the 'cemetery office' and car park are located.

Bradlaugh's grave is located in plot 108. Plot numbers are marked on trees. There is a place to park your car besides plots 107 and 104 (Larch Ave), which is a very short walk to Bradlaugh's grave.

How to Get to Brookwood by Rail

Brookwood Cemetery is served by South West Trains services out of London Waterloo. The journey time is approximately 40 minutes to Brookwood Station.

There is an exit at the station leading directly into the northern section of the cemetery (where Bradlaugh is buried).

Directions to the cemetery

Directions to the White Hart in Pirbright

Attendees will gather at Plot 108 at 11am or can be collected from the northern entrance of the cemetery at 10.50am