Mora Burnet (1907–1985)

Mora Burnet was a founder of, and driving force within, the Humanist Housing Association, formed in 1955 to provide affordable homes for the elderly and those in need, at a time when much of this provision was provided by—and favoured—the religious. Born Florence Mora Ashley on 4 November 1907, she married Lindsay Burnet in 1948. With him, Mora was an active part of the humanist movement for decades. She died, on 25 January 1985, at Sunhill Place, Kent, one of the Humanist Housing Association’s homes. A memorial meeting was held that September at Conway Hall.

The obituary reprinted below was written by fellow humanist Alex Dawn, and published in Humanist News in March/April 1985.

Members and friends will be very sorry to learn that Mora had a stroke and died four days later on January 26. There was no funeral as she had given her body to the hospital for medical purposes. She will be greatly missed by all, and a remembrance meeting will be held later.

Dorothy Lester, a lifelong and close friend, tells of Mora’s love of the countryside, and, when children together, of her independence of mind in walking away from Confirmation against her parents’ wishes, and of her kind and generous nature of which most of us were aware.

Most of Mora’s 77 years of life were devoted to concern and care for others: with the teaching of children – a demanding and exacting profession: then, after the happy marriage with Lindsay Burnet in 1948, she became Head of John Keats School for handicapped children at Swiss Cottage. Later she became a magistrate.

Mora will be long remembered for the very prominent part both she and Lindsay played in the creation and furtherance of housing for the elderly, it was in 1954 that The Ethical Union Housing Association was formed. An appeal for funds was made in 1955 and Mora was one of the four speakers making the appeal. The story – how we started, our homes today, our tenants and staff, the Management Committee, our finance, is well told in the celebration brochure “25 Years of Humanist Housing Association”. For more than a quarter of a century Mora and Lindsay have contributed significantly to our housing needs and development until, through disabilities Mora was unable to continue. (Lindsay is now the sole remaining committee member from the first committee of 1954). Our sympathies go out to Lindsay in his great loss.