The joy of pests: how professional pest controllers have a mice time

Here’s a question you may not have been asked yet this year: could you be happier checking mousetraps than mailboxes? 

Recent research reveals that professional pest controllers experience surprisingly high levels of job satisfaction. What does this tell us about how ‘dirty work’ is valued in society, and what are the unexpected qualities that make labour enjoyable and meaningful?

Come and hear from Dr Hannah Fair, a Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Southampton. As part of her Economic and Social Research Council funded project SPIDER (Situating Pests: Impacts, Disgust, Expertise and Responsibility), Hannah explores everyday and often unwanted experiences with nature in our homes, from rats and mice to moths and bed bugs.  

You’ll also be treated to a performance by the latest version of the Sunday Assembly London popup (or should that be pipe-up?) choir. That is, unless you want to be part of the choir yourself! The song will be Black Flies by Ben Howard and the one-off rehearsal will be 4th September. Find out more and sign up here

In the meantime, we have a brilliant array of summer social activities, from swims and ice cream to museums and musicals. Find out more here. Come along, you’ll have the pest time.

Our singalongs

As usual, there will be four pop songs performed by our Sunday Assembly London band. Three are connected to today’s theme, one is a tribute to a late, great singer-songwriter:

• Wind of Change – Scorpions (1991)
• Fields of Gold – Sting (1993)
• Everyday – Buddy Holly and the Crickets (1957)
• 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton (1980)

The lyrics will be projected on screen and everyone’s welcome to sing (and dance) along.

About Sunday Assembly London

Sunday Assembly London is your regular and reliable stop for a welcoming, accessible and inspiring Sunday community, where you can hear talks and poetry, sing songs and make new friends.

Stay after for tea, biscuits, and chat in the Backyard Comedy Club. Then join us for a local meal, picnic, or a drink and card games at the pub.

→ Our next assembly: The Fullness Factor, 20th September
← Our previous assembly: Adult ADHD, 19th July