Dolphins: Their World and Ours

Exploring our value Wonder More inspires us not only to look around at our own world but also to look into other realms, such as outer space and, today, beneath the waves.

Guest speaker: Pavan Kaur Virdee

In honour of World Ocean Day on 8th June, we were joined by London based marine biologist Pavan Kaur Virdee, who shared her life-long passion and knowledge about the world of dolphins. Pavan’s presentation introduced us to cetaceans found in UK waters, from playful bottlenose dolphins to mysterious minke whales.

We also heard how the ocean is under threat from noise pollution and plastic pollution, and how we can help. Even two minutes spent picking up plastic litter can help keep it out of rivers, away from the ocean and ultimately out of a food chain that leads to humans ingesting a credit card’s worth of microplastics every week.

Guest poet: Kay Scorah

We were delighted that Sunday Assembly London’s own Kay Scorah stepped in at short notice with specially written dolphin-themed verses.

Read Kay’s dolphin day poems in her blog

Today’s songs

We sang along to four pop songs performed by our Sunday Assembly London band, all with connections to the ocean waves:

• Wellerman – Nathan Evans 
• Surfin’ USA – Beach Boys
• Octopus’ Garden – The Beatles
• Heroes – David Bowie (the lyrics mention dolphins!)

The return of our bubble machine added to the fun!

As always, we followed the assembly with tea, biscuits and chat at the Backyard Comedy Club, lunch locally (taking advantage of the picnic-friendly weather), and drinks & games at The Three Colts pub.

Thanks to our host Shane; co-host Matt; all our wonderful volunteers from tech to tea, and everyone who filled the room with singing, good energy and appreciation – especially our first-timers!

If you enjoyed yourself, please spread the word by sharing our social media posts or tagging us in your posts.

Coming up at Sunday Assembly London 

The Outside Project: Creating an LGBTIQ+ Safe Haven, 6th July

The Outside Project was founded as the UK’s first shelter, centre and domestic abuse refuge for the LGBTIQ+ community. Hear from co-founder and director Carla Ecola about how their team have been working since 2017 to support LGBTIQ+ people in London without a home or a place to feel safe – driven by their own personal experiences.

[Photo credit: Carla Ecola]

Conversations on Kindness: How the Power of Kindness Can Change the World, 20th July

What if one small act of kindness, every single day for a year, could ignite a light in the darkness? Bernadette Russell gives us an insight into her extraordinary 366-day journey of discovery and connection.

[Image credit: Bernadette Russell]

← Our previous assembly: Craftivism: The Art of Gentle Protest, 1st June