 As a former teacher, he sought parity in schools for religions and humanism, seeking to have both described neutrally rather than propagated.After his death, Michael Turnbull, the former Bishop of Durham, wrote in "The Times" of how Dormand had pursued this and other causes "without prejudice" and with "a warm affection for others".He continued to live in Easington after leaving the Commons, but moved in 1991 to Clipsham, Rutland, to be closer to the House of Lords.