TRIBUTES
ROBERT COWLEY: 27/4/1927 - 9/6/2002
Robert Cowley was the Chairman of Research Into Lost Knowledge Organisation for many years. From 1980 he played a major role in running this trust, founded by Jeanette Jackson, Elizabeth Leader, and John Michell in 1968; Robert and his wife Veronica joined four years later. Robert’s main duties for more than two decades were to find speakers for the monthly meetings in London and to obtain articles for the RILKO Journal. Over the years he contributed in many ways to developing the journal from a small newsletter to an A4 magazine published twice a year. He also shared with Veronica some of the work of running the RILKO book service. Born in Wallsend on Tyneside, Robert was an engineer surveyor with a special gift - a wide open outlook and an avid curiosity about many subjects and sources of knowledge, combined with a generosity of spirit in providing others with opportunities to communicate their research. Tireless in his dedication, Robert Cowley will be remembered for many fine qualities, not the least of which were tactfulness and kindness. He is survived by his wife Veronica, his son Aiden, and his grandchild, Elliott. [Christine Rhone]
KENNETH MEADOWS (2001) An Appreciation
What's your favourite film? Your favourite taste? Your favourite piece of music? For me it is...
This may seem to be a strange way to start an appreciation of somebody recently departed this mortal coil but there is a very important point. Appreciation does not necessarily equate with classics!
Kenneth Meadows made the terrible mistake of writing some very popular books, books that I devoured with a voracious appetite when they were first published by Element Books. They have recently been reprinted by Rider and reviewed in recent editions of Northern Earth. I have to admit that the reviews were not full of glowing praise but one book in particular ('Rune Power') was identified as particularly worthy.
But Shamanics (as the author called it) and shamanism (in general) does not necessarily rely on logic, you expect one thing and get something entirely different. Kenneth Meadows legacy has been a body of work that has probably introduced a whole generation to the world of the shaman. And these people have gone on to find their own 'other worlds'.
A fellow author and colleague (Leo Rutherford) described the aftermath of one particular ceremony where the author was told by an otherworld ally that he would act as a lantern. This spurred him on to write the books, present the workshops and promote his view on shamanism. The books sold and sold and sold....
The flame of the lantern was fanned and became a beacon. I just hope there is someone who can build on this for the next generation.
DONALD L. CYR 1920-1999
Veterans of the earth mysteries persuasion will recall an early journal called Stonehenge Viewpoint, edited by Donald Cyr and one of the relatively few relevant publications to come out of the USA. Cyr launched the magazine to express how the archaeology of prehistory illustrates Vailian Canopy Theory, which maintains that the ancient Earth was encircled by a cloud canopy of ice crystals. Cyr came to Britain many times to pursue his fascination with the ancient megalithic sites of this country, and on one of his visits gave an entertaining address at The Ley Hunter Moot. His interest in archaeology persisted literally right up to his death; he passed away while returning from a Prehistoric Rock Art conference.
DOREEN VALIENTE 1922-1999
The neo-pagan movement lost a well-known founding figure on September 1st with the death of Doreen Valiente. After receiving initiation from Gerald Gardner in 1953, Ms Valiente was influential in popularising the revival of witchcraft and countering the popular negative stereotype of hags and evil spells. Her understanding of the Craft was very much that it is a traditional movement informed by modern ethics, a development her own personality helped to foster. She was the author of the Charge of the Goddess (based on a Gardner original) which is now used in many Wiccan groups. A Wiccan ceremony was held in Brighton to salute her passing.
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