My Favorite UK Protestors. 1

One good thing the UK is good for is creating really interesting protestors. Demonstrating is a way of life here for a lot of people. I want to introduce to you one of my favorite UK protestors: Arthur Pendragon

Arthur Rex is a fixture at Stone Henge, where he is currently protesting the removal of ancient remains found on the site. He wants the remains put back where they were found. He also protests the fact that Stonehenge is fenced off from the public. He was also involved in the legal proceedings that led to the EU government siding with the UK's neo-Pagans in their demands to be allowed access to Stonehenge for religious ceremonies. Because of this, the Pagans get access to Stonehenge during the solstices and equinoxes. So, the man is scrappy and has been involved in some real progress for his cause.
When we met Arthur, he was sitting outside the fence near the entrance to Stonehenge with a sign demanding that the remains be returned and talking to anyone who wanted to hear what he had to say. He came off as a rather sweet though intense guy who enjoyed driving English Heritage and the government crazy with his constant presence and protests. As we parted company from him, he gave my 4 year old daugther an autographed picture of himself decked out as a medieval king signed "Arthur Rex". If that does not make him cool, I don't know what will.

Here is his autobiography, in brief, from Arthur's website:
Titular Head and Chosen Chief

King Arthur Pendragon is the Titular Head and Chosen Chief of what has become known as the, Lawband, Clawband and Warband, or as may be called, Wizards, Witches and Warriors. Each Order fighting for and sworn to the Ancient virtues of Truth of Honour and of Justice. Druid members of LAW may be found at Avebury on the nearest Saturday to celebrations of the eight-fold wheel. Also in London on Primrose Hill on the nearest Sunday to each Solstice and Equinox and at Stonehenge on the dawn of the actual day of Solstices and Equinoxes, performing public Ritual and Ceremony (English Heritage & Wiltshire Constabulary permitting). The Warriors may generally be found, not surprisingly, on the Battlefield - the Protest sites, and Magical support may usually be provided by Dragon Claw and the Druids

Biography

Born fifth of the fourth fifty four, John Timothy Rothwell was the son of a modern-day warrior, 4546273, Sgt W L Rothwell, a Scouser in the York and Lancaster Regiment, (for was it not the sergeants that won the war for us?) and May Victoria (a Londoner named after two queens) Rothwell nee Barratt.

Arthur (or John as he was then known) was born in Yorkshire and was raised in the shire of Hamp, being the garrison town of Aldershot. Although Sgt Rothwell is interred in Aldershot military cemetery under the above name what his original name was is unclear. Having run away from school - it was a good one, being approved - he then lied about his age, changed his name, joined the British army, corps of drums, and went to war.

Arthur himself was the original boy named Sue, 1954 being long before the time of the scan, and was in fact to be called Susan Carol. Unfortunately, when he was born, he was discovered to be far too dangly to be a girl, and after a re-think it was decided to call him Timothy John. However, Sgt Rothwell's commanding officer and his lady wife had decided upon this very combination for their own child born around the same time. Therefore, not wishing to be seen to copy, the young Arthur was duly named John Timothy, although, as we have heard, the Rothwell part of the name was highly dubious. From what Arthur has subsequently learned, it is likely that his father's original forenames were Angelo Fritzgerrio, obviously not the ideal combination during the Second World War. Thus the young Arthur of indeterminate origins was brought up, an army brat (mongrel English). His mother's line, however, is more traceable, and includes such personages as Blawe-Barret, the last English man to face Jack Johnson, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Having received a secondary education and leaving school at the age of fifteen without qualifications (although he later gained membership of Mensa), he got a job as a telegram boy. The adolescent Arthur turned into a "rebel with without a cause" becoming a time served nomadic biker chieftain - however as 24341883 1st battalion Royal Hampshire Regiment, Arthur received exemplary conduct upon discharge from Her Majesties forces. Before returning to the biker fraternity, Arthur was in fact a Minister in the Universal Free Church, holding the title of Reverend and the job description of Psychic Investigator.

His interest in all things Spiritual began at the age of fourteen, whilst skiving school, when he and his father suffered a traumatic and near death experience in a train crash - the dustcart his father was driving was hit by a train. Following this, the young Arthur was then drawn to things of the occult, religion and philosophy, thus the beginning of his Druidic training.

After diverse adventures and life experiences, it was in 1986 that he reverted to his once true and former name of Arthur Uther Pendragon. By Beltane of 1990 he had been hailed as the once and future king, Rex Quondam Rexque Futuris, and raised Honoured Pendragon, Glastonbury Order of Druids.

Since then he has received many titles from both the Druid and Wicca community and has steadfastly fought for Truth, for Honour and for Justice, campaigning both against the encroachment on our once green and pleasant land by developers, and for and on behalf of the civil rights movement. He views himself primarily as a Freedom Fighter with his reality being, that if we ever get it, Freedom that is, his work is done and he is out of here.

He is presently known for his role as an environmentalist and Eco-warrior. What is not as well known or as publicised is the fact that he was the piling foreman on the Peterborough bypass and helped to run in a supervisory capacity a six and a nine million pound contract for Laing Management Contracting.

He and his order, the Loyal Arthurian Warband, have been involved (at the sharp end) with campaigns such as Twyford Down, the Third Battle of Newbury, Manchester Airport, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Lymminge, Kingston, Stringers Common, Stonehenge, Dead Woman's Bottom, Teddy Bear Woods and Preston amongst others

Being sworn to the Sacred and Imperial Oath, he has run in General Elections, being the only Independent candidate to poll more votes than a national party. He has taken H.M Government to the European Court of Human Rights, and as Plaintive, challenged the Home Secretary in the Royal Courts of Justice. As defendant, he has appeared before Crown, Magistrates and County Courts against the forces of establishment. He will not shun his responsibility to challenge any Law that he and his Order see as unjust, nor will he or his Order shrink from fighting in any arena, whether it be it a Court of Law, in the pursuit of justice, an election, (through the ballot box) for general consent, or through the diverse channels of Druidry and Wicca. Thus, he and his Order take their vows seriously, and will live and, if need be, die by the sword - the sword in question being Arthur's sword Excalibur.

Personal

King Arthur Pendragon, is a Pagan Priest, and Druid Swordbearer, and takes (as do his Knights and Priestesses) their duties seriously. This means that he has an unshakeable belief in the Divine and his/and their place in this system. Thus it may be observed that he is at one - King, Arthur and Pendragon. What is best for the nation (Pendragon) must come first. What is best for the tribe (King) must come second and what is best for the man (Arthur) must come last. Thus as King, as Arthur and as Pendragon he must prioritise.

As Arthur

Arthur, the man, is Pagan and has a belief in the twinning, being that of the Sun and the Moon, Male/Female, Druid and Wicca. That we can have one without the other is not within his belief structure. That the Female is the sisterhood is without doubt and likewise that the Male is the brotherhood is beyond question. That monogamy exists is up to the individual and not within his belief structure. "The only way I may make love to the Goddess is through her priestesses - each and every female is an aspect thereof". Therefore when you hear "The Kings a Tart" it's probably true. And it works for him.

As King

As King, Arthur believes paramount in the fellowship of the Table Round, it being a case of horses for courses. Arthur being the best God'dam' Arthur we've got, simply because he is the only Arthur we've got, Parsley being the best Parcival we have for the same reason. Just as Gally and Daggers are the best Galahad and Daggonet we have for the very same reason. And like any cycle or chain. It is only as strong as its weakest link. Thus we all have a part to play and stand or fall as one. Thus is the nature of the tribe.

As Pendragon

A title given to an ancient British or Welsh Chief holding or claiming supreme power. In English, chiefly known as Uther Pendragon, father of Arthur. The word means "Chief Dragon" the dragon being the war standard. - The Oxford Companion to English Literature.

As Battle Chieftain Arthur takes his role seriously and will do naught as either King or Arthur to jeopardise what is best for the Isle of the Mighty (Britain) and the common good.

It is his belief that there are others at this time who have returned to fight and to lead the other nations. So too shall they join the fight and alliances be made for good to triumph over evil. Arthur's work however remains here in the Isle of the Mighty.

THINK GLOBALLY ACT LOCALLY

King Arthur Pendragon

- Say what you will about the guy but you have to admit he has style. I personally feel that he is fighting a good fight. Sure, the Druids arose in Britain after Stonehenge was constructed. Sure, the neo-Druid movement and and most of the neo-Pagan movement has very little connection to the actual pagan peoples that lived here prior to Christianity taking over. That said, today's Pagans are a real religion that draw inspiration from the ancient people of Britain and Europe and deserve to be accorded the respect other religious groups receive. That means they should have access to their holy places whenever they need access and should have some say in what to do with the relics and remains of the people they venerate. Plus, the fact that Stonehenge is being used as a place of worship makes it much cooler. It's not just some mysterious pile of stone slabs. It is a living place being used not just as a museum piece but as part of spirtual lives of modern men and women. How different is that from places like Westminster Abbey or Canterbury Cathedral? The fact that those ancient places of worship continue to function and have so much history, that is still being created, adds to their grandeur. The same goes for Stonehenge. English Heritage should embrace Arthur and his Pagan pals. Maybe let them set up a little stand explaining who they are and the relevance of the site to their faith. Embrace the living history and make everyone happy.

Maybe the problem is that the Pagans are a "new" religion and as such do not get the respect that more established religions receive? If so, this is a case of bigotry and discrimination. I trust that Arthur Rex and company are prepared for the fight to come.