Anne was a delightful person to be with and young at heart . Once when we met up in London, she suggested the two of us went to the South Bank, she skipped up and down escalators with far more energy than myself over 20 years her junior. Another time, I observed her as she danced and twirled around on a lawn like a child in her own little world. One of her favourite sayings was , “It’s a mystery “ I knew her nearly 30 years and will miss her sense of fun.

The passing of Anne from our midst onwards to the next realm of her lives seems to be linked to the Climate Change that we are all going through, as five minutes ago the sky was blue and sunshine, now I look again and it is grey overcasting gloom. This made me think of the stages the soul moves through and just as one seems permanent, another opens up completely different to our eyes, yet far above any clouds the skies reflect the light that shines through space from our wonderful sun, God Bless It… for where would we be without it. Anne was clearly from a young age a head strong girl: that is- her strong intelligence, gifted doubtless from her successful father, was matched by her inquiring mind which encouraged her interest in understanding, not just knowledge, but people. She had the rare ability to be seriously interested in others she chose to befriend and this spiritual quality of selfless inquiry matched her deeper sense of knowledge as something from which to learn and pass on to others; this in turn led her into the levels of wisdom. This mixture of mind and matriarchal thought was hidden behind the gentle spindle of personal frame as if she came from another planet. Almost like a butterfly or dragonfly, she seemed transparent, yet abundantly real with strong driving forces hidden away from sight, a university don ready to help or politely intercede at the relevant moment. Maybe a lady of her time with a childhood before the war, she will have inculcated the drive of those women then who trailblazed their way through public campaigns; but her meeting David at Cambridge must have been a lift off moment in her life. Looking back, her married life may not have been the culmination of her ambitions, but surely her enthusiasm for life in all its forms inspired in her the coming storm of the Age of Aquarius, the vast explosion of knowledge from the 1960s onwards which led to her exploration into the realms of wisdom and the Women of Wisdom and the meetings of Wise Women……….. . Her connection with Sir George Trevelyan who encouraged her spiritual odyssey and the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls led her to Edmund Bordeaux – Szechky; and then with Brian and Jackie Stevenson to form a group of like- minded people calling themselves The Essenes after the desert Community whose writings Szechky had discovered and published after WW1. She felt strongly akin to their Communions and later produced a booklet for the daily prayers illustrated by her daughter’s drawings. The little group grew and grew much to her enjoyment during the annual Gatherings in different places and ever was she the semi silent guiding hand for the diverse groups of seekers, adherents and students of esoteric knowledge of The Divine in our midst. She loved Dorset as her home moving many times and spent a while living with Robin and Prudence Husband when they moved to a lovely farmhouse in historic Somerset where, sharing lives, they hoped to create another more modern Essene Community. When Robin died and Pru sold the house, she moved back to Wimborne and enjoyed her retirement till frailty and illness over took her in her nineties. She will be missed by many who were privileged to have known her and been part of her earthly life; so many of those will fondly remember her kindness and gentleness when she had graced their lives. The Goddess of Civilisation will doubtless testify to her contribution this time round to propel her soul onwards and upwards to the higher realms of existence. Julian PS a few thoughts this morning on Anne,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,