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| Gerald Gardner: Blue plaque for 'father of witchcraft' | Gerald Gardner: Blue plaque for 'father of witchcraft' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Gerald Gardner, regarded as the founder of modern paganism, has been honoured with a blue plaque at his former home. | |
| The plaque, donated by the Centre for Pagan Studies, was unveiled at the house in Highcliffe, Dorset, exactly 130 years after Gardner's birth. | |
| His first book, High Magic's Aid, was published in 1949 - two years before the repeal of the Witchcraft Act. | His first book, High Magic's Aid, was published in 1949 - two years before the repeal of the Witchcraft Act. |
| The only other witch to be honoured with a blue plaque is Doreen Valiente, the high priestess of Gardner's coven. | The only other witch to be honoured with a blue plaque is Doreen Valiente, the high priestess of Gardner's coven. |
| Ashley Mortimer, Trustee of the Doreen Valiente Foundation, said: "Gerald would have been 130 years old on Friday the thirteenth – a full moon, to boot." | |
| Gardner, who was born in Blundellsands, Lancashire, spent his early adult life working as a British civil servant in the Far East. | Gardner, who was born in Blundellsands, Lancashire, spent his early adult life working as a British civil servant in the Far East. |
| It was during his years living in Highcliffe, during World War Two, that he became involved in witchcraft and dedicated the rest of his life to writing about and promoting it. | It was during his years living in Highcliffe, during World War Two, that he became involved in witchcraft and dedicated the rest of his life to writing about and promoting it. |
| His best-known book, Witchcraft Today, about the history and theories of the witch cult, serves as a basis for the Wiccan religion. | His best-known book, Witchcraft Today, about the history and theories of the witch cult, serves as a basis for the Wiccan religion. |
| His Book of Shadows, his personal handwritten book of rituals and other notes, is regarded as the most valuable document in the pagan world, according to John Belham-Payne, founder of the Centre for Pagan Studies. | His Book of Shadows, his personal handwritten book of rituals and other notes, is regarded as the most valuable document in the pagan world, according to John Belham-Payne, founder of the Centre for Pagan Studies. |
| Gardner passed the book on to Doreen Valiente who left it, along with other items, to Mr Belham-Payne, who hopes to open a museum to display the artefacts. | Gardner passed the book on to Doreen Valiente who left it, along with other items, to Mr Belham-Payne, who hopes to open a museum to display the artefacts. |
| Christ analogy | Christ analogy |
| He said: "Gerald took a lot of very ancient papers... and wrote the Book of Shadows and every witch now that is initiated copies parts of this book - it's a sacred text that is carried on. | He said: "Gerald took a lot of very ancient papers... and wrote the Book of Shadows and every witch now that is initiated copies parts of this book - it's a sacred text that is carried on. |
| "Gerald is one of those people who has been recognised nationally now because his name is included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography." | |
| Gardner died of a heart attack in 1964 on board a merchant ship – The Scottish Prince – on his way home from Lebanon. | |
| He was buried in Tunis, the ship's next port of call, and the only attendee at his funeral was the ship's captain. | He was buried in Tunis, the ship's next port of call, and the only attendee at his funeral was the ship's captain. |
| His legacy is a worldwide following of Gardnerian Wicca. | His legacy is a worldwide following of Gardnerian Wicca. |
| Mr Belham-Payne said: "It's enormous. Like Christ, he wasn't a Christian, but his followers became Christians. | |
| "With Gerald Gardner, he was like me, he was initiated into a traditional form of witchcraft but his followers became Gardnerians, and this Gardnerian movement in America, especially, is enormous." | "With Gerald Gardner, he was like me, he was initiated into a traditional form of witchcraft but his followers became Gardnerians, and this Gardnerian movement in America, especially, is enormous." |