Sir George Trevelyan: memories and observationsShorter anecdotes and accountsby a variety of contributors |
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Sir George on Skirrid Kevin Redpath ![]() Sir George, the explorer Charlotte Yonge ![]() The early summer weather was fresh, the heat only building on the last two or three days, when on the morning of departure the land really started humming. Both George and I were suddenly fired with the urge to explore the dry prickly paths round the main house. It was a couple of hours before we had to depart for the airport, so we just dived into the dusty paths and headed for a dark, bushy, wood. In his most endearingly childlike way, George's eyes simply lit up with glee and we took off without knowing where it would take us. We were together with all else forgotten, getting stabbed by thorns, feeling lost and totally thrilled as, imbued with a sense of mischief and liberation, we crunched single file down the dusty track. For a blissful hour or so we abandoned all cares. George had that art of making his companions feel like his rare and intimate friends, his sense of immediacy, boundless enjoyment and fun were entirely infectious, and his instinct for something new and undiscovered bubbled like a pure, free rivulet of joy. That's how he became so widely known and loved, and how he came to encourage so many pioneers of the 'new age' arts and sciences such as Findhorn and the Gatekeeper Trust. His beady eyes will follow me still, as his voice still echoes and his warm hugs linger among the most precious in my memories. Meeting up again Marianne Rieke During one of his last travels to Germany I met Sir George again after some years when we had not seen each other. He looked at me joyfully and for a moment I could see his brain searching for something - without success! After a second or two, he exclaimed enthusiastically: "I forgot your name, but I know for sure that you are somebody who needs to be kissed" - which he then did with obvious pleasure. Two anecdotes Geseke Clark ![]() In February 1991 George came to open my house as a Centre for Spiritual Education. In my vision I saw the house as a kind of Educational Bridge: a bridge between people, between the old and the new and also between people from England and Germany. Twice or three times in the summer I had what we called 'Spiritual Exploration Weeks' which were designed for German groups. George liked to come to these weeks and brought to the groups his inspiration and his special sense of fun. During one of those weeks I was preparing dinner for my German guests. George was there, too. It was July, but for dessert, I thought, it would be fun to let them taste an English Christmas pudding. I had closed the curtains and everybody was watching me light the brandy on the pudding. Yes, it tasted very good and people were enjoying it. Meanwhile I wrote a little note for the slightly deaf George who sat next to me, saying "Between you and me, this pudding is 2½ years old". The meal continued with people talking about the recipe of a Christmas pudding and such things, when all at once the young German girl opposite me asked: "Geseke, what does it mean 'between you and me'?". I looked across the table and there, by her plate, was this little note that I had written for George and which he had secretly pushed on. So now, everybody knew, and you can imagine the teasing I got and the laughter that accompanied the rest of the meal! George Trevelyan's 80th Birthday Rhoda Cowen ![]() Still watching humanity Baroness Edmée di Pauli Sir George Trevelyan was my dearest friend in England for many years, but very especially in the last ten years of his still busy life. When coming to London to give one of his fascinating and truly spiritual lectures, he used to stay with me, after not being able to make the stairs in his sister's house. He also regarded Centre Link as a spiritual home. Although he was deeply attached to his very artistic wife, an interesting painter, and they looked after each other, it is well known that she took no interest in his educational spiritual life. Deep personal discussions about real values, goals of evolvement, took place here at Centre link over regular breakfasts and suppers. He often visits here now, making comments on developments. I know that this is a very controversial thing to say, but our perceptions are changing and we shall have to get used to it. I am glad to say that he has kept his sense of humour in his remarks, as well as his integrity of values to be defended and emphasised in our world here, which is in danger of falling apart, if it were not for the efforts of the few. In comparison with the number of the educated population, we think we are so many, but we are still a drop in the ocean in comparison with the population of the planet. We are being watched anxiously from the civilised universe and he is amongst the watchers. In Memory of a Gallant Knight Robert Armstrong ![]() Upon fine steed, your knowledge is told, You are a divine droplet that touched the earth, And through your word, gave holistic birth, You are a man of such joy and radiant light, Who always lived an inner peace so bright, You touched all that chanced to come your way, And we remember you with every passing day, Your books a living inspiration forever more, A treasure house of words, that open door, Through which in every moment is light supreme, A pulsing energy and ever living radiant beam, And there into many a packed hall you came to speak, And the audience stilled, for your wisdom to seek, You are a teacher, visionary and what is best a friend, For you, in all this life, are a joy to comprehend, And now the days of your mortal form have passed away, But never a moment passes do we not hear you say, 'There is a greater land yet for us to explore, A wondrous place, a place that no one can ignore', A place where pain and suffering are left behind, Where rainbows shine, where harmony you will find, And there you sit, as you have done so many a time, Talking with friends and angels, there we find, Our knight, his living energy not for a moment subdued, His mind alert, his voice the source of eternal food, His eyes a twinkle. 'There I told you so,' he said, 'Now the truth is known, fear not where you are led.' Robert Armstrong Eastbourne October 1996 |
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