- Eleanor Bone
Eleanor "Ray" Bone (1910-2001) was an influential figure in modern
witchcraft . She claimed to have been initiated in 1941 by a couple of hereditary witches inCumbria . She later met and became friends withGerald Gardner , and was initiated intoWicca , becoming the High Priestess in one of his covens. She was a friend of several important figures of the modern Wiccan revival, including "Dafo ",Jack Bracelin ,Patricia Crowther ,Doreen Valiente andIdries Shah . Bone was a close confidant of Gardner's initiator Dafo, and she reported that theNew Forest coven was a hereditary coven that followed the old ways of theHampshire region, and that they traced their origins to the time of the death of KingWilliam Rufus in the Norman era. [http://www.hexarchive.com/obituary/eleanor.htm Eleanor Bone obituary] from hexArchive.com. Retrieved2007-02-19 ] [http://www.hexarchive.com/wicca/eleanorbone.htm Fragment of an interview with Eleanor Bone] from hexArchive.com. Retrieved2007-02-19 ]There is some confusion over the spelling of Ray Bone's preferred first name: many modern authors and websites give it as 'Rae', possibly in confusion with
Rae Beth . A 1964 article and photograph from the UK magazine 'Tit-Bits' gives the authoritative spelling. [Glenda Banks [http://www.thewica.co.uk/book%2064%20068s.jpg"As a Matron and as a Witch"] , interview with Ray Bone, Tit-Bits, week ending 6th June 1964]References
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