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NEWS LETTER 27TH AUGUST 2020
ACCESS TO STONEHENGE AT TIMES OF WORSHIP
In November of 1998 I took a case against The United Kingdom to the European Court of Human rights with the assistance of a then young Barrister called Kier Starmer who helped prepare the case.The full report may be found here;
https://www.facebook.com/notes/arthur-uther-pendragon/pendragon-v-united-kingdom-1998/1442778869303426/
This threw up my assertion that the 'so called' Exclusion Zone was only legally imposed by H.M. Government if it could be shown to be in the interests of National Security, which it clearly was not.
So in 1999
A ticket only event was tried, I was offered ticket No 001 which I refused choosing rather to stay 'Outside' with the Pilgrims and Public who were to be refused entry.
In the event the weight of numbers crushed against the fence caused it to buckle and we 'The Pilgrims 'rushed' in.
Four evictions and two broken ribs later I was finally removed and arrested, released next morning 'as usual' without charge.
The Rest as they say, is History
and since
2000
we have been able to 'enjoy' what has been termed Managed Open Access at all four seasonal quarter days. Prior to summer 2000 we had already been admitted at Winter and Equinox Dawn.
I should point out that prior to taking a case before the European Court I had as they require, already exhausted all my domestic remedies and had taken and defended cases from Magistrates through Crown and County court and sort Judicial review against The Home Secretary, Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Council and English Heritage
There have been many court appearances since and I have given evidence at many Public Inquiries mainly 'Fighting' to keep the ancient Droves open at times of Solstice and Equinox to enable the 'Pilgrims' to park as may be viewed here:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/1442817419299571/
We and I in particular have had varied success and outcomes at all of these differing cases and Public Inquiries From successfully suing Wiltshire Police for wrongful Arrest and Unlawful Imprisonment Without Prejudice to being refused several applications for Judicial Review in the Royal Courts of Justice.
WINTER 2019
saw
A complete Lock-down of all available Parking facilities other than those provided by EH in what has become a contentious 'Pay to Pray' Policy whereby it is my assertion that; EH acting in concert with Wiltshire council and Police as a cartel give EH the 'illegal' monopoly of parking Charges in the World Heritage site.
Which Brings us nicely to this year.
And a post from my FB Site
https://www.facebook.com/arthur.rex.984
STONEHENGE AUTUMN EQUINOX 2020
English Heretics refuse to honour Religious Observance once again
After working in concert with Wiltshire Police and Council, English Heritage facilitated the 'closing' all By-way's Open to All Traffic in and around the environs of Stonehenge during the period of last Winters solstice, despite my written assertions that doing so and thereby giving EH the monopoly on parking within the World Heritage site of Stonehenge and the ability to 'Charge' for such a facility was illegal under Articles 9,10,11, and 14 of the Human Rights Act and the European treaty obligations placed upon H.M.G.A legal challenge to which is still pending.
That brings us to this year,
SPRING
The Vernal (spring) Equinox was cancelled due to the measures brought in to combat the current 'Pandemic. We (Pagans, Pilgrims, Public and Druids) stayed away and 'Missed' one of the only four seasonal observances we are permitted to attend at Stonehenge.
SUMMER
The Summer Solstice, was equally cancelled and EH refused entry to all. This We (Pagans, Pilgrims, Public and Druids) also accepted and I led a socially distanced Ceremony in the NT field adjacent to the Hele Stone, at Dawn (in the environs of-but outside the EH remit).
AUTUMN
It is EH's intention to likewise cancel the Religious Observance of the Autumn Equinox Dawn for all Pilgrims who wish to attend. Despite the fact that they EH are and have been Open to Tourists since just after the Solstice earlier this year.
Early in the negotiation a 'Social Distance' of 'Five meters' not One or two as recommended by WHO or HMG, no Five meter distance between pilgrims attending this Autumn was suggested which we thought over excessive, over harsh and unworkable.
Now we have learnt that they (Having sought advise from Wiltshire Council) Have decided to cancel.
I would point out that this is disproportionate to the Pagan community and that ALL other places of Worship have reopened, subject to social distancing and that the risk of infection 'outside' is far less than inside where many if not all other Religions observe their Rites.
GOING FORWARD
It is not my intention to encourage others to be there, but it is my intention (as it was in Summer) to attend. I would rather not have to scale a fence or risk arrest in doing so. The ball as they say is now firmly in Their Court as to which Court I shall find myself in or in deed bring the force to bare upon them remains to be seen.
Blessings from the Front
Arthur /|\
King Arthur Pendragon
cc
English Heritage
AND THIS DATED 27TH AUGUST 2020
Open Letter to H.M.G.
To Priti Patel MP
Secretary of State,
The Home Department
With Regard to your enforcement of 'Illegal' Gatherings'
and 'crack down' as announced Today
27th August 2020
DO NOT;
Even think about classifying any attempt to mark the religious observance of the Dawn at and in the environs of Stonehenge in Celebration of The Autumn Equinox as an illegal Gathering or 'so called' Rave.
It is my Right (alone or in the company of others) under Articles 9,10,11, & 14 of The Human Rights Act UK Law, The European Convention of Human Rights, and UK Treaty obligations to attend what is a Religious Observation and any attempt by Her Majesties Government, Agents and/or Officers to prevent my attendance will be challenged.
It should be noted that Other Places of Worship have and are reopened to the 'public' subject to social distancing and as I pointed out to the relevant 'Local' Authorities Stonehenge lies within a field on Salisbury Plain and as with most Pagan and Druid places of Observance and Worship is 'Outside' unlike most other places of Worship, be they Synagogue, Mosque, Church, Temple, Tabernacle or friends meeting house which are all inside.
Therefor there is far less risk of transmission of infection during these times of State Curbs and interventions on our 'Freedoms' at Pagan and Druid celebrations where Pilgrims may attend such as Stonehenge.
It remains my intention to conduct my Religious observance at Stonehenge over the period of the Autumn Equinox 2020 as is my Right.....
Arthur /|\
(c) King Arthur Pendragon
Senior Druid
Proposed Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Salisbury