User:Fountain Posters/Sandbox

Arthur Uther Pendragon (born John Timothy Rothwell, April 5, 1954) is a British eco-campaigner, neo-druid leader, media personality, and self-declared reincarnation of King Arthur, a name by which he is also known.

Early Years
Arthur was born John Timothy Rothwell to a working class family in Yorkshire. His father was happy as a Sergeant in the British Army until he left. Because of this, Arthur's father 'took to drink' argued with Arthur's mother splitting up soon after.

With homelife becoming turbulent, Arthur began questioning authority and become a school truant - often riding on his father's dustcart and joining him to drink in pubs.

Level Crossing Accident
One day, at the age of 14, Arthur was riding alongside his working father in his dustcart when it was hit by a munitions train on a level crossing - both were unhurt, but it proved to be a turning point in Arthur's life.

In that moment he recognised himself as an Old Soul. He had the heart and body of a 14-year-old boy, but he knew he had been here before, that he had been here forever, that there was something in him that was eternal, eternally connected. Real. And he knew something else too. He knew that death was not the end, that it was nothing to be afraid of. Nothing would make him afraid anymore. And if he was daring and uncontrollable before, he was to become even more now.

After the accident, he began to ask questions. He read about Zen Buddhism, Witchcraft, the Occult, Mysticism and Druidry.

Accidentally Joining the Army
Arthur bought a bike, and became a member of a biker gang. Whilst part of the gang, Arthur had taken a test to join the army (with no intention to join - he had taken it to 'help out a friend'). Fate took its turn when Arthur got involved in a fight with some skinheads and accidentally a hit a policeman. At the Magistrates court, the verdict, to Arthur's surprise, was given as 'not guilty' upon the condition that Arthur would join the army.

Military Service
Upon joining the British army Arthur, just as his father before him, enjoyed being in the army. He enjoyed every aspect of it until earmarked for promotion when he was serving in Hong Kong. Meaning that instead of seeing the world, Arthur would have had to return to Britain to be trained at Sandhurst and so Arthur refused promotion.

Arthur was also aware of the hypocrisy of some of the actions he was asked to carry out - such as expelling immigrants away from Hong Kong to countries that the UK had said had questionable human rights.

Parachuting was part of his training. During training he hit a tree on descent, badly damaging his arm. This accident caused him from being A1 fit to being unfit for infantry service.

Arthur was given a letter confirming his ability to leave military service whenever he wanted. He chose not to use it for 6 months. When he finally did use it, he used it in his usual dramatic way. He went out on parade and stood in line in his biker leathers. The sergeant, of course, didn't see the funny side of it.

Marriage & Mortgage
John met and then later married Liz, who he met at work. He claims that for 2 years he became a workaholic. After realising this, and seeing that they could barely recognise themselves in comparison to who they were, they agreed to separate. They both did it in again dramatic fashion leaving their home and all possessions with the key in the door. Liz went off to run stables whilst John regained his taste for the road and became a biker once more.

John the Biker
John got back to his more rebellious lifestyle with vengeance. He quickly became head of a biker gang and did some serious partying. John by this time had notched up some serious nicknames he had been known as, 'Hairy Willy' by his mum, 'John the Hat' whilst in the military. As head of a biker gang he had a reputation for having wild parties within a ruined castle. Because of the parties at the castle, John was nicknamed 'King John'.

John becomes Arthur
John was visiting his friend called Whippet at Whippet's squat in Farnborough when he admitted, in John's pun fashion, to being 'bored'. He had written all of his nicknames on a piece of board (hence the pun) with his current nickname, 'King John' in the middle. Whippet studied the board and stated that John was not in fact 'King John', but King Arthur instead. Whippet had been reading a book on King Arthur by Gareth Knight at the time.

John looked through Whippet's book and was astonished as to the similarities between himself and Arthur in the book:

He was looking at the index in the book and picking bits out. He read, 'Arthur in his triumph', and he thought, "No its Arthur on his Triumph", and it's there, parked outside the flat."

He read, 'His wife in Tintagel', and he thought, "I know, I've just been speaking to her." He kept opening the book at random, and always there would be a line describing his life. His life, not somebody else's. Arthur's life.

Name Change
John Timothy Rothwell became Arthur Uther Pendragon on the 11th of June 1986 through Deeds Poll. The name change would have happened a lot earlier had his name had not a misspelling taken place at the solicitors. When John turned up on the 10th of June his new name had been written as, 'Arthur Utter Pendragon'. However, when they were able to give him his revised name, 'Arthur Uther Pendragon'. Because of this, Arthur received his name on St. Barnabas's Day - which, unknown to Arthur is, historically, King Arthur's Day. This was received as a portent.

Druidry
A well-known and leading figure within the British Neopagan movement, he is a regular attender at Pagan conferences and camps all over the country, where he often gives talks. Among his various offices within Druidry, he is Honoured Pendragon of the Glastonbury Order of Druids, Official Swordbearer of the Secular Order of Druids, Member of the Council of British Druid Orders, and Swordbearer to the Cotswold Order of Druids.

Questioning Arthur's right to be 'King' Arthur
Even Arthur himself has questioned his right to be seen as King Arthur. Arthur was originally fearful of the repercussions - this can be seen in his autobiography;

But what he was about to embark upon - if he dared do it - was far more frightening, far more dangerous, far more foolhardy than anything he had undertaken before. He was facing something more daunting than death itself. He was facing the world's derision. He was no fool. He knew what people would say. They would say that he was mad. How many people would understand? How many people could understand?

also,

The true paranoic feels certain about his identity, but at the same time persecuted because the rest of the world fails to acknowledge it. From the beginning, Arthur was in no doubt that very few people, if any, would accept what he was saying. He didn't feel persecuted. Just naturally - and sanely - worried what other people might think.

When Arthur moved to live in Glastonbury, before forming the Warband, he again wished to prove his mental stability to himself - he chose to take the test to join Mensa, which he passed, to become part of the top 2% highest IQs.

However, Arthur chooses to be open to challengers, which he has had many, claiming,

If we have to have an Arthur - A champion, in other words, someone willing to fight for Truth, Honour and Justice (and in these times of crisis, god knows we need one) then this is the best Arthur we've got. Arthur himself agrees and adds that if another Arthur turns up who can do the job better than him, then he'd be happy to hand over the reins. Why bother himself with all the unnecessary?

Excalibur
In order for Arthur to be King Arthur, Arthur needed to find his legendary sword Excalibur. On June the 11th 1987, after picking up confirmation of his name from the solicitors, Arthur, accompanied by his friends. climbed Glastonbury Tor in order to invoke the appearance of Excalibur. One of his friends read a spell to ask for his sword. The day came and went and no sword appeared. Arthur claims that he was, "a bit annoyed" because Excalibur had not appeared. However, 28 days later, on the 9th of July 1987, Arthur was driving around and got lost. He found himself down a back street and was about to drive off when a friend spotted a shop selling swords. The sword was carefully made for the film Excalibur - it can be seen coming out of the lake at the beginning of the film. The owner of the shop (also the Effects Designer who made the sword) said that the sword was not for sale - except to King Arthur himself. Arthur pulled out his passport with his new identity inside and the man true to his word, sold Excalibur for just £100.

Arthur has, "pledged never to draw the sword Excalibur in anger". Arthur uses the sword at Druidic ceremonies, knighting people and to use the rampant Dragon part of the hilt to make his official emblem using wax on to seal letters.

Arthur understands that a sword used for the wrong purposes would be dangerous. On this issue Arthur says,

If I saw someone coming down the street wielding a sword, I'd want them knicked.

Crown Prosecution Service gave Arthur a letter allowing him to carry Excalibur his broadsword. It doesn't leave the scabbard except in ceremonies -

Arthur carries with him a staff - which, 'doubles as a wand and symbol of office', and a shield.

The shield dates back to 1497, was recorded as used in a Druidic ceremony, and was given to Arthur on the 4th of May 1996 at a contemporary Druid Ceremony at Caer Abiri, Avebury. The family who had held it for 500 years saw Arthur on a television show being interviewed by Clive Anderson wanted to give it to it's, 'rightful owner'.

Finding Merlin
As well as wishing to find supporters in the form of the Loyal Arthurian Warband, Arthur wished to find, 'The Merlin of this age'. Arthur met Rollo Maughfling on Beltane in 1990. Rollo is the Archdruid and co-founder of the Glastonbury Order of Druids (GOD). Rollo's surname, Maughfling, comes from the Irish Maughlin or Merlin. On that day, Beltane, Arthur's sword Excalibur was first used as a ceremonial sword at a ceremony with the Glastonbury Order of Druids.

Stonehenge Picket
Michael Howard the then Home Secretary order a 4½ mile exclusion zone around the monument, ordering for anyone entering the zone to be arrested. This obviously prevented Druids - or anyone else - from conducting ceremonies within the Stonehenge at the quarter festivals. Arthur considered the battle, to bring about 'complete access for the quarterly festivals for which these stones had been laid', to be a battle, 'worthy of his name.' Claiming that his role was, "to unite the Celts and fight for truth, honour and justice." Arthur claims that although he had no support at the beginning, after 14 years he had brought the Druids, the Pagans and others into the battle.

Arthur camped in winter 2 miles away from the stones, sleeping under a tarpaulin with a hammock. Arthur stood outside the entrance with a picture frame written, 'Don't pay, Walk Away.' Arthur chose not to shout slogans, allowed tourists to take photos, and would accept food and drink. Arthur stood in all weathers by the ticket office and entrance to the monument from opening time to closing time - walking the 4 mile round trip each day. If approached he would converse with tourists and suggesting them to not pay to see the monument from a distance behind barriers, but instead to view it from the roadside.

English Heritage threatened Arthur with a threat of an injunction, to remove Arthur. Arthur spoke with their representative and stated that his vigil would merely continue at the roadside if he was moved. The injunction was dropped.

Arthur's Stonehenge Picket ran from September 1990 until January 1991. His attention turning, for a while, to vocally joining the growing discontent surrounding the Poll Tax that was being brought in across Britain.

Stonehenge Mismanagement
Arthur Pendragon again conducted a picket of Stonehenge to complain about its alleged mismanagement by English Heritage. The alleged mismanagement includes; returning Stonehenge to it's natural environment, to remove the fences and roads that are close.

Arthur's picket outside the monument ended 10 months later, on 19th May 2009, after English Heritage made the conclusion of the consultation known 5 months late (and after the total spent by English Heritage on Stonehenge ran to £7 million).

Poll Tax Protest
As Arthur gave up all of his worldly possessions, renounced money, having no paid work and claiming no state benefits he wanted to question, and go to court, the demand that the pay Poll Tax that he was being ordered to pay. Having refused to pay, he was summoned to Magistrates court. His case was presided over by Viscount Lord Tenby. Lord Tenby allowed Arthur to wear Excalibur in court, and allowed Arthur to swear oath on Excalibur. Both being legal precedents. At the end of the hearing, the case went against Arthur and he was ordered to pay his Poll Tax. Arthur had been awarded compensation before the trial due to his wrongful arrest concerning another case. Arthur thought it poetic for the police to pay his Poll Tax bill.

Newbury
Arthur fought in the 3rd Battle of Newbury, otherwise known as the protest against the Newbury bypass. Arthur re met, by accident, with Whippet (who had named him) here. Setting up Camelot camp there, he proved to be useful with a spade - digging the camp latrine as well as fending off a chainsaw-wielding contractor with his arm for 2½ hours whilst unharnessed up a tree.

The Loyal Arthurian Warband
Originally named the 'Arthurian Warband', the organisation was renamed the Loyal Arthurian Warband (LAW) when it became a Druid order. Arthur is its founder and leader.

Arthur's stock answer to people questioning his actions is, "I'm doing it in the name of the LAW."

Notable Knighted Knights

 * Greg Sams Artist, Author and Creator of the veggie burger became a Quest Knight in March 1999.
 * Ken Kesey - Author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on 12th August 1999.
 * Ronald Hutton Professor at the University of Bristol, specialising in Paganism in the British Isles.

Candidate at Elections
He is a self-proclaimed English eccentric who says that helps him in his political work. One of Arthur's best election victories came in the 1997 Parliamentary Elections when he had more votes for him than a national party had received. The party, the BNP, came in last.

In 2005 Arthur included the following main issues in his candidacy at the parliamentary election for Winchester


 * Making more use of the UK rail networks for transporting freight
 * Opposing the erosion of the green belt
 * Campaigns for freedom of the individual - not the nanny state mentality
 * More recognition of all religions - not just Christianity
 * Scrapping third world debt