Authors In History:Ross Nichols

Philip Peter Ross Nichols was born in Norwich on 28th June and he died in London on 30th April 1975. He was a Cambridge Academic and published poet, artist and historian, who founded the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids in 1964. He wrote prolifically on the subjects of Druidism and Celtic Mythology.
He revived the interest in Celtic Neo Paganism and Druidry in the 20th century. Nichols was a member and a chairman of the Ancient Druid Order which traces it's lineage to a meeting at the Apple Tree Tavern in Covent Garden, London in 1717, although Professor Ronald Hutton has demonstrated that it in fact only dates back to 1906. The 1717, story being a modification of the founding and blending of modern Freemasonry. His main work, The Book of Druidry was published after his death in 1990.
He was educated at Bloxham School, while a graduate history student at Cambridge he became influenced by the work of James George Frazer, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, T.S.Eliot and Robert Graves.  He worked in journalism, teaching and social work through the Great Depression and became a committed Socialist and Pacifist.
Ross was also a vegetarian and a naturist, joining Britain's first naturist community Spielplatz, near St Albans in Hertfordshire in the 1930s.
Between 1941-1947, four of his poetry books were published, including an essay in The Cosmic Shape (1946) focusing on the power of myth and the value of seasonal celebration.  In 1949, Ross was hired as the assistant editor of The Occult Observer, it was an important step as it marked the first time Nichols wrote about Druidism. He worked to change the practice of modern Druidry and introduced a concern for Celtic Mythology, Bardcraft and the celebration of the full eight seasonal ceremonies in addition to arranging the teachings into grades. Which he based on the classical accounts on the three divisions of the Druids, Bard, Ovate and Druid. We first hear about them in the writings of Julius Caesar, who in about 50 BCE wrote that Druidism originated in Britain. Others say it was Egypt, and India, whilst some mystics point to the mysterious Atlantis. Nichols also translated Jean Baptiste's (aka Paul Christian's) book, "The History and Practice of Magic" in 1969.
Modern Druidism as practised today, emerged out of two acts of rebellion during the 1960s. The Reformed Druids of North America was created as a humorous protest against Sunday morning Chapel attendance.
In 1954 Ross, joined The Ancient Druid Order and was a member for ten years, becoming it's chairman. During this time  he worked on a major book "The Land of The White Bull" a mythology for Britain. Most of his work has been lost. In 1963 he was ordained Archdeacon Of The Isles in the Ancient Celtic Church. The next year he died.