ANN  POWELL 

 

( Welsh Ann )

 

1932 : Image rendered by Anthony Zois
1932 : Image rendered by Anthony Zois

Born : 1889 - Aberkenfig, Wales, Great Britain

Died : 1965

 

WELSH

Wales flag post 1959
Wales flag post 1959
1932 - East Challacombe, Devon, England. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
1932 - East Challacombe, Devon, England. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
1932 : East Challacombe, Devon, England. Trimmed image .
1932 : East Challacombe, Devon, England. Trimmed image .
1956
1956

Ann Powell was in the first group of English / Welsh people to meet Meher Baba in both 1931 and in 1932 when he visited England.

She also met him in 1956 in London , prior to Meher Baba's visit to the USA.

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1931

 

Baba would stay up late at night, sitting with his lovers outside under the stars; however, all would feel fresh when Baba woke them early in the morning. After lunch on Sunday, 20 September 1931, Kitty and Zilla departed for London, and Enid left the next morning.

Ann Powell, who was staying nearby with friends, was given an interview on the 21st. Ann had been interested in Theosophy and had met Meredith during a previous stay at East Challacombe. She was from Wales, so Baba called her Welsh Ann.

 

Thirty years later, she wrote of that first meeting:

 

On arriving at the [East Challacombe] house, I felt defeated, helpless and hopeless ... I found support leaning on the porch by the front door. The whole burden of my past seemed to be upon me. I felt a tremendous upheaval, and it did not seem possible to me at that moment that Baba was who he claimed to be.

Baba was playing quoits [British variety of horseshoes] with his disciples in the garden. He left the game and went and sat on a garden seat. He looked at me and called me over to him, beckoning me to sit by his side. Then he placed his hand in mine ... At that moment the burden was lifted and my Real Self was revealed to me.

I was weeping when I met Baba, and I continued weeping in his presence. A disciple was about to console me, but Baba said, "Leave her alone. She will be very sincere towards me."

I do not remember leaving Baba's physical presence. It was a timeless experience as though I transcended the space of the four miles as I returned walking to South Devon. Upon my arrival there, my friends inquired as to what did I think of Baba? I tried to express my thoughts to them but found my experience was beyond words to explain. The calm and peace remained with me throughout the years, until the present day.

 

Cropped image ; ( L-R ) Tom Sharpley ( behind Baba ), Meher Baba, Ann Powell, Meredith Starr at East Challocombe, England in 1932
Cropped image ; ( L-R ) Tom Sharpley ( behind Baba ), Meher Baba, Ann Powell, Meredith Starr at East Challocombe, England in 1932

EAST CHALLACOMBE, DEVON, ENGLAND

1932

 

Baba directed Kitty to return to London with Zilla and come back to East Challacombe the following evening. Quentin and Mabel arrived the next day also. Ann Powell was another visitor.


Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1386

 East Challocombe, England in 1932 : ( L-R ) ?, Margaret Starr ( half hidden ), Kenneth Ross, Tom Sharpley ( behind Baba ), Anne Powell, Meredith Starr & Dick Ince
East Challocombe, England in 1932 : ( L-R ) ?, Margaret Starr ( half hidden ), Kenneth Ross, Tom Sharpley ( behind Baba ), Anne Powell, Meredith Starr & Dick Ince
Dr. Deshmukh ( centre ) with Ann Powell ( far right )
Dr. Deshmukh ( centre ) with Ann Powell ( far right )

RUBENS HOTEL, LONDON

1956 ; Rubens Hotel, London

 

On the afternoon of 18 July 1956, more than 120 people came for darshan in the large hall of the hotel. Will, Mary and Charles sat next to Baba, and Dorothy, Tom and Delia ushered in each one individually to meet Baba for one minute. To introduce newcomers, Fred Marks stood by the door with a royal blue sash across his chest like a steward. Baba distributed prasad of sweets and his photographs. Among those who came were Darius Hodivala, Phyllis (who had met Baba years before at East Challacombe), Ann Powell, Dina Patel (Minoo Kharas' sister) and her son Hoshang, Margaret Craske's sister, Will Backett's sister, Joyce Bird and her family, Charles Purdom's wife Antonia, Milicent Deakes and Norman Franklin.

Lord Meher Online Edition Page 3976

Note : The same evening at 8:00 P.M., ( 18th ) another reception for the public was held at the Rubens Hotel, and almost 175 people attended. It is not know presently whether Ann Powell attended this event.

Ann Powell far right
Ann Powell far right

Ann Powell wrote her account about when she met Meher Baba in the following journal.

 East Challocombe, England in 1932 : ( L-R ) ?,?,?,  Kenneth Ross, Margaret Starr ( half hidden ),Tom Sharpley ( behind Baba ), Anne Powee, Meredith Starr & Dick Ince
East Challocombe, England in 1932 : ( L-R ) ?,?,?, Kenneth Ross, Margaret Starr ( half hidden ),Tom Sharpley ( behind Baba ), Anne Powee, Meredith Starr & Dick Ince
1932 : East Challacombe, Devon, England. Ann is sitting down on the far left next to Adi S. Irani. Photo taken by R.L. Knight. Courtesy of MN Publ.
1932 : East Challacombe, Devon, England. Ann is sitting down on the far left next to Adi S. Irani. Photo taken by R.L. Knight. Courtesy of MN Publ.
1956 : London Airport - Meher Baba with his men Mandali waiting to get the contecting plane to go to New York. The English Meher Baba group came to be with Baba whilst he waited. Image rendered by Anthony Zois.
1956 : London Airport - Meher Baba with his men Mandali waiting to get the contecting plane to go to New York. The English Meher Baba group came to be with Baba whilst he waited. Image rendered by Anthony Zois.

1956

( L-R ) Unknowns, Anita De Caro ( white coat ),?, Fred Marks, Meher Baba, Eruch Jessawala ( behind Baba ), Ann Powell, Adi K. Irani, William Backett, Mary Backett, Molly Eve ( dark glasses ), ?, Delia De Leon ( front ), Huma "Homa" Dadachanji ( holding bag ).

 

1956 : Meher Baba with his men Mandali & his Englisg followers at London Airport beofre departing for the USA.
1956 : Meher Baba with his men Mandali & his Englisg followers at London Airport beofre departing for the USA.
1956 : Meher Baba with Eruch Jessawala standing behind him with Ann at London Airport beofre departing for the USA.
1956 : Meher Baba with Eruch Jessawala standing behind him with Ann at London Airport beofre departing for the USA.
 Ann Powell, London 1965. Copyright Kevin R. D. Shepherd
Ann Powell, London 1965. Copyright Kevin R. D. Shepherd

Jean Shepherd's son Kevin has written somewhat bias articles about the early English group.

 

https://www.citizenthought.net/Meher_Baba_Movement.html#Complexities

 

 

 

MEHERABAD MEMORIAL TOWER, INDIA

 

Ann Powell is one of 8 English / Welsh people who's name are inscribed on the

Memorial Tower at Lower Meherabad, India.

 

Click on the under-scored name to visit the web page.

Memorial Tower at Meherabad, India
Memorial Tower at Meherabad, India

CLICK ON MAPS TO ENLARGE