The picture above was taken at the World Drum ceremony on Dragon Hill.
1974: Inspired by Robert Graves’ book, The White Goddess, BDO founder, Philip Shallcrass, begins his study of Druidry during a year-long magical retirement in which he also studied shamanism, ritual magic, the kabalah and divination.
1977: Philip founds the Society for the Revival of Druidry while running ‘Solstice,’ an occult bookshop in St. Leonards-on-Sea.
1979: BDO Mother Grove, the Grove of the Badger, formed in Hastings, England from the core of an Alexandrian Wiccan coven Philip had been initiated into the previous year.
1981: First BDO pilgrimage undertaken along the Ridgeway to Avebury.
1989: First BDO publications released, hand-written and photocopied, based on material written for the Grove of the Badger.
1990: Philip and his wife, Ellie, meet Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and join the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD).
1991: Second wave of BDO publications, designed to build into a distance learning course, partly printed, collated and stapled at the Carr-Gomm’s house in Lewes.
1992: First issue of The Druids’ Voice magazine published, edited by Philip.
1993: During a multi-faith conference organised by Tim Sebastion of the Secular Order of Druids (SOD), the Gorsedd of Bards of Caer Abiri is founded at Avebury, based on ritual composed by Philip Shallcrass.
1994: Philip’s first sweat lodge, and the vision that gave him the name, Greywolf, take place during the first OBOD summer camp.
1995: First BDO camp held near Avebury. 350 attend. Caer Abiri celebrations now attracting several hundreds, representing many faiths and coming from as far afield as Australia. Emma Restall Orr (aka Bobcat) becomes BDO joint chief.
1997: First US Gorsedd, Caer Pugetia, founded in Seattle during Philip and Emma’s first visit to America. As in the UK, the first rite is attended by folk of many traditions. Gorsedd of Bards of Cor Gawr founded at Stonehenge as part of BDO work to extend ritual access to the site.
2002: Emma steps down to found the Druid Network.
2003: BDO Council of Elders formed.
2004: Drum ceremony with the Quileute people of the US North-West Pacific coast, a tribe descended from wolves, one of whose elders has a vision of Greywolf a few days before his arrival. Greywolf and his sons are made members of the Quileute Drum Circle.
2008: World Drum rites at Dragon Hill and Avebury. BDO/Cornovii roundhouse being built. New distance learning course being written. New vision for the Order. New adventures, new beginnings!
2009: Iron Age Roundhouse build continues, as does work on the distance learning course.
2010: Roundhouse completed and opened for use as a venue for ritual, meditation, workshops and performances. First full draft of Bardic course completed.
2011: June 6th, the BDO Bardic course complete and online. Yay! August, first workshop weekend with Robin Williamson, relaunch ceremony for the BDO at the newly completed Borle Brook stone circle in Shropshire. November, new BDO constitution drawn up setting out our status as a not-for-profit unincorporated association.
2012: August 12th, Druid Hedge Schools proposal put out on Facebook. Within a few days, three admins in place, offers from teachers and of venues coming in. August 23rd, BDO Constitution amended by founder and Circle of Elders with agreement of all members who stated a preference. Early September, new website launched with far greater interactivity. September 9th, BDO Druidry goes global when parts of our gorsedd rite are used in the closing ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics, seen by a global audience of 750 million. See the Druidical highlights on YouTube.
