George Winter
This photo of George Winter, taken during his later years, conveys something of his great charm and wicked sense of fun.
The typescripts of The New Pagans’ Handbook have a dedication page that reads
‘DAD’
‘Dad’ was Chalky’s private nickname for George. At the time Chalky first began to plan and draft the Handbook, in autumn 1982, George was still alive. He died in March 1983.
George, like Chalky, was a member of the Royal Windsor Cuveen which was founded by Robert Cochrane (Roy Bowers). Chalky and George planned the Regency together, and though Chalky wrote the rituals, he consulted closely with George at every stage.
‘Winter’ was not George’s real surname, but it was the name he preferred to be known by in the Regency. I have been told that in his youth in Norfolk he was befriended by an old gypsy or traveller woman called Mrs Winter. She taught him traditional witchcraft lore, and he took the name ‘Winter’ in her memory.
Why did Chalky call George ‘Dad’? I don’t know. But ‘Dad’ was also George’s nickname for Chalky. The pair of them enjoyed bewildering bartenders with exchanges like this:
“Would you like a pint, Dad?”
“Don’t mind if I do, Dad,” and so on.
Photograph of George Winter © John of Monmouth
