The Keeper Of The Skull: A Visit With Anna Mitchell-Hedges

This interview with Anna Mitchell-Hedges and Cynthia Cobles occurred in two parts. The first, during April of 1983, was with myself, Auriloitha, and Dr. Dan Baer present. The second, in November of 1983, was with myself and my wife Maureen present.
Anna, nicknamed “Sammy” by her father, British explorer F.A. “Mike” Mitchell-Hedges, and Cynthia, Mr. Mitchell-Kedges secretary at the time of his death, extended to us a wonderful sense of warmth and hospitality. They opened up their home to us, and we sincerely thank them for their kindness and cooperation, for which they asked nothing in return.
MDM

April 1983

Dan: They’re opening up a new Mayan cave in Guatemala, and it’s not very far from Lubaantun. I’m hoping they may find some leads there. If there was one skull, I suspect there might be others of some form.
Anna: Well, there’s one in the British Museum, but its solid, the jaw does not open.
D: What do you think its purpose was, the way they cut it?
A: So it would talk. The Mayans were very intelligent people. And there’s a smaller one in Paris, in the Louvre.
D: Now you say you think it was previous to the Mayans?
A: Previous to the Mayans, yes. With the research they did in California they say it’s over 12,000 years old. And we heard Carol (a psychic) say it was over 16,000 years old, and was used pre-Mayan.
Cynthia: She said it was in Atlantis, …
A: …and she says that we were part of the council.
C: She was in a trance when she said this.
Mark: So it’s come back to you.
A: That’s right.
H: Anna, did you people name Lubaantun, or is that what you later heard it was called?
A: No, my father named it, and in Maya language it is “the place of the fallen stones.”
M: Did you ever hear of any undiscovered races down there, there are supposed to be some very short people, and the sisimotos (Bigfoot-type creatures)?
A: In some of the Bay Islands of Honduras, near Bonacca, no white man could go there. Only my father was allowed in, and I had some materials, clothes and the like, and it took me about three or four days for them to allow me to come on shore, and I had to show his photograph before they’d let me.
M: And this was the pygmies?
A: Yes.
D: Your father had some feelings about Atlantis didn’t he?
A: Oh yes, he felt that the skull was of Atlantis.
D: How old was he when he died?
A: 75.
D: Well tell us about this film, you say its about his life; was it more focussed on the early part of his life?
A: The early part of his life, and then the Crystal Skull came along.
D: You said some rather spectacular things came along?
A: It’s been very successful, apparently, in Vienna. They’re trying to sell it to America, but it has to be translated to English. They’re coming down here again to do another film. A professor in Vienna who does nothing but ‘crystals said he’s never seen anything like the Skull, that it’s not European, and that’s what they wanted to know, if it was European. I told them it wasn’t.
D: Can you tell what kind of person this was modelled on, what race of people?
A: As far as we know it was supposed to be a high priest. Father thought the building was for the high priest, and Maya came from all over to see the high priest, there, and that’s why the Skull was there.
M: In the psychic research you’ve accumulated over the years concerning this, how do they say it was brought to its present form?
A: We were told it was rubbed by sand, and was a huge piece of crystal. And the jaw was the same piece, and the research in California said the same thing.
M: The jaw was actually found later wasn’t it?
A: Three months later, yes.
D: Who found the jaw?
A: My father and I, we were all moving stones together, for we had realized that something was missing.
M: Could you explain what it was like when you found?
A: We stopped working, we got it, and we held it in our hands, and the Maya looked at it, and there were tears running down their faces, of joy, and some started dancing on the stones. My father gave it to the Maya priests there, because he said this was a religious piece and it belonged to them. In 1927, when we finished our expedition, they represented it to my father.
D: That’s quite a compliment.
A: Otherwise, if he had it at the time we had all the pottery and everything we would have turned it over to the museum. But this way it was given back to us to protect us.
D: Was there any problem getting it out of the country?
A: Oh well, it was very easy in those days.
D: Because, Mark, you mentioned that your friend Peter Harding was just down in Belize…
M: Yes, he wrote about that visit to Altun Ha in one of our past issues. He told me that the people down there would like the Skull back, have you heard that?
A: Somebody told me, but that’s all I’ve heard.
M: He had talked to people about the Skull.
C: Now Altun Ha, isn’t that where they found the jade skull?
M: Yes, that’s where they found the large jade skull. Of course, all of these countries would now like their artefacts back.
A: Oh yes, but at that time it was very easy to get them out. It got a bit tough in 1934, we were doing an expedition in the Bay Islands. We got them out just the same, amongst fishing tackle.
M: Your father was quite a big game fisherman and still holds many records, doesn’t he?
A: Yes, about 18 records, and he wrote a few books on this also.
M: Now the Bay Island named Bonacca, that was where your father discovered the long mound and monoliths?
A: Yes. The people were not very friendly there.
D: Are they Mayan?
A: There’s a mixture of Spanish, and they’re not very pleasant. Jane Houlson wrote something in Blue Blaze how the people eat with their fingers. Well, we always eat with our fingers if it’s chicken or the like, and we don’t think anything of it. But I was somewhat shocked when I went there later and some of the islanders said to me “Are you the lady from the Amigo? Well, we don’t eat with our fingers! We have forks and knives!” And I said, “No, I don’t write.”
M: When is your book going to be written?
A: It’s being worked on now.
M: Your father was an excellent writer, he presents a very exciting style of reading.
A: Yes, and he wasn’t very well when he wrote these.
D: Tell us about the events that led up to the finding of the Skull if you could.
A: Well, I was with a man cutting the trees down, and the sun was very hot that day, and something kept shining between stones, stones that were so high as this ceiling. I kept looking at that, and I asked one of the Maya “What’s down there?” I kept going back to it all the time. And when my father came back I showed him, and he got very curious, and then he got the men to move the stones.
M: There have been healings reportedly connected with the Skull.
A: Yes, we’ve had people from all over come just to be healed.
M: What type of healings have you had with the Skull?
A: We’ve had cancer, lupus, …
D: Did they actually touch the Skull?
A: Oh yes, they just put their hands on top. If you believe it, and trust the skull, then it gives you the power, but you have to believe that. If you don’t it won’t do any good at all.
M: It’s very interesting how this visit unfolded with us, because I wrote the article on the Skull to complement Bill Cox’s article in the Winter 1983 Univercolian, and then Dan came up to my house one evening to video tape a little discussion with me about the Skull for his class. And we found we couldn’t get it accomplished that night.
D: It seemed like there was something holding us back.
M: First, Dan kept mispronouncing my name during his intro, and it took us six or seven takes before he got it right. When we finally got that right, and Dan started asking me some questions, I opened my mouth to speak and nothing came out. When at last things got going, we conversed for about 30 minutes on the Skull, and felt we had a really good program. But when we played it back, we found that just as we started to speak about the Skull, a buzzing noise began and obliterated the audio for our entire conversation. We found we couldn’t duplicate this buzzing sound in subsequent tests, but by that one we’d said the hell with it for that night.
But somehow, all of these events, why we’re here today, happened very quickly.
It does very mysterious things. One doesn’t know why. If it doesn’t want people to know anything about it, it just cuts right out.
D: How do you feel having the Skull has changed or affected your life?
A: Well I’ve been protected. I was adopted. My father was an Englishman and I’m French, and how he would adopt a French girl I don’t know.
Some people see all sorts of images the Skull. Fish, birds,…
D: How many teeth are there in the skull?
A: The same as ours. These were taken from a photograph that was in the newspaper. Do you see the Madonna?
D: Really! Oh, that’s very clear.
A: And see the fish in this picture!
D: Oh, yes.
D: Well, Garvin in his book (The Crystal Skull) had one that seemed to show the Sphinx in it.
A: Yes, everyday you see something different.
D: Now supposedly there are no tool marks on the Skull?
A: No. The California testing concluded that no tool was ever used, and even a, today, with all the tools they have, they couldn’t make this.
D: How about that!
A: The reason I let them do the research is because the people didn’t believe that it had been done by sand, etc., and all hand done, and it took 150 years to rub down. And they had to have been related to the high priest, five generations. That’s what the Maya told them.
D: Did the Maya that were with you at that time sense that it was part of their heritage?
A: Yes.
D: What is in store for the future of the skull?
A: Well I’m trying now to start a foundation to put the Skull in, because I don’t want to give it to a museum, because they don’t allow anybody to touch it.
M: Right, they’d just lock it up.
D: they would put it in a closet somewhere. They would control it then.
A: Well, the British Museum’s skull is dying, it’s not allowed to be touched, and it doesn’t get the air. When I did the film for the Yorkshire Television, they took the two skulls together, and I wanted to touch the British one and they said, “Don’t you dare.” and I said. “Well look at al the crew touching my Skull, I don’t mind,” and they said “Oh no, you mustn’t touch.” And I said “Your killing it, because you don’t touch it. The Skull needs touching.”
M: They wouldn’t understand that.
D: No, that’s museum people in general, they’re so overprotective.
A: And they know me, and they know my father gave them tons of stuff.
D: That’s outrageous. That’s an insult.
M: You know, I’ve had a very sore lower back lately, and especially after the nine hour ride here. But as soon as I touched the Skull, I could feel a warmth going right to that very spot. ‘
Aur: It seems to know where to go.
A: I’ve had people here who refused to touch it.
D: Really! Are they afraid of it?
A: Oh yes.
M: Do you have a name for the Skull?
A: I call it “Skull.”
M: Am I right in that you were interviewed by William Shatner for a movie entitled “Mystery of the Gods?”
A: Yes.
M: I saw that once when I was down in Florida, I believe in 1977, and I never even heard of it again. Do you know what happened to it?
C: Von Daniken claimed they changed it, and he rescinded the rights to it.
M: It was a very good movie, one of the best I’ve seen on that type of thing. That’s the first time I heard of the Skull.
Aur: You mean Captain Kirk?
A: Yes. I didn’t know he was coming. He was quite taken back when I didn’t know who he was. But an hour later we were talking French and everything was alright.
Aur: I would imagine that the Skull’s vibration affects you even if your not aware of it.
A: I know when I have a headache I put my head on the Skull and it’s gone in five minutes.
D: How many people were present when the Skull was found?
A: There was Lady Richmond Brown, myself, father, Tuk the painter. Dr. Gann.

November 1983

M: I guess the first thing I’d like to ask you, apparently I got, one of the dates wrong in the article I did on the Crystal Skull. Could you clear that up please?
A: We found the Crystal Skull in 1924, the first of January, on my seventeenth birthday, and father saw the excitement and the joy of the Maya people there, so he said, “I couldn’t take this away from them,” so he gave it to the Maya people there. And they set stones down, and put the Skull on them, and built a little thatch roof on top, palm leaves, and built a pier all around it, and Maya came from all over, people we never saw before. And in 1927, when we finished our expedition, the priests gave the skull back to my father, because he was a good man and brought good things for them. And that’s the way the Skull has been in our possession. Otherwise, if we took it in i1924, we would have had to give it to a museum, but this way it was a gift from the Maya to us, and it’s been our protector ever since.
M: We were talking earlier about flow some people had written that he had brought it down there and planted it…
A: That’s right, but I can’t imagine anybody spending 20,000 pounds for an expedition to bury a skull for his daughter to find it. In those days that was a lot of money.
M: Probably over 450,000 back then.
A: Yes.
M: You were tailing us about a crystal statue that you had seen in a cave down there…
A: Yes, in the islands, in the cliffs…
M: In the Bay Islands?
A: That’s one little thing, I cannot disclose where it is. It’s a promise I made to my father that I would never disclose it because, we didn’t know at the time the statue was cursed, but several people have died, bitten by tarantula spiders. It’s a breeding ground for tarantula spiders, and my father, when he learned of the curse, he blocked the cave up. And only God can spread the earth away, so one day it may come out.
M: You said the floor was like a moving mass…
A: Like a beautiful black carpet, it just moved and it would fascinate you to look at it, it would move up and down, up and down, the moving of the breathing of the spiders, and you couldn’t take your eyes away, like a beautiful velvet carpet.
M: So you saw the statue?
A: Yes, we had lights, there was a hole on top of the hill, and we lowered lights down, and we could see it beautifully. It was about four feet high, beautifully done, like the Crystal Skull, very smooth like satin.
M: Was it of a man or woman?
A: That we couldn’t distinguish from the top what it was. Prom the entrance we couldn’t see it too well, unless we put in lights, and that was difficult to do, we had to put it on long bars to push it in so no spiders would come around us. When my father did hear about the curse, he said, “We’ll close it up. If God wants to give it to the world, one day it will.”
M: Did you discover it?
A: Well it was me, because for some unknown reason I always wandered away from the group, searching, to see if I could find something to show my father; to be proud of me.
M: You said earlier that he met with Augustus LePlongeon and Paul Schlieman in New York.
A: Yes, he knew him in New York in 1912.
M: Was Paul Schlieman Heinrich Schlieman’s son?
Cynthia: We can’t quite make out whether he was his son or grandson.
A: I only know from hearing father telling his friends that when the war was coming, father had dinner with him the night before, and the following morning his yacht was gone from New York, and nobody knew where he disappeared to.
M: Did your father ever mention anything about Augustus LePlongeon?
A: Yes, but I don’t remember much about him. Unfortunately I was always busy giving tea or dinner, so I couldn’t listen too much to his conversation.
M: You mentioned during my last visit that he had met Colonel Percy Fawcett at one time in New York.
A: Oh, he met him in New York at the different clubs, and particularly at the Plaza Hotel. That was sort of a rendezvous place for Englishmen and people interested in exploration.
M: He must have followed some of Fawcett’s explorations with keen interest.
A: Yes, but Fawcett, when he came to New York, he was a very sick man, he had malaria fever very badly, and my father, I did hear him say that he believed he died of malaria.
M: Because they never really did find out.
A: No, they never did find out. They say he was killed by tribes, but father didn’t believe that. He was like my father, he was loved by the native people very much. They sort of gave that warm feeling to the natives. My father could go anywhere with his smile, and I followed behind, because I knew I was going to get in there
M: Did he ever meet Colonel James Churchward?
A: Yea, but I don’t recall anything about their meeting.
M: The Skull has often been called the “Skull of Doom”, but you say that is a false label?
A: It doesn’t mean “doom” like an English-man would say it, it’s Doon, it’s the name of their god. I think my father took a little pleasure in scaring people when he said “Doom”. He was quite a teaser.
M: Well he certainly had quite an interesting life.
A: He had a wonderful life, but he was a wonderful man. Everyone who met him, or had a conversation with him, or knew him or a while they all loved him. I was always with my mouth open listening to what he was saying, because I had never met anyone like him.
D: Could you recant a little about the occasion that the Skull was sweating?
A: That was in Reading, in England. I went upstairs to clean the silver, and I looked at the Crystal Skull, and I saw it was wet, and I thought, somebody got in the room to pour water on it, and when I got near it, it was sort of dripping, and I knew then that nobody got in there because I always kept that room locked. And I wiped it and it still wept. But I had a terrible feeling that day that something terrible was going to happen. And I came down to have lunch and I told Cynthia what I saw, and didn’t think any more, and I went back, but I still had a chilly feeling. I came down for tea about five o’clock, and I put the news on, and then I heard about President Kennedy’s assassination. I knew then that the Skull was telling me that. But not being psychic, I couldn’t define exactly what it was. That’s the first time I’ve ever had any feeling with the Skull.
D: You said there was a butler that didn’t like to be in the presence of the Skull?
A: Oh, that was when we were in Fordingbridge, We entertained a lot of the American officers, General Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and General Alexander who were good friends of my father. We had to have help, so friends loaned us their butler and their maid, and we gave a big party. Every time the butler came back from the kitchen to the dining room, which was a very long hall, he felt terrible. He came about three times to help us, and when we asked him again, his employer said “He doesn’t want to come to your house anymore, there is something very evil in the house.” He couldn’t think what would cause him to feel this way. Of course the Skull was in the box in the hall, closed up, and we couldn’t make out why he wouldn’t come back. So we moved house, and my father was in the hospital, and it was a Saturday afternoon, and I was alone, and I went and got the Skull from the storeroom, which I was going to put in the lounge, and halfway through the hall the phone started ringing. I had no furniture in the hall, so I put the Skull on the stairway. And I answered the phone and a voice said to me “Have you just touched the Crystal Skull, Sammy? And for a second I couldn’t answer and they said “Did you hear me, did you just touch the Crystal Skull? I said, “Yes t I just put it on the stairway to answer, your call.” Then he said, “My butler is laying flat on the floor, and told me that you were touching the Crystal Skull.” I couldn’t believe it, and after that, in the afternoon, I just couldn’t do anything. I just took it in the lounge, put it on the floor, and I sat there. I couldn’t understand why a man twenty miles away could say I was moving the Crystal Skull. The butler left his employer then, he wouldn’t stay with them because they were friends of ours.
M: You said earlier that mere and more psychic impressions and information that’s come through from people who have seen the Skull, have been pushing the date of its origin back further and further?
A: To much earlier than we were told. Lately we had a phone call from a psychic group that said that the Crystal Skull was 74,000 years old, and other psychics say it’s 16,000, and in California, when they did the research, they said it was over 12,000. And its sort of a computer, for healing mostly. We’ve had a lot of psychics bring people down with cancer, and we’ve been told that they have been healed. So that is good if we know that it’s helping people.
M: Could you tall us a little about the research on the Skull?
A: The research determined that today no one could make it. And even with all the tools they have, they couldn’t do it. Its definitely all hand done. And I knew that because the Maya people told us that, that no tool has ever been used. It was done with a certain herb and sand, and it took five generations to do it, and this family had to be related to the high priest, all very religious. This is what the Maya people told us, and I believe them, because they are very innocent and very natural people. I lived seven years with them and I adored it.
M: Your father used to carry the Skull around with him didn’t he?
A: Oh yes, wherever he went.
M: He didn’t really talk much about the Crystal Skull in his books though.
A: No, that was left for me to talk about, because I spotted the Crystal Skull before anybody did. I had a very bad habit of wandering off, which worried my father because of spiders and scorpions and all sorts of things. But I kept walking along on top of the building, which was quite dangerous to do. But I kept seeing something shiny when the sun was getting on ‘ it, and it got me very anxious to get to the spot. But father wouldn’t let us touch any of the stone until the men knew exactly how to move them, so as not to damage any pottery or anything.
M: He was a firm believer in Atlantis wasn’t he.
A; Oh yes, Well he and Dr. Joyce and Dr. Gann, they believed that Atlantis started around the Bay Islands. Till the day he died he believed that.
M: And a lot of the artifacts that he discovered there…
A: They’re in the British Museum and the American Indian Museum in New York.
M: And many of these have been said to be unique in their style to the whole region.
A: Yes.
M: You feel that the Skull should be touched.
A: Oh yes. This has been told to me by a lot of psychic people, that the Skull,’ to keep it-alive, and clear, it has to be touched, it has to have the human feeling on it. This is why, I think, the one in the British Museum has gone so dull. Because it’s under glass, gets no air, and it’s never touched. Even I was not allowed to touch it, and I let them touch mine. And I did think, when I leave this world, that I would leave it to a museum, but I’ve been told by several psychic people not to do that, because it would never be t ached. So my idea now, if I can do it, is to start a foundation, where people can go and see it, touch it, and particularly for illness and things like that, because it is a healing Skull.
M: Can you think off hand of any psychic impressions that-came through about some of the different things that were related to the Skull in the past?
A: What we were told by the Maya priest and Maya doctor there, medicine man that it was used to will death, or to heal. But to will death was like if an old medicine man, was getting to old to perform his work, a young boy was chosen, and boys were laid in front of the altar and the high priest would perform a ceremony, an the knowledge of the old man would go in this young boy, and he would get up as a very knowledgeable man, not a boy anymore but the old man would pass away peacefully.
M: lately some of the psychic information that has come through has even mentioned
Lemuria, hasn’t it?
A: Yes, it has.
M: Some people have reported that there a scent or lights sometimes connected with the Skull. Have you ever experienced this?
A: No, and I see the Skull everyday. No there’s a lovely feeling with the Skull, and I know when I loaned it for research for six years, I never felt right myself. That’s why while I’m alive it’s going to stay right here.
M: Yet some people react differently to being in the presence of the Skull, don’t they?
A: Oh, I’ve only had very few who’ve done that.
M: Hasn’t it put some people to sleep?
A: Oh yes, but it’s a nice sleep, it’s a peacefulness in their mind.
M: I hear its also purported to bring on fertility.
A: It does. Several ladies who have been here have been pregnant since. One lady, for years and years she and her husband tried to have children. Since she saw the Skull she’s had two babies. I think it’s whatever you believe in. If you concentrate on the Skull and believe what you want, the Skull will give it to you. It has more power than any man alive.
M: Thank you Sammy.

Tags: Anna Mitchell-Hedges | crystal skull | Maya

On the 6th of November 2003 the following report appeared in our local newspaper:

Vatican City

Pope meets Putin, doesn’t get invited to Russia

From a correspondent in Vatican City

POPE John Paul II met Russian President Vladimir Putin today, and while he made a gesture in the hope of improving relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, he didn’t get an invitation to visit Russia in return.

The Pope has made improving relations with the Orthodox Church a priority of his papacy, but his long-sought dream of visiting Russia has been blocked by the Russian Orthodox Church, which is wary of advances by Catholics since the fall of communism.
In a gesture of reconciliation, the pontiff had his aides bring into the Vatican Library for the meeting an icon revered by Russian believers, the icon of the Mother of God of Kazan, which usually hangs in his private chapel.
Putin watched as the Pope blessed the icon, and then the Russian leader himself kissed it, Vatican interpreters said.
The Pope then said: “I want to thank President Putin for everything he has done to bring the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches closer together, and for peace in the world,” according to Russian reporters who were in the room.
The Pope has said he wants to return the icon as a gift to the Russian people, but he didn’t give it to Putin to take home.
The Vatican said both the Pope and Putin expressed the hope for a “positive development” in relations between the Holy See and Moscow. But an official Vatican statement made no mention of any possible papal visit.

Between 1953 and 1965, the Black Virgin of Kazan hung in the home of Anna Mitchell Hedges for all to see and admire. Hers was an open house as is her life; full of adventure, color, drama, sadness, happiness but above all absolute loyalty to the things she believed in with all her heart. This is her story of the Icon remembered from letters and articles… told in her own words.

A private home, an open museum

“Over the years I have entertained thousands of visitors from all walks of life. My home has always been open to those who needed to see and touch some of the very precious and historical things that I and been so fortunate to have come through my hands. I have given hundreds of interviews in support of books, radio and television programs, but in all this I have found that the truth as given from my lips has been rarely reported accurately… few actually listen with a clear crystal mind. People want to believe what they want to believe. Behind every single “personal” event there are thousands of stories all telling their own tale.

So now when “at last” in my life I have found the time to unpack everything and to have a read-through of much of my correspondence; I can remember so much more than what was first told. Reliving each emotion as if it were happening right now is in itself is another adventure. I can never tell you the whole truth only how I see and remember it through my eyes and feelings. So for the time being see and feel this through me and then form your own visions but… Don’t try to destroy or change mine… that you could never do!

So much has happened in ours lives and by saying “our” I mean my late father “F A Mitchell Hedges (d.1959) and myself. There is just not enough time to tell it all. So with the help from a few close friends I have embarked on the journey to open a web information page so I can put it all down for you to read and form your own opinions but mine will be as true to me as they day they were born. I cannot make you fully hold or feel the vast adventures and thrills that passed through our lives. Like us all we can only read, imagine and know what we ourselves have the capacity “to imagine”.

This will be a glance… a section of my own personal views on the Icon with links to quotes and references to personal correspondence that both my father and I wrote and received from the time the Icon came into our lives and how it went out into the public domain… where we always wanted it to go.

We believe this Icon is the Black Virgin of Kazan which went missing in 1917 during the Russian revolution. We don’t know whether it was secretly hidden, sold or stolen. All we know it went missing and there have been a lot of stories to support all sorts of theories. So first let me give you the history of the Icon as we know it from experts and the historical accounts.

The mystery begins

On the 15th April 1953 my father was approached by letter from a business friend who was negotiating the purchase of a collection of great historical and artistic value. It was initially refereed to as “The Louis Tussaud’s Collection”. This may have been because part of the collection had been on display in Blackpool’s (UK) wax works museum for a period of 20 years… as we understand.

My father was at the time a collector and dealer in fine antique silver and as this collection did not accommodate anything of this nature he was not initially interested. But… the correspondence persistently continued for several months as the buyers of the collection were keen to make good their purchase by offering various pieces to well know art collectors.

Most of the collection was in small items but there were three which were in themselves “outstanding”: the Icon (as yet not fully unidentified); a copy of the book “Mein Kampf”, which was hand made and reputed to have cost at the time £150 per page. Measured 13”x11” in an excellent binding but the pages were stained with blood. It was “the book” used by the top Nazi party leaders to swear a blood oath to the allegiance to all the beliefs contain in the book… Namely the ideals of the Third Reich. Their oaths were sealed in the blood of the pure Aryan race… Another icon if you would like to see it as such. The third item was a magnificent jeweled sword. That I have no knowledge of.

At this stage there was a great interest from many quarters including a possible interest from the then Russian government in power at the time (1954). Many industrialists and people in high political ranking were secretly vying to see what this wonderful treasure was and whether it was genuine or not? With the view to a safe investment or political subtle gain! There were discussions of splitting all the gems on the Icon and selling them off privately…

On the 25th Sept. 1953 a memorandum of sale was drawn up selling the Icon to Anna Mitchell Hedges… myself. Although the Icon was negotiated by my father it was actually paid for by myself. I had recently returned from S.E Africa where I had sold a large fishing and game reserve called “The Estuary” in St Lucia after having just finished one of our expeditions. After a year there I came back to England to look after my father and I put The Estuary under management. It was sold it in the early 1950’s. Part of that money went to pay for the Icon.

It becomes a very dark and whispering world when such a purchase of the Icon happens… When people are not privy to the real truth, gossips starts. Suddenly all sorts of rumors started to dart here and there and usually are so speculative and inaccurate that they do not deserve the time of day.

Here is a transcript from one of my father’s letters just 2 days after we had taken full possession of the Icon.

Dated 27th Sept. 1953
“I am quite glad the deal concluded quite happily for the Icon ‘though I must admit it has caused me a terrible lot of trouble. As I expect you have been told the Grand duchess Zenia I think her name is, and Princes Ludenderff were most anxious to see it and wanted me to take it straight away down to Hampton Court Palace (King Henry VIII palace London) to show it to them and to Lady Tredeger. I told them it was not for sale at any price. We could not get anything but a slow train to Reading until the 9.50 express so we decided to have dinner in London. Not certain where to go at ten minutes to seven I rang up the Savoy and asked them to keep a table for us. The most astonishing thing happened I have ever known. We none of us spoke to a soul yet when we arrived at the Savoy we were told that The Daily Mail were waiting for us, complete with photographers. We were escorted into a private room with a detective and told all about it.
Somebody, who I cannot tell you, must have supplied this information ‘though I cannot understand and how they knew we were going to the Savoy, and informed the Daily Mail that I paid £75.000 for it. I neither denied or confirmed this after all neither you nor I want to know what one buys or pays for something.
The Icon was guarded and when we left the detective had a cab waiting in readiness and escorted us to do it and we arrived home safely. I should think you are thanking goodness you have got rid of it.”

Another account of this meeting at Hampton court from Anna’s recounted notes dictated to her secretary in 1960.

“One day seven years ago Miss Mitchell-Hedges and her father agreed to take he icon to Wilderness House in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace: the home in exile of the aged Grand Duchess Zenia, sister of the last Czar of Russia. (Grand Duchess Zenia Alexandrovna eldest sister of Czar Nicolas II d 20th April 1960 aged 85)They expected a small informal occasion. Instead when they arrived, they found awaiting them a large assembly of Russian nobility priests and sisters: about 200 altogether in a small rooms,“It was a very moving occasion” she recalls “I shall never forget it” Tears streamed down the face of the Grand Duchess at the sight of the link with her far-off days as a little girl in Russia“It was pathetic.” I could not bear to remain in the room. But it was wonderful that I had been able to bring her a little Joy”The Black Virgin of Kazan says the first of the many traditional stories about it, was found miraculously in 1679.Was this the same icon that moved the Grand Duchess to tears almost four centuries later?Simple to ask: incredibly difficult to answers even for experts who have spent years exploring the labyrinthine maze of historical clues.

Uncovering history

From this moment we started to look more deeply into the Icon’s history and why it is so important to the Russian Orthodox Church. We knew we had bought a valuable Icon but which one? And why hadn’t the Russian government seized the opportunity for this item being sold at the time… There were now more questions than answers! The intrigue was beginning to create whispers in all sorts of directions.

Taken from notes at the time… Looking into the history of the Icon…

That first story is the simplest: A soldier’s young daughter in Kazan (on the Volga, halfway between Moscow and Sverdiovsk saw two visions in the snows in the courtyard of her father’s house, lay an icon of The Mother of God, emitting rays of light as bright as the suns.

She heard a voice, directing her to tell the monks of a nearby church what she had seen.

And so, says tradition the precious icon was found; and became the centre of veneration of the Russian Church. It was supposed to cure blindness: later, it was credited with the retreat of Napoleon from the gates of Moscow.

Is this the same one? The experts wish they knew.

The trouble, they say, is common to many another Russian treasures a gap in its history during the unsettled years after the revolution. Precious objects released by the Bolsheviks passed through many hands within short time. It has became impossible to say which or from where they originally came.

Miss Mitchell-Hedge’s icon is supposed once to have belonged to Goering. One of its former owners once exhibited it among that booths and sideshows of Blackpool’s “Golden Mile”.

Veteran Matton Garden diamond Merchant Mr. Norman Weitz may well have seen it in Russia when he went there after the revolution on behalf of a syndicate backed by the late Mr. Solly Joel, the South African millionaire.

Mr. Weitze spent £1.000, 000 buying antiques released by the Bolsheviks: among them many of the Russian Grown Jewels and about 250 icons.

“Icons are impossibly confusing” he says now, “Russia was in such a turmoil at that time that it was almost impossible to say which area any of them came from,

Most had some kind of icons and rich families had quite elaborate ones.

Five years ago detailed notes about the icon’s history were compiled by Mr. Cyril G E Bunt author of a book on Russia art and 49 years on the staff of London Victoria and Albert Museum. (See

Chronology

.)

“Experts will agree” he wrote, that it is the work of a great icon painter of the 16th century… the pigments and the wood of the panel are perfectly preserved as exhaustive X-ray tests have proved, and have mellowed with age.

“The total value of its gems with their precious settings must be great.. historical and artistic values apart.”

His verdict was that this is a precious copy of the original miraculous icon that it was carried by Prince Pozharski during his march on Moscow with his Nationalist Army in 1612.

A copy he added that had been credited with miraculous powers in its own right as when, in 1737 it was supposed to have arrested flames that threatened a Moscow church and Convent.

Letters…

A series of letters between F A Mitchell-Hedges and Metropolitan Anastassy

(President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia)

Between 1953 and 1957, we were living at Farley Castle near Reading in England. Not a week passed without an entourage of common men and women, dignitaries, Archbishops, bishops, priests, nuns of all denominations that came to see the Icon. We were in a constant state of entertaining the many guests that came to the house. All were treated in the same way… with courtesy and helpfulness. Each person no matter how important or humble came for its own reason and had its own story to tell… Neither my father nor I ever sought pry too deep in anyone’s personal need to be near the Icon. Through those years we knew how important it was to so many people that we sought to make sure it went back to Russia when the time was right. That has always been our first consideration.

During these years my father’s health was becoming “a cause for concern”… we sold Farley Castle and bought a house beside the sea at Shaldon in Devon (UK). Over the years of expeditions and adventuring my father had sustained several knife cuts, five bullet wounds and two bouts of malaria plus a recurring stomach inflection he picked up whilst we were in East Africa which it nearly cost him his life.

All through this time we both were in a quandary as to how we were going to return the Icon to its rightful home in Russia whilst there was still a communist government there! My father had grown very fond of this little jewel and knew like the Crystal Skull he was only a caretaker looking after it on behalf of an unseen vitality. We had received numerous very attractive offers from many parties over the years to sell it but we knew like most things it would “possibly” end up in a private collection or in a bank vaults so nobody would be able to see it… Our whole lives have been about allowing people to experience and share in the miracles of life in its full adventure.

“Father” passed away peacefully in his sleep in Shaldon on June 12 1959; a day I will never forget. He was 77 and had lived a very full life as you will read throughout this web site.

So the Icon and the Skull were now left to me to deal with… I sold Shaldon and moved back to Oxfordshire and set about putting into operation a way that I could pass on the Icon to its rightful owners…

More years passed……

Preparing the return home

It was decided in 1962 to set up a “foundation” to help the Icon and the Russian people in exile (they have no money), and in June 1962 sister Mary Loyola, who is the head of the History Department at the College of Holy Names commenced writing an independent history of the Icon which agrees with the one already done in this Country, for this purpose. Frank Dorland took the Icon to The Unites States to initiate all the ground work that would get things started.

Photographs (true color prints) were done to help with finance and arrangements made for the Convent of Our Lady of Vladimir to handle distribution of the pictures to the Russian Churches and Communities everywhere. In this way the Russian’s themselves are throwing their full support into the Icon project. These are being solely to help defray expenses for the setting up of the foundation, legal work etc. On the reverse side to the photo print of Virgin and Child is a brief history of the Virgin of Kazan also in Russian, the prayers used at the services held at the Convent of our Lady of Vladimir and a beautifully worded English translation of the Troparion through the courtesy of Mr. Jon Gregson.

Also in June, Mother Ariadno head of the Convent of Our Lady of Vladimir had a special service and requested they might borrow the Icon. That evening the Icon was taken from the bank vaults in San Francisco by armored car to the church where the seals were broken and the Icon given to Mother Ariadno. There vas about 1,200 people present, and they had a procession completely around the church with flower girls strewing flowers in the path, and stopping and holding the Icon up at certain points.

The Icon was then taken into the church which was absolutely packed and everyone was holding candles. The service took a little over an hour, and then it took another hour and a half so that everybody could pass individually up to the Icon and touch the glass front. After touching the case the priest would draw a cross on their forehead most beautiful, impressive and sincere.

There was another procession back to the armored car and all started to sing as the car moved away with a well resealed Icon. Mother Ariadno said “God Bless Miss Mitchell-Hedges for sending the Icon over”.

On November 4th 1962, for the first time since 1917, the Icon was used in a service on her feast day in the Russian Orthodox church. This service also included a requiem observance in Memory of those who lost their lives because of communism, The occasion for the part of November 4th ceremonies was the 40th anniversary of the start of the Bolshevik revolution which occurred on November 7th, 1917.

A proclamation was issued by the Mayor of San Francisco, the Honorable George Christopher as follows:

“Recognizing the importance of the occasion when the miraculous Icon of Kazan is used in Public worship in San Francisco I join the people of the Russian Orthodox faith in prayers for the ultimate restoration of complete freedom to enslaved peoples everywhere.These services in which the Icon will be used for the first time since 1917, are of great significance both for the members of your faith and for San Francisco. It’s uses here symbolizes your steadfast dedication which as done so much to enrich our country as well as your own lives.I am confidant that Sunday’s services of commemoration, thanksgiving and intercession will reflect the Christian spirit which will burn brightly in the hearts of the Russian people. May your prayers bring then comfort and strength the”(sgd) George Christopher mayor

The work continues

The Rev. Michael Sokolov recently returned from Paris conducted this service with Father Leonid Kaspersky and Father Strumer. Gregory Bologoff the center chairman also participated.

After many meetings between Mr. Dorland (art restorer), the Archbishop John and other heads of church it was definitely resolved to purchase the Icon and also at the same time to build a Shrine for her to be known as the “Shrine of Our Lady of Kazan and will be of the Novgorod of architecture which will hold approximately 300 people. This is being erected in San Francisco until such time as the Russian people feel they would like to take the Icon back to Moscow. She will be enshrined there as a symbol of Christian Ideals.

The people concerned now in the negotiations are Mr. Dorland (the Conservator of Art) Mr. Jules Howard, International Jewel Expert and Mr. Hennessy Secretary of the Californian Agricultural Committee.

Another important link in the chain is a secretary from the Russians from New York named, Countess Tolstoy a relative of the author. She handles and coordinates information from various factions of the church

To speed the process of raising funds the church is planning and sponsoring a rapid tour of the Icon to some of the major cities in the United States to show to church leaders and also raise funds at the same time. Mr.Dorland has been told that the Kennedy private plane will be placed at their disposal for the purpose of the Icon as soon as Mr. Jack Kennedy had been given all the details .

Recently the request of the church who were having a rather special meeting Mr. Hennessy took the Icon to New York and was royally received. He was away a week and had a special guard with him constantly, and the Icon traveled in a special case and was handcuffed to Mr. Hennessy, locked and sealed. It was to get the blessing of all church dignitaries who might not be together again for some years.., even the representatives and archbishops from Japan were there…also of course the Syrian, Greek and Russian Orthodox churches.

Mr. Hennessy with the aid of the church and attorneys has set up a separate bank account for the Icon, and money has started to come. This will also be controlled by audit.

This is an accurate description of major happenings to date, but it is a most wonderful and satisfying feeling that the wish of all the people concerned… The Grand Duchess… Miss Mitchell-Hedges…. Mr. Dorland… Mr. Jules Howard is being granted and that once more the Icon will be enshrined in her own setting. Dated 1962

During this period from 1962 I was beseeched on many fronts to sell the Icon to various private parties at a much higher price than what was agreed with the religious parties, but the die had been cast and it was my father’s wish and mine that it would go back to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The handling in this delicate transaction was given to the art restorer Frank Dorland who in hindsight seemed to have his own agenda and was playing both sides against the middle. Because the Icon had been defrayed during its disappearance from 1917 to 1933; some of the jewels had been removed and obviously sold to support who ever needed that money at the time. Frank Dorland was to restore the Icon and be the go between myself and the buyers.

The road to success?

On the March 25, 1963, the Honorable George Christopher Mayor writes to John Shahovskoy. Archbishop of San Francisco and Western United States initiating the purchase of the Icon:

Copy Archbishop of San Francisco and Western United States
2040 Anza Street
San Francisco 18 CalifHonorable George Christopher Mayor,March 25, 1963.
City and County of San Francisco,
City Hall,
San Francisco
Calif.My Dear Mayor Christopher,I am writing to ask an appointment with you for me and a small committee I have appointed to discuss our plans for purchasing the holy Icon The Virgin of Kazan and enshrining it in San Francisco. I feel that your advice and counsel would be of great assistance to us, and that after learning more of this opportunity that has been presented to us, there would be a way in which you, as Mayor of San Francisco, could help to get us started.‘The Virgin of Kazan’ Icon which is now in San Francisco for safekeeping is one of the most famous end miraculous of all our Icons and I feel that It’s enshrinement in San Francisco which is known throughout the world as the birthplace of the United Nations will hold out great hope, and be an inspiration not only for all those of the Orthodox Faith but for all Christendom in their battle and our’s against communism.This will be particularly true with the inclusion of a proviso which we would propose to include in our plans that would make it possible for the Holy Icon to be restored to Russia under some form of stabilised and Christian government. This Icon was enshrined in Moscow from 1631 AD, until 1917 AD. It had been brought to Moscow in 1618 to provide the strength and guidance that resulted in the defeat of the Polish invaders who had overrun Russia,

I am hopefully looking forward to our meeting It cannot help but have great and deep significance for all the world.

May I convey my esteem to you and pray god’s blessing on your work.

Sincere sincerely (sgd) John Shahovskoy.
Archbishop of San Francisco and Western United States

The Icon was taken all around the United Sates and Canada with the view to setting up the funds for its purchase… In 1964-1965 a special pavilion was erected at World Trade Fair in New York to house the Icon. Pope Paul XXIII came to bless it but what he did not know that immediately underneath the Icon was the Crystal Skull hidden from view… so he blessed that as well.

A setback…. The funds that had been raised and deposited in a special bank were misappropriated by a person or persons who shall remain nameless. So Frank Dorland had to take the Icon back to California where is was renegotiated for its purchase and I agreed with the parties that were buying it… payment will be on a donation basis until the full amount was raised which took 6 years. During this time the Icon was handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church where it was on full display.

So the Icon passed out of my hands in 1965 and the rest is history… Or is it? The Icon seems to have become a political tool in religious hands which is fueling their own agendas.

I would like to remind the reader that the Icon was to be restored to its former glory and returned to the Russian Orthodox Church… That was my father’s wish and mine and we worked hard with so many people to ensure that this happened and to “some” extent it did.

But somehow it went to Fatima which I knew about but that was under the guise that from there it would still be on full public display and would wait for its return to the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow. That was in 1970…

 

All roads lead to Rome?

Now the Icon is in Rome… It rests in the private chapel of Pope John II out of public gaze… No matter how one can view this… The Icon is a very sensitive public emotional Relic and of great importance to historical Russia. It was always used for all the people NOT for sole exclusive rights of a single individual.

Its message is very clear in what it represents to those who initiated its role… THE FREEDOM OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE TO WORSHIP ITS ICON PUBLICLY. On more than one occasion it has been used to initiate a revolution and instigated a freedom of the people from oppression and aggression.

I am sometimes very amused at the amount of times that my father has been connected with Revolutions in his life… Riding with Pancho villa in 1912, the small revolution in Honduras, knowing Trotsky in NY, The Icon of the Crystal Skull, plus a few wonderful silver trophies that were all commemorative to great historical events… Which I may add were returned by him to their origins. So to coin a phrase “he would be turning in his grave if he knew all about this”…

If there was to be a revolution now it would be for you the rightful inheritors of this Icon to demand to have it return and put back into public view… This can only be done if you as a person has a voice to speak your truth with your heart… Mine is a past voice but speaking in the present for both myself and my father… This is not a politician battle to use an Icon for religious gain but to have it where it belongs.

The Icon was bought and paid for by the exiled Russian people of New Jersey… Somehow their voice and their contribution was not voted on when the Icon went to Fatima.

Here is my letter to the most Reverend John 23rd September 1970:

The most Reverend John
Archbishop of San Francisco & Western USA
2040 Anza Street
San Francisco., 18.
CaliforniaDear Archbishop John.
I am quite sure you are as delighted as I am that the Icon “Our Lady of Kazan” has been sold to the Blue Arm for our lady of Fatima, an is now certain to return to Russia as soon as the time is right.
It belongs to the Russian people, and I for one wanted then to have it gain one day, but as you will understand I could not possibly have given it to them.
It has been 8 years since it went to the States, but the end was exactly as I wanted, and the long wait was worth it.
I know you were in touch with the people of Fatima some years ago when you went to Baltimore (or rather Mr. Hennessey did) on your behalf.
I am glad it is remaining in the States and will not be travailing… There are so many people there who would wish to see Our Lady I am sure.
As a matter of curiosity what happened to the paper Icons etc. which were printed for the New York World Fair? I wish it were possible to get a few of them.
I treasure the book put out by “Life” in which the Icon and the Pieta are facing each other. I wish I could have got more so that I could have given them to my friends.Etc.I sincerely hope you are keeping well and with all my warmest regards to you, I am.
Sgd Anna Mitchell Hedges.
Mine is the first cry… Yours can be a shout and eventually the misappropriation and injustice can become a rectified restoration of the freedom of the people’s right to view “THEIR HOLY ICON.”

Tags: Anna Mitchell-Hedges | Pope John Paul II | Putin | Russian Orthodox Church | Virgin of Kazan

Anna Mitchell-Hedges was born Anne Marie Le Guillon on 1st January 1907 in Port Colborne, Canada. She was the sixth of ten children. Her Mother had emigrated to Canada from Breton, France while pregnant. Maybe this is why traveling was to play such an important role in Anna’s life.

Anna grew up to be a bright, lively, mischievous child.

Early childhood

Anna’s first memory occurred when she was five. Tragedy struck when she and her seven year old sister were playing by the Port Colborne canal. Her sister was playfully pushed into the canal by another girl and drowned. Another sister was burned to death when their house caught fire.

When she was seven years old, World War One broke out and her Father returned to France to fight. Her Mother tried to correspond with her parents back in France and not getting any reply sensed all was not well. Unable to leave all her children, Anna’s mother decided to send Anna back to France to find out what had happened. And so began Anna’s first great adventure.

On board the ship going to France, Anna sighted what she thought was a stick in the water. She pointed it out to one of the crew and next thing she knew panic reigned around her as everyone hastened to put on lifejackets. It was one of the first submarine sightings of the war. Fortunately, the ship wasn’t torpedoed.

Anna eventually arrived safely at her grandparent’s farm to find that her mother’s younger sister was living there. Anna was given some straw bedding and told to sleep in the roof. From there she saw her aunt taking food out to a barn. Anna sneaked into the barn where she discovered her elderly grandparents.

She ran off in an attempt to find her uncle who lived several miles away. When she didn’t return, her aunt sent men on horseback to look for her. Anna evaded them by hiding in a ditch and behind trees. She eventually found her uncle’s house and her aunt was eventually evicted from the farm. Anna returned to Canada – mission accomplished!

Her father returned on leave and Anna’s mother conceived another child. However, tragedy was once again to affect young Anna’s life. Back in France, her father died of the effects of gassing. Then her mother died in childbirth. Anna remembers being in the garden and hearing her mother’s screams. The baby was still-born.

Anna’s house was opposite a hotel where guests used to stay whilst on fishing vacations. Two Americans were regular guests and they took a liking to young Anna who used to find worms for them to use as bait. Occasionally, they would bring an English friend of theirs to stay who was also keen on fishing. His name was Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges. On hearing of Anna’s parents death, the two Americans tried to persuade Mitchell-Hedges to adopt her.

Anna wanted to stay at Port Colborne and was frightened of the Englishman with his dark skin like a Red Indian and deep voice. However, her eldest sister was unable to look after all the children and so against Anna’s wishes she was put on a train with Mitchell-Hedges and they traveled to his New York apartment. Once there, Anna was shown her room. It overlooked Central Park and Anna used to sit on the window seat looking down at the park and all the people in the street.

At first, despite Mitchell-Hedges kindness, Anna was too frightened to speak or go out. Indeed she was so afraid that ‘I used to pray, I never prayed so much in all my life.’

After a few days, he asked Anna to put some of his clothes away whilst he was at work. When doing this, Anna found a lot of dirty socks and washed them. However, she was frightened to leave them hanging up to dry in case he scolded her so she hid them until he went out again. When the socks were dry, Anna began mending them. As she was listening to the gramophone, she failed to hear Mitchell-Hedges returning and was caught with darning needle in hand.

Danger, my daughter

Mitchell-Hedges was surprised at the youngsters darning skills. The incident started a dialogue between them and formed a bond that was to last 43 years until Mitchell-Hedges death in 1959.

When Anna once did something silly, Mitchell-Hedges jokingly said ‘You silly Sam!’ The nickname stuck and Anna became known as Sammy.

A few weeks after adopting her, Mitchell-Hedges intended sending Sammy to boarding school but the thought of being parted from each other was too much for both of them and, literally at the railway station, they decided to stay together and Anna accompanied Mitchell-Hedges on his first expedition to Central America.

Anna relished Mitchell-Hedges’ company and quickly learnt to fish, become an accurate shot with the rifle and revolver and a difficult player to beat at poker. For the first time in her life she was truly happy.

However, as revolution broke out Mitchell-Hedges decided it was becoming too dangerous for a little girl of twelve and with great reluctance Anna was sent to a boarding school.

On Anna’s next trip abroad aged 13 when she was left on a small island with an elderly man named ‘Brownie’ with instructions to guard their supplies whilst Mitchell-Hedges and his co-explorer Lady Richmond Brown set off for the interior.

During the wait, Anna fished and caught a poisonous sea-snake. Fortunately, Brownie was at hand to kill it before it could bite Anna.

After twelve days, Anna feared that she would never see her Father alive again and well remembers her relief and excitement when his boat was sighted.

It was when her Father was supervising excavations at Lubaantun, Anna made a discovery that was to change her life. She saw a bright object sparkling amongst the stones of the pyramid and on her 17th birthday sufficient stones were removed for her to be lowered down to reach the object. It was the Crystal Skull.

Anna accompanied her Father on numerous fishing trips around the Bay Islands which encompassed stops at islands of archaeological interest for excavations. in between fishing trips.

Traveling in between the islands, Anna often did a spot of fishing herself catching rays and sharks that often weighed more than she did. She also landed the heaviest hammerhead shark ever caught by a woman. It weighed 1,500lbs – a record which stood until the late 1980’s.

For her own safety amongst natives, many of whom had never seen a white woman before, Anna carried a whip and a pistol. On two occasions she was forced to use the pistol to save the life of Jane Harvey Houlson – her father’s secretary. The first was when the two women were walking down a street when they were confronted by three rough men, all armed, who had drunkenly stumbled out a bar. They made unwanted advances towards the women. Anna ran off but Jane was seized. They went for their guns then Anna shot all three men with her pistol. Not one of them got up and the women escaped.

On the other occasion, Jane had refused to pay one of the crew from their boat as she knew he had not done some work he had been told to do. This particular man, Joe, was a known murderer and fugitive and had been, up to this point, a great deterrent to other troublemakers. As Joe came to see Jane, Frenchy shouted a warning to Anna in French as to what Joe’s intentions were. When Joe reached for his gun, Anna shot him through the hand.

It was whilst planting a sprouting coconut – something her father encouraged her to do for the benefit of future generations – that Anna made another fabulous discovery. Her spade connected with something solid and metallic. Much frantic digging later three chests full of treasure were unearthed obviously buried by pirates centuries earlier.

Travelling the world

In between expeditions, her father bought various properties in Dorset and Cornwall where Anna kept house.

In 1934 Anna went to Paris to learn a trade as a beautician. She was taught by none other than Antwon who was the most respected hairdresser in the world. He slept in a white satin lined coffin every night.

When she qualified, she cut and styled the hair of some of the most famous figures of Parisian society including Ann Morgan and Ann Vanderbelt, and Elsie De Wolfe and Rothschild of Paris. Other notable clients were Edward and Mrs. Simpson Duke of Windsor. Sammy remembers how incredibly nervous she was the first time she ever did Mrs. Simpson’s hair and described the Duke as having ‘the loveliest feet I have ever pedicured and he’s so nice and simple in his ways, too’.

Between 1935 to 1938, Sammy was the manageress of the Beauty Salon on board the Normandie ocean liner. During that time she met many famous people including Maurice Chevalier an acquaintance from Paris, Marlene Dietrich, Jack Benny and President to be Hoover .

During World War II, Anna lived with her Father at Fordingbridge in Hampshire. Here they entertained many Americans including General Hague and General Alexander. Anna also met Churchill, General Montgomery and General de Gaulle. It is typical of her generous nature that Anna also made a jungle stew (everything goes in it!) for the Italian prisoners who were clearing the River Avon that ran alongside the property. The Italian soldiers were so hungry they didn’t leave any for her!

Whilst painting a ceiling standing on as chair, Anna fell off and hit her head. She awoke in hospital to find a Priest standing over her bed administering the last rites to her – somewhat prematurely!

After the war, Anna and Mitchell-Hedges were invited to South Africa by General Smuts. Whilst there, they visited St. Lucia where Anna witnessed the most magnificent sight she’d ever seen – a spectacular sunset with flocks of flying flamingos.

After casually mentioning to Mitchell-Hedges that she could happily spend the rest of her life there, he casually mentioned to her the next day that he had bought the hotel and surrounding houses and shops for her. And so began a career in the hospitality business.

After nearly two years, Anna became restless again. To by-pass the difficulty of getting the proceeds from the sale of St. Lucia out of South Africa, the Russian icon The Virgin of Kazan was bought.

By this time, years of exploration had taken their toll on Mitchell-Hedges’ health and Anna devoted herself to looking after him. They moved to Farley Castle near Reading where they received a procession of visitors including Archbishops from the Russian Orthodox Church eager to see the icon. It was here that Anna found a faithful and loyal companion – her Pekingese dog. She would own one for the rest of her life.

They moved to Shaldon House at Shaldon in Cornwall where to, Anna’s great grief and dismay, her father passed away in 1959.

A comrade in arms

Mitchell-Hedges had asked his long-serving secretary Cynthia Cowles to look after Anna after his death. A promise Cynthia kept with great loyalty and dedication causing Anna to affectionately refer to her as ‘my Sergeant-Major’.Anna moved back to Reading for a while and it was here that she planned to carry out her Father’s other last wish. She returned to the Caribbean for the remaining pirate treasure chest and gave the contents of it to the two Americans who had originally brought Mitchell-Hedges and Anna together.

Anna also planned to sell the icon. Although she had numerous offers to purchase it from wealthy institutions and individuals, she wanted it to be returned to what she considered to be its rightful owners - the Russian Orthodox Church.

She agreed a price with the Church of Fatima in Washington, New Jersey and kindly allowed them six years to raise donations to pay for the exquisite icon.

In 1967, Anna returned to Canada where she embarked on a number of lecture tours about Mitchell-Hedges life and showing the Crystal Skull.

Whilst driving through Kitchener, she stopped to let her Pekinese dogs out the car and saw a motel which was for sale. She asked Cynthia if she would like to take on the challenge of running it and when Cynthia’s response was enthusiastic, bought it for her. Between them, they spent an enjoyable six years running it and built up a loyal and appreciative clientele.

Anna then returned to England where she lived for a number of years with relations before again returning to Kitchener.

After Cynthia passed away in 1990, Anna was never idle or lonely. She welcomed thousands of visitors to her home to show them the Crystal Skull and give interviews to journalists, authors, documentary-makers and interested members of the public.

Shortly after having reached her centenary anniversary, Anna passed away in April 2007.

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