Report from Stonehenge on the Solstice -- The MB of Ian Alex Blease

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

Sat, May 16 2026, 11:05:36 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, [7], 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 05:48:47 06/21/08 Sat
Author: Ian
Author Host/IP: cpc1-darl6-0-0-cust743.midd.cable.ntl.com / 82.1.142.232
Subject: Report from Stonehenge on the Solstice

I wasn't there myself, this report is courtsey of ' Stonehenge off myspace.

" Big crowds cheer Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
Last night about 30,000 people gathered in the rain by the mysterious standing stones of England's Stonehenge to mark the Summer Solstice, as dawn broke on the longest day of the year.

At exactly 4:58 am, the mix of druids, hippies and the merely curious cheered as the first glimpse of sunrise was detected through the rain clouds.

Peter Rawcliffe, 26, cycled more than 50 miles from his home in Oxford to Salisbury Plain.

"I've done this for the last three years. I suppose I'm a bit of a closet druid. Most the year, I go about my business designing toys, but Summer Solstice brings out the hippie in me. It's a really magical experience.

"
English Heritage, the conservation body that maintains 5,000-year-old site, said about 30,000 people attended this year -- a five-year record.

The stone circle is one of the most famous and best preserved in the world. It was given world heritage status by UNESCO in 1986 and attracts some 850,000 visitors every year.

The 17 upright blocks of sandstone, which weigh up to 45 tonnes, topped with six lintels, are aligned towards the direction of the sunrise on the Summer Solstice.

As a result, theories have gained ground that it was either a prehistoric observatory or a temple dedicated to the sun.

Blowhorns signaled the rise of the sun over the ancient stone circle at 4:58 am (0348 GMT) � although in typically English fashion, the sunrise was barely visible through the clouds.

Still, the mist and drizzle did not dampen the spirits of revelers who gathered under umbrellas, ponchos and plastic bags to greet the dawn.

Trevor Wyatt, 55, described the historic site as his "cathedral.

"
"It's been a sacred place for 6,000 years for the people of this country," he said.

Wyatt, who lives in London, said he is neither pagan nor druid, "just English.

"

Cheers

Ian

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: Report from Stonehenge on the Solstice -- JC, 14:12:35 06/21/08 Sat
- Re: Report from Stonehenge on the Solstice -- Ian, 09:45:49 06/22/08 Sun
  - Re: Report from Stonehenge on the Solstice -- JC, 10:20:29 06/22/08 Sun
    - Re: Report from Stonehenge on the Solstice -- JC, 11:52:17 06/22/08 Sun