Burning bright
23 January 2007. Inspired by a burning desire.
Today marks the 104th anniversary of the passing of the archdruid and Welsh hero William Price, one of the finer beard-wearers of our time.
Bare-footed, with a fox-pelt on his head and green trousers on his legs, he would stride the Welsh valleys as the local GP for Llantrisant. He was probably the only one of the profession to thrust a crescent-moon staff before him, and to believe that socks were unhygenic. His lamentations weren't straight from the BMJ either, but other ideas - such as that the patient shouldn't pay unless they were cured, and his refusal to treat smokers - sound positively New Labour.
As if that weren't enough, in a Dan Brownish twist, he claimed confirmation for his beliefs could be found on a hidden engraving inside the Louvre.
His passing is more significant than his birth in many ways, as it is thanks to he that Britain has its current laws regarding cremation. His son Iesu Grist (Jesus Christ in Welsh) died in infancy, and was cremated in a druidic ceremony by his father on the Cae'r-lan Field hilltop. Price was subsequently jailed for illegal disposal of a body, but cleared in the courts when Judge Fitzjames Stephen confirmed that cremation was in fact legal, as long as it didn't cause a nuisance.
Price was himself cremated following his death aged 90, (there's a picture of that here), set alight by friends on top of two tons of coal.
Several people proudly claim connection to the man, who was named number 64 in the list of 100 Welsh Heroes. There's also a collection of his clothes and more pictures here, including a Ballad penned for the occasion of his death.
They certainly don't burn them like that any more.