The faux blue plaque affixed to the wall by Alfred Douglas’s front door says it all: “A
devilishly handsome and over-educated man lives here.”
The slender, dapper figure of the well-dressed 82-year-old, with his professorial wispy white hair and fine moustache, brings a 1950s elegance to the cobbled streets of Rye. Alfred is always cheerful, kind, and helpful; he is well-loved by neighbours, family, and friends around the town.
He is not, as the national press have dubbed him, a “wizard” running a secretive “magic course”, like a character out of Harry Potter. A Renaissance man with the air of an
academic, Mr Douglas is more a philosopher and student of pagan belief systems. His well- stocked library includes books on astrology, folk customs, and ancient symbols. While it is true he loves cats, they are companions, not “familiars”. Like many pensioners, Alfred enjoys gardening, reading in the evening, and listening to jazz.
Yet last week at Hove Crown Court, years of torment for Alfred culminated in sensational headlines in the national papers. His former lodger and tormentor, 42-year-old Barbara Maura Lane, dubbed the “White Witch of Rye,” received a suspended four-month jail sentence after admitting to harassing Alfred and going on a violent rampage in his home.
The Daily Mail couldn’t resist headlining its write-up: “The lying, the witch, and the warlock.”
Lane, originally from Ireland, reportedly became obsessed with Mr Douglas after signing up for a correspondence course he runs on the “ancient lore” of the Order of the Morning Star.
Ironically, the blue plaque had been a gift from Lane during happier times. She came to Rye in 2019 to visit Alfred, having expressed an interest in the course and vast library.
Generous as ever, Alfred invited her to move into the ground floor flat during the pandemic so she could finish her law studies and qualify as a barrister. However, as the court heard last week, Lane took over his life and subjected Mr Douglas to a “protracted period of harassment”. In another twist, Mr Douglas even played the part of a judge in mock trials so that Lane could practice her oratory.
The situation escalated on Coronation Day 2023. Enraged and allegedly drunk, Lane
smashed her way into his home, smearing food on his computer and clothing and damaging his possessions. Terrified, Alfred fled into his bedroom “in fear” before locking himself in his bathroom. Lane was arrested and later admitted to harassment and causing criminal damage to Mr Douglas’ home, including smashing his greenhouse. The trainee lawyer also admitted deluging him with phone calls and text messages. Originally, she had told police it was Alfred who was demented and she was his carer.
Dressed entirely in black, Lane appeared at Hove Crown Court last week, where she
received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay £2,597 in compensation, complete 150 hours unpaid community work and 20 rehabilitation activity days. A restraining order in favour of Mr Douglas was imposed for five years.
This week one neighbour reflected on the sorry affair: “When Maura first arrived in Rye, she seemed perfectly fine and was pleasant enough. Alfred introduced her to locals, and they were often seen around town, arm in arm, like an old married couple. But after a while, Alfred kind of ‘went missing,’ and I didn’t see him for ages, only a Christmas card ‘From Alfred and Maura’ and the cat Lulu. I assumed they wanted to be left alone. We were shocked when we heard these allegations.”
Alfred’s nephew, Paul Wilson-Patterson, and his wife, Anna, who fortunately live nearby in Fairlight, expressed their anger over the ordeal. “We’re relieved this bizarre episode is behind us. It has left my uncle shattered and upset,” said Paul.
Anna added: “Maura was treated with great kindness and generosity but responded with malicious and violent behaviour. She had been living as a guest, rent-free, yet turned out to be a ‘succubus’ in disguise.”
The couple thanked Sussex Police for working “tirelessly” to help Alfred, though they expressed disappointment that similar restraining orders were not imposed for the benefit of family and friends.
Let us all hope the case is now laid to rest.
Not since 1607 has Rye seen the trial of a witch. That year, two women, Susanna Swapper and Anne Taylor, were brought before local authorities on charges of witchcraft for “consulting” about healing “spiritual ailments”. Like Lane, both women avoided jail . Not even a good old-fashioned ducking. But where does the idea of this witchcraft truly come from, and what is the reality?
Doubtless writers and all kinds of odd folks have been drawn to Rye’s wonderfully dark and mysterious history. Maura herself prefers to bulk up her biceps with the local bonfire society drumming groups rather than PureGym.
But there is nothing sinister in Alfred’s “magic”. Netflix needn’t bother with Rye; this is not The Exorcist or The Omen territory. Alfred, who took an interest in astrology as a child reading Prediction magazine, is a world- renowned expert on the occult and pagan beliefs. He has written books on tarot, ESP, and the I Ching. He has collaborated with celebrities such as Joan Bakewell and Peter Sellers.
He and his late wife, Jo Sheridan, who moved to Rye from North London 25 years ago, shared a love of astrology and writing. Jo also authored books, including The Floral Oracle and Teacup Fortune Telling.
In short, Alfred is more professor and academic than magician. If he is a “wizard,” it is only in the original sense of the word—a “wise man” or “sage.”
Is he a satanist or even a conjuror? To coin a catchphrase from 1980s TV magician Paul Daniels: “Not a lot!”
Image Credits: Paul Wilson-Patterson .
Thank you very much for this article. We owe a debt of gratitude to the local drummers, some of whom reported incidents to Sussex Police in 2022. Which first alerted us to what was going on.
I think Rye’s last witch-trial was actually in 1645, not 1607; poor Ann Hounsell, who lived near the Strand Gate, was hanged for witchcraft in that year, after undergoing an ordeal of witch-ducking in the harbour to determine if she was guilty.
Ann’s neighbour, Francis Royal (female), had reported to the Mayor that Ann was turning herself into a dog; was magically appearing in Francis’ bedroom at night; and once floated in the air outside Francis’s bedroom before magically entering the room through the window glass.