Gavin Frost
Gavin Frost (1930 – 2016) was an occult author, doctor of physics and mathematics, and prominent member of the American esoteric community. He founded the Church and School of Wicca with his wife Yvonne Frost in 1968, and was the Archbishop of the Church of Wicca and a director of the School of Wicca. He and his wife have written several books on magic and related subjects such as "The Magic Power of Witchcraft". He appeared on national television's "Phil Donahue Show", "PM Magazine", Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow Show" and others, at many events serving the Neo-Pagan  community such as Stones Rising, Sirius Rising, Pagan Pride Day, and the Starwood Festival, and in newspaper and magazine articles across the United States. Early life. Frost was born in Aldridge, Staffordshire, England, on 20 November 1930. In 1952, Frost graduated from King's College London with honours, gaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, and after completing his post doctoral thesis with the Department of Atomic Energy in Cumbria, he received a Doctorate in Physics & Mathematics. Career. After he received his doctorate, Frost left Cumbria and moved to Hatfield near London and took a research position with the  de Havilland Aircraft Corporation investigating the effects of long wave infrared radiation on missiles. His next position was with Canadair in Montreal, first working on the Canadian missile program, then joining their training and simulation group, a position that allowed him to travel around the world. After moving to California, Frost became the senior project engineer working on the military F-104 radar systems. Witchcraft. According to Frost, he was initiated in 1951 at the Nine Maidens; the stone circle site in Boskednan, Cornwall. His claims to be initiated have, however, never been confirmed, and prominent Wiccan members have repeatedly asserted  that Frost was never initiated into Wicca. After his claimed initiation, his position with the De Havilland placed him in the vicinity of Salisbury Plain, where he investigated the ancient monoliths of Stonehenge and the people who built them, furthering his interest in ancient peoples and the origins of the Old Religion. While with Canadair, a trip to Chile gave him the opportunity to spend four days in a remote village exploring the religious beliefs and experiencing first-hand the powers of healing as practised by their shamans. While working in California, a trip to Milan, Italy allowed him to  do some research into the truths and fiction that surrounds Charles G. Leland's "Aradia: Gospel of the Witches". In 1966 he relocated to Munich, Germany as a company representative, and became fascinated with the subject of German sorcery. He joined a group of Zauberers ("Zauberer" – German for magician, sorcerer, wizard) operating in der Bayrischen Naehe just south of Munich, became an initiate and qualified to receive and don their saffron robe. Even though not Wiccan, the Frosts claimed the title and founded the Church and School of Wicca in 1968, which in 1972 became the first federally recognised Wiccan  church in that country. It was first operated in Missouri, then in North Carolina, and then in West Virginia. The Frosts stepped down as active leaders of the church in 1980, but continued to be active as clergy and as heads of the School of Wicca. The church itself as well as several of the Frosts' publications have repeatedly been criticised for their rituals which many perceive as inappropriate conduct towards children, resulting in numerous public outcries by initiated Wiccans emphasising that apart from using the name, the Frosts' rituals have little in common with Wiccan rituals and lore. Death . Frost died on 11 September 2016 at the age of 86.