Most people who know Leamington Spa in Warwickshire think of it as a beautiful Regency town – which it is.

However I was born here, and I’m rather proud of another infamous Leamingtonian, who in his time was ‘The Most Dangerous Man in Britain’.

Aleister Crowley was born on the 12th October 1875 in Leamington Spa. His parents were wealthy brewers and devout Christians who were also members of the Plymouth Brethren Sect.  

Crowley was a powerful magician,  poet, mountain-climber, prophet and infamous occultist. He also became a witch at one time, but the elders of the craft would disown him.

Stories about him were perfect fodder for the tabloid press of the time, and they dubbed him “The Great Beast” or even “The Wickedest Man in the World”. The Beatles knew about him, and had his photo on the famous cover montage for their ‘Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’ LP.

In 1904 while on holiday in Egypt he took part in a magical ritual where he claimed to have received a message from the God’s. Inspired by this he wrote his most famous book “Liber Legis, the Book of Law”. Inside here was the law on which he based the rest of his life and teachings; 

 “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
Love is the Law, Love under Will.”

Aleister Crowley had an unrivaled knowledge of witchcraft and magick which he has passed on through his books. The popular press of his time demonised him, and to some extent he revelled in his notoriety. 

He died on the 1st December 1947, unrepentant and unbowed. His final snub to the society that had so misunderstood him, was to  be cremated with his ‘Hymn to Pan’ read from the pulpit.

John McNally

PS. Aleister Crowley is 2nd left on the top row, next to Mae West.