Newspaper article - Broomsticks? They're out these days.

Evening Argus, Brighton, Saturday 20 July 1968, page 4, cut from the paper and pasted into Doreen Valiente's scrapbook with the date in her hand. The night before, Alex Sanders, 41, styling himself 'Sir' Alex and Witch King of Europe, had addressed the Mensa association in Brighton, accompanied by Maxine, 'the goddess of the fertility cult on earth'. 'We don't use broomsticks any more. We use cars.' He claims he was knighted on the Isle of Wight by the pretender to the Greek throne, printed as 'Peter Prince Palaelogus', and says today's witches do welfare work and would help a lapsed Christian back to his own faith. Maxine says she was raised a Roman Catholic, worked as a secretary and a petrol pump attendant before she was initiated, and that their daughter will become a witch only if she wants to. The photograph shows the couple side by side, Alex in dark glasses. The archive also holds the letter Prince Petros Palaeologus wrote to Sanders eight days later, document 1654. The same scrapbook page carries other cuttings, including 'Lucky charm clue jails two killers' and an Argus item headed 'Accolade' dated 2 August 1968. How to cite: 'Broomsticks? They're out these days', Evening Argus, 20 July 1968, p. 4. From the scrapbooks of Doreen Valiente, private collection. Alexandrian Witchcraft Timeline & Archive.

[Photograph] Witch king “Sir” Alex Sanders and his “goddess” wife, Maxine BROOMSTICKS ? THEY'RE OUT THESE DAYS WITCHES have undergone great changes since medieval times - at least, that is what the Witch King of Europe, “Sir” Alex Sanders, has to say. “We don't use broomsticks any more. We use cars,” he said. Alex – who also calls himself the high priest of the fertility cult – was in Brighton last night addressing the Mensa Association. He was accompanied by his wife, the goddess of the fertility cult on earth. “She roughly represents the Greek goddess - Diana,” he said. Alex insists he is a real “sir.” He was knighted, he claims, by Peter Prince Palaelogus, the pretender to the Greek throne, on the Isle of Wight. According to Alex, he has been a witch since the age of seven: “We’re the surviving remnants of the fertility cult,” he said. “I was initiated as high priest of the cult in the North of England about four years ago. Drastic change “They thought they should have a young leader,” said 41-year-old Alex. “One very drastic change in witches between today and the past is that I am teaching compatibility in faith,” he continued. He believes the major task of today's witches is in the line of “welfare work” and if a lapsed Christian came to him for help he would attempt to assist him back to his religion.” “The majority of people have the ability to become witches,” he added, “but most don't have the tenacity.” Alex's wife Maxine had an equally interesting story to tell. “I was a Roman Catholic,” she said, “but my mother dabbled in many things. I was initiated into the cult by Alex about four years ago,” she said. “I have a young daughter,” she added, “but she will only become a witch if she wants to.” Maxine has come to witchcraft through a more complicated way than her husband. Before being initiated she worked as a secretary and a petrol pump attendant.