As we count down to the Moot Anniversary, we’re delighted to welcome back Gordon MacLellan (Gordon the Toad) — a friend of the Moot since its earliest days. Gordon takes us back to the late 80s and early 90s, when pagan communities were stepping into public spaces, meeting welcome, hostility, laughter and growing confidence. As an early networker with the Pagan Federation, Paganlink and Manchester Pagan Wheel, Gordon helped shape the roots of the Moot. Today he is a writer, poet and storyteller exploring the relationships between people, places and wildlife.
Ceri Houlbrook
We’re pleased to welcome Dr Ceri Houlbrook to the Moot for the first time. A respected figure in the wider folklore and pagan community, Ceri brings real depth to this year’s Anniversary programme. As Senior Lecturer in Folklore and History and Programme Leader for the MA Folklore Studies at the University of Hertfordshire, her work explores ritual practices, popular beliefs, and how traditions adapt in modern society. For the Anniversary Event, Ceri will speak on British coin‑trees, the subject of her PhD and her book The Roots of a Ritual. Once used as folk‑remedial offerings, coin‑trees have seen a surprising resurgence in the 21st century. Her talk examines this tradition’s past, its revival, and the question at the heart of her research: why do people insert coins into trees today?
Mark olly
We’re delighted to welcome Mark Olly, a long‑standing friend of the Moot and one of our earliest speakers. A historian, archaeologist, author and presenter, Mark has spent over five decades exploring Britain’s ancient and legendary past, from King Arthur and Robyn Hoode to the Green Man and crystal skulls. Many will know him from the Lost Treasures TV series and his appearances on Ancient Aliens. For the Anniversary Event, Mark is going “live without a net” in a rare unscripted session — no slides, no notes, just lived magical practice. Drawing on stories from across his life and work, he explores the practical side of magic, the larger forces behind it, and the do’s and don’ts that shape a practitioner’s path. A Book of Shadows told from experience.
Ben Stimpson
As the Moot marks its anniversary year, we’re delighted to welcome Ben Stimpson to join us in person at last. A long‑distance friend of the community, Ben has supported the Moot for years — recommending speakers and helping us grow from afar — so his presence now that he’s back in the UK feels both fitting and long overdue. Ben will share his work on the folklore of witches and cunningfolk, from witches stopping carts and turning into hares to the everyday skills of cunningfolk who found lost animals and unravelled witchcraft. An award‑winning writer and researcher specialising in British folklore and folk magic, Ben brings a lively and insightful perspective to this special occasion.