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Secret life story of psychic MP Winifred Coombe Tennant | Secret life story of psychic MP Winifred Coombe Tennant |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Details of the life of Welsh Liberal politician, Winifred Coombe Tennant, have been revealed in new book. | Details of the life of Welsh Liberal politician, Winifred Coombe Tennant, have been revealed in new book. |
In the 1920s Coombe Tennant was well known in political, artistic and spiritualist circles. | In the 1920s Coombe Tennant was well known in political, artistic and spiritualist circles. |
She was a suffragette, a supporter of Welsh Prime Minister Lloyd George, a psychic medium and for a decade wore traditional Welsh costume every day. | She was a suffragette, a supporter of Welsh Prime Minister Lloyd George, a psychic medium and for a decade wore traditional Welsh costume every day. |
The book is based on her diaries and is written by author and art historian Peter Lord. | The book is based on her diaries and is written by author and art historian Peter Lord. |
Mr Lord told BBC Radio Wales Ms Tennant was an "extraordinary woman". | Mr Lord told BBC Radio Wales Ms Tennant was an "extraordinary woman". |
"This diary is a unique document from a difficult period," he said. | "This diary is a unique document from a difficult period," he said. |
"It runs from 1909 to 1955 and the part we have just published runs until 1924, but it gives intimate details of every aspect of her life. | "It runs from 1909 to 1955 and the part we have just published runs until 1924, but it gives intimate details of every aspect of her life. |
"She was involved in politics, the women's movement, the suffragette movement and stood for parliament in 1922 in the Forest of Dean. | "She was involved in politics, the women's movement, the suffragette movement and stood for parliament in 1922 in the Forest of Dean. |
"All the details of that run side by side with those of her extraordinary private life where she was the most closely studied spiritual medium of the period. | "All the details of that run side by side with those of her extraordinary private life where she was the most closely studied spiritual medium of the period. |
"That's why the book is called 'Between Two Worlds', because it reflects the tension between the two." | "That's why the book is called 'Between Two Worlds', because it reflects the tension between the two." |
Coombe Tennant is often remembered as one of the significant art patrons of the last century and befriended Welsh artists and collected their work. | Coombe Tennant is often remembered as one of the significant art patrons of the last century and befriended Welsh artists and collected their work. |
But this new book reveals how she went under a pseudonym to study scripts she claimed to have received from spirits. | But this new book reveals how she went under a pseudonym to study scripts she claimed to have received from spirits. |
She was the UK's first female representative to the League of Nations and knew the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George well and also the Irish revolutionary, Michael Collins, at a historic time in Irish history. | She was the UK's first female representative to the League of Nations and knew the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George well and also the Irish revolutionary, Michael Collins, at a historic time in Irish history. |
She also conducted an extra-marital affair with the cabinet member, Gerald Balfour, brother of the former Prime Minister, and the pair had a child, Henry, who they were apparently convinced would be the "messiah". | She also conducted an extra-marital affair with the cabinet member, Gerald Balfour, brother of the former Prime Minister, and the pair had a child, Henry, who they were apparently convinced would be the "messiah". |
The affair remained a family secret until 50 years after her death in 1956. | The affair remained a family secret until 50 years after her death in 1956. |
The Diary of Winifred Coombe Tennant 1909-1924, is published by the National Library of Wales. | The Diary of Winifred Coombe Tennant 1909-1924, is published by the National Library of Wales. |
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