The Blavatsky Trust

Colin Price, Trustee -
A Tribute

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Colin served as a long-standing Trustee of the Blavatsky Trust and was a close friend and colleague of Geoffrey Farthing, one of the Trust’s founders. It was in numerous discussions with Geoffrey that Colin developed his extensive knowledge of Theosophy before teaching and playing his part in passing the Wisdom Religion to many others.

Colin, during his professional life was a scientist and chartered electrical engineer, having spent 34 years doing scientific research, and serving on international scientific committees. In 1984 The Institution of Electrical Engineers awarded him the Compton Premium for work of outstanding merit and originality. Before joining the Theosophical Society in 1989 he served on church standing & finance committees and was chair of various committees. Additionally, he was a parochial church councillor for 40 years, a member of deanery and diocesan synods and a study group leader.

Colin’s joining the Theosophical Society followed his attendance at the 1989 Nottingham Summer School where Dr Yves Marcel spoke on ‘Theosophy, a Perennial Wisdom for a New Age.’ Although he had been a dedicated Christian from a very early age, he held that it was Theosophy that satisfied his desire for spiritual fulfilment. He once said that finding the Theosophical Society was like a ‘coming home’ (in conversation with Jenny Baker, National President of The Theosophical Society in England & Wales).

He began a comprehensive study of the ancient teachings with Geoffrey Farthing as his mentor. Initially a keen student of Theosophy, his knowledge and understanding developed rapidly as did his enthusiasm for the Society. For nine years (1999 - 2008) Colin served as National President of the Theosophical Society in England.

Colin was an international speaker, giving talks at Adyar, India, several European countries and Australia. He gave many talks at London HQ, at many Lodges around the country and at the Theosophical Society Summer Schools which he also helped to organize. For several years he ran the free Sunday afternoon basic Theosophy Course A Way of Self Discovery at the London Headquarters of The Theosophical Society in England & Wales, using ‘The Key to Theosophy’ by H P Blavatsky and ‘Deity, Cosmos and Man’ by Geoffrey Farthing as his source material. He was course leader for The School of the Wisdom at the international Headquarters of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, India.

In 2009, Colin gave the Blavatsky Lecture ‘The Cycle of Life’ at the summer school of The Theosophical Society in England held that year at Nottingham. Based on the Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett and the Collected Writings of H.P. Blavatsky, the talk, subsequently published in booklet form, and available here online, is a masterly account of the many lifetimes of man, and the development of consciousness, within a progressing Cosmos. As a dedicated student of Theosophy he loved to pass on to others all the knowledge he had acquired.

Colin’s close friendship with Geoffrey Farthing led, after 2008, to his increasing support of Geoffrey in developing The Blavatsky Trust. First a Trustee, he also served for over ten years as Chairman of the Trust, and one of his many achievements was to support Geoffrey’s ambition to secure Theosophy’s rightful place within Academia. Shortly after Geoffrey Farthing initiated talks at Lampeter University, Wales, where the project initially started, Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, an eminently qualified academic and theosophist, stepped forward. Nicholas proposed a Masters programme under the title ‘Western Esotericism’ which would include Theosophy alongside the other Western Esoteric Traditions. In 2002, Nicholas was appointed a Research Fellow in Western Esotericism at Lampeter University. The project was moved to Exeter University in 2005, where with the financial support of the Blavatsky Trust, Nicholas was appointed to a personal chair in the department of History. Recognition of the Trust’s support, overseen by Colin, was marked by the induction of The Blavatsky Trust into Exeter University’s College of Benefactors at the Winter Graduation Ceremony on 23 January 2011 where Colin received this honour on behalf of the Trust. Sadly, Nicholas died a year later and Colin undertook a successful transfer of the Trust’s academic support to the University of Copenhagen, where, under the auspices of Dr Tim Rudbog, one of Nicholas’ successful graduates, the course continues to develop.

Colin was instrumental in another of the Trust’s achievements: Establishing the European School of Theosophy, of which he initially served as principal organiser. The school continues successfully to this day.

Colin’s fellow trustees, amongst many others, including those within The Theosophical Society, will sorely miss his friendship and support along with the benefits of his extensive knowledge; not only of Theosophy, but of the daily practicalities of managing the Trust. Colin’s readiness with help and advice could be relied upon, and his cheery good nature will always be remembered.

In recent years Colin had suffered from health difficulties and this led to him relinquishing his active role both within the Theosophical Society and within The Blavatsky Trust. His achievements, however, live on, and his energy, guidance, and love for Theosophy will continue to inspire. Colin may have observed:

“The Eternity of the Universe in toto as a boundless plane; periodically ‘the playground of numberless Universes incessantly manifesting and disappearing . . . The appearance and disappearance of Worlds is like a regular tidal ebb of flux and reflux.’ . . .”
(H.P. Blavatsky The Proem, from The Secret Doctrine)

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