Ref. 29620-74ALTHOUGH he is more than 1,000 years old, King Arthur Pendragon proved he is still in good shape when he visited Avebury.
Arthur who believes himself to be the reincarnation of the legendary leader of the ancient Britons was at the Neolithic stone circle at the weekend to celebrate the spring equinox and promote his new book.
Before 1986, Arthur was John Rothwell, a civil engineer, but he changed his name to that of the ancient king when he became a druid.
His book The Trials of Arthur: The Life and Times of a Modern King chronicles his eccentric life as a nomadic eco-warrior and pagan leader.
"I believe in reincarnation, and ever since I was a kid I have had dreams about being King Arthur," he said.
"Some people say don't be so stupid, but I'm not out to prove that I am King Arthur.
"I am just doing what King Arthur would be doing today were he still alive."
He explained the meaning of the spring, or vernal, equinox.
"An equinox is when night and day are equal," he said.
"The vernal equinox is a cosmic sign that the days are set to get longer."
Since becoming a druid, Arthur, 50, has taken part in many high-profile environmental and political campaigns.
He waged a 14-year battle for the right to worship the solstice at Stonehenge, and also took part in the protests against the Newbury bypass.
The book, priced at £12.99, is published by Thorsons Element.
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