Dowding, Lady Muriel (1908-1993)

Born in London on March 22, 1908, Muriel Albino became a Spiritualist at age 15. She had a psychic gift, and during her childhood in World War I she often saw a vision of "a tall soldier in khaki," whom she consulted about her problems and assumed she would one day meet and marry. In 1935 she married Max Whiting, who became a pilot during World War II and died when his plane was shot down.

Meanwhile Lord Hugh C. T. Dowding, who was convinced of the reality of human survival after death, received remarkable evidence of survival through the mediumship of Estelle Roberts. When Muriel Whiting became aware of Dowding's interest in Spiritualism she wrote to him, and as a result Dowding invited her to lunch. When they met she recognized him as the soldier of her childhood visions, and although he was 26 years older than she was, they were married in 1951.

Lady Dowding became a strong supporter of animal welfare and in 1959 launched a campaign called "Beauty Without Cruelty," dedicated to persuading women to renounce cosmetics produced from mistreated animals and to stop wearing animal furs. She published a magazine, Compassion, and opened a shop in Baywater, London, specializing in cosmetics obtained without mistreating animals. In 1964 she started an animal sanctuary at Nettlestead, Kent, and became president of the National Anti-Vivisection Society.

Lord Dowding died in 1970 at age 87. During her last two years, Lady Dowdling resided at a nursing home in Hove, Sussex. She died in November 1993.

Sources:

Dowding, Lady Muriel. Beauty—not the Beast. St. Helier, Jersey: Neville Spearman, 1980. Reprinted as The Psychic Life of Muriel, The Lady Dowding: An Autobiography. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House, 1981.