I was born in Goole (East Yorkshire) on Humberside on 10^th December 1942 and was raised by my parents Edith Eliza (nee Beevers) and Arthur Kendall.  I received my education there up to the age of 15.  My father was a plater in Goole shipyard which was very hard work and entailed a long bicycle ride to and from Old Goole in all kinds of weather.  My mother was a housewife and devoted all her energies to bringing up seven children in very difficult circumstances. She worked tirelessly and conscientiously so this left precious little time for anything else. I was the youngest in the family of four brothers and two sisters.  Our eldest brother, Edward, was knocked down by a driverless car (failed brakes) in the blackout at the beginning of the war.  It was tragic and my poor mother grieved for him for a long time. He was only 17 years old.  I was born three years after this tragedy so sadly I never got to know him on this earthly plane. My three other brothers were Colin, Arthur and Roy and sisters Vivien and Sylvia.  

We lived a fairly typical life as a family but what stands out for me are the values and beliefs that were instilled into us, especially by my mum, and these no doubt prepared me well for a life in search of truth. 

When I left school, I worked as a shop-assistant in Goole for a while but always felt I wanted to do something more fulfilling. I decided to train as a State Enrolled Nurse as soon as I was old enough.  My employers were aware of this from the beginning and tried to get me to change my mind but I stood firm.  Just before my 18^th birthday I moved to York and took up residence at St. Mary’s Hospital nurse’s home.  My sister,

Viv, and I had always had a close relationship and so she decided to move to York to be with me.  Prior to her arrival, she had already obtained a teaching post and so we rented a flat together and happily settled in.  When I say happily this was with the exception of Thursdays when we would have our usual rows!  Why that particular day of the week we’ll never know but we’d laugh about it afterwards. 

Viv’s presence in York was to become a blessing for all our family. When she saw an invitation to a Bahá’í meeting in the local paper she went along (without telling me!). She later told me that she had seen an advertisement for the Bahá’í Faith on the London Underground when she worked in London and so it struck her that she needed to attend the meeting in York.  Needless to say, she never looked back and from then on started her investigations of the Bahá’í Faith.  Viv introduced me to the Bahá’ís who came to visit us and it was on 1st April 1962 that I met my future husband Khosro Deihim, a Bahá’í youth who had travelled to York to help form the Spiritual Assembly. I think I must have fallen in love pretty quickly as events progressed rapidly from then onwards, not always smoothly!  

I soon found myself attending all the gatherings and found the principles of the Faith very attractive and the social aspect of the Faith very appealing. I loved getting together with the Bahá’ís. It was, I could say, a heart connection first and deepening came much later on.  My romance with Khosro blossomed even further at a Bahá’í weekend school at Lyme Park.  When Khosro proposed to me, I was quite taken aback as I felt I was too young to get married. I hadn’t known him very long and remember saying “but I can’t cook!”  He then assured me that it wasn’t a problem as he knew how to cook!  I knew then that life was never going to be the same again and after many ups and downs eventually accepted his proposal.  However, convincing my family of our decision was not so clear cut. 

My mother was quite perturbed when I said I wanted to marry Khosro.  “Do you realize it is a union of east and west?” she once asked.  Of course I was oblivious to what this really meant but was adamant that I wanted to share my life with him. Eventually, when it became clear to both my parents how much we loved each other, they were won over and gave their blessing. 

My brother Roy was less than happy when he heard about the marriage – I can’t remember the full reasons – I think he felt it had all happened a bit too quickly, that I was only 19 years old, and that he had got to know about it very late – I’m not sure of the full circumstances. However, when the dust had settled, Roy and his wife Anne invited us for tea at their house in Goole and it all blew over; they were quite pleased to meet Khosro and were very kind and hospitable. 

My brother Colin had visited our flat in York when a lot of Bahá’í youth from Manchester were present and had complained to the rest of the family that the place was “full of foreigners.”  However, he came round in the end and visited us regularly when we were living in Hull.  We went on trips together to the seaside and they became good friends. 

Poor Khosro had many of my family to convince but all his family were far away in Iran.  Although his father felt it was too soon, both parents gave their consent in writing without even seeing me!   

Khosro and I set the date for our wedding and got busy with preparations.  It took place on 14th August 1962, firstly at the York Registry Office for the civil ceremony where the registrar spoke very slowly and deliberately as he was totally convinced Khosro couldn’t understand a word of English!  In fact, Khosro studied English with great tenacity and had very quickly learned the language.  Mum and Dad were our witnesses and my dear sister was so supportive even though she had her concerns at my taking such a big step.  Our wedding took place later that day at our flat, 123 Clifton, York.  It was a very simple ceremony and all our Bahá’í friends and family witnessed our Bahá’í wedding vows “We will all verily abide by the will of God” and so married life began.  Viv had declared her faith in Bahá’u’lláh just two months before and became a very devoted and active believer.   

It took me longer to decide.  I started to meet many stalwart believers, namely Trudi Scott, Joan and Ernest Gregory, Malcolm Lee, Jean and Andrew Gash, Brian Whitehead, Alan Carter and Golrokh Sabet.  Farhang Jahanpour and Parviz Mottahedeh (brother of Shahla Haqjoo) were regular visitors from Leeds.  I had wonderful deepening sessions with some of these dear friends who were so fired up with the love of Bahá’u’lláh.  The firesides were wonderful and engaging and the atmosphere loving and inviting.  The Faith became more meaningful than any other religion and it all made sense to me. As a child, I had attended Sunday school regularly and liked it, but in later years when I had tried going to church, I found no inspiration in the sermons and would soon find my mind wandering. 

Khosro and I were very privileged to attend the first Bahá’í World Congress held at the Royal Albert Hall in London between 28^th April – 2^nd May 1963.  By then I was almost eight months pregnant with our first child and so happy to be a part of that momentous occasion.  The room we had reserved at a guest house we stayed in during the Congress was on the top floor with no lift!  Not the best of circumstances but all we could afford and did the job.  I clearly remember the excitement of seeing so many Bahá’ís from all parts of the world, all gathered in one area of London, everyone greeting each other on buses, in cafes and restaurants etc.  It aroused a great deal of interest from the general public.  There was a special newspaper supplement printed covering the whole event, showing photographs of the Bahá’ís in their national costumes.  It was a very thrilling and life-affirming experience giving us all a glimpse of what world unity could look like. 

Amidst all these activities and nearly one year into married life, our daughter Catherine was born on 2^nd July 1963 and so life as husband and wife now had the extra bounty of bringing up our first child.  A few months later, in October 1963, I declared my faith in Bahá’u’lláh, the best decision I have ever made in my life. 

I’m not really sure what my mum made of my decision to become a Bahá’í but overall she would show polite interest and ask questions and we remained close.  On my frequent visits to mum, I would come downstairs and often find her reading passages from the Bible.  When Catherine was born, she simply commented “So this means you won’t be having a christening.”   However, mum must have been more curious about the Faith than she let on as after she died, Viv found a copy of The Hidden Words which she had given to her and mum had underlined some passages.  It was heartwarming to know that she had been studying the Bahá’í Writings, especially as my brother Arthur later declared in 1979, and so three out of her seven children had embraced the Bahá’í Faith. 

Our life in Iran

As Khosro found difficulty in securing work in York, we moved to Plymouth for a brief period (August to November 1963).  This did not work out satisfactorily so we made the decision to go to Iran and meet the family and also to weigh up work prospects there. I and baby Catherine spent some time with my family before travelling to London to meet up with Khosro.  We had to undergo another marriage ceremony in the Iranian Embassy in London as I needed an Iranian passport for myself and Catherine.  When everything was finally in order, plans were put in motion to make the journey. A whole new adventure beckoned, as well as a process of learning, both personally and culturally. It was a very hard and painful experience for mum (as indeed for the rest of the family) to see her youngest with a five-month-old baby heading out to the Middle East.  She voiced her concerns and doubts about the country itself.  Everyone reassured her that Iran was an up-and-coming modern country and of course at that time it was.  However, I was sure she would worry until I could send news that all was going well, which I soon did. 

We set off for Iran on the 20th November 1963.  The first part of our journey was by land and sea – ferry to the Hook of Holland, then on to Munich where we caught a train to Istanbul, travelling behind the Iron Curtain.  Officials were constantly checking our documents.  We were in Istanbul when news broke of the assassination of President J. F. Kennedy.  The newspapers were full of it and it was so frustrating as we didn’t know the language.  People kept gesturing with their hands, trying to explain what had happened!  From there we travelled over Mount Ararat in a Land Rover with other passengers.  It was pretty scary as there was thick snow and ice but we eventually arrived at the Turkish border – the driver chain-smoked all the way!   

We then travelled by train to Tabriz – travelling at such speed that I honestly thought it was going to go off the rails.  Finally, in Tabriz we had a much-needed break both for body and nerves, and stayed with Bahá’í relatives.  From Tabriz, we flew by airplane to Tehran (as the tickets were relatively cheap) and arrived in grand style at Mehrabad Airport!  Just as well, as we were then greeted by a big group of people who were Khosro’s family and extended relatives.  They were all very welcoming and loving and made a lot of fuss of me and baby Catherine.   Although Khosro’s parents had divorced and Khosro’s father had remarried, both sides of the family kept in touch and so we met his father’s second wife and children too. They were all Muslims on his father’s side and on his mother’s side he was third generation Bahá’í.  His mother, Mehranghiz Ahdieh, was born and brought up as a Bahá’í and it was members of her family that had inspired Khosro to attend many youth events in Tehran and Abadan and then to go travel-teaching to Sicily and the UK.   I’m sure he had never imagined that he would be returning home with an English wife and baby, soon to have another!! 

It was very difficult not knowing the language and the culture. In particular, I remember thinking how much pressure would come from the immediate and extended family for visits to their homes on a fairly regular basis, but I soon got used to it despite my shyness and the language barrier.  In Iran one can experience all four seasons and I really got used to (and enjoyed) the hot summers.  It was so very different from England but of course I was young and soon learned how to adapt to their way of life.  Soon after our arrival in Iran, I realised that incredibly, I was pregnant with our second daughter, Caroline, who was born on the 9^th August 1964 in Farah Hospital, owned by the Iranian Government.  My Farsi was still very limited and I can vividly remember the nurse desperately asking me if it was my first child “batche aval?” (Is this your first baby?) and I couldn’t understand a word she was saying; this all taking place as I was about to give birth!  The conditions were not that easy, especially as Khosro was not allowed to be with me.  I was very glad to get home after a few days and thanked God that all went well. 

Of course, having two children so close in age and early-on in the marriage left little time for reflection and spiritual matters, and being homesick just added to the problem.  However, we were soon on the move again as Khosro obtained work with an American company called Care International, which entailed travelling, so we joined him in Khorramshahr (a city south of Iran, on the border with Iraq) and thankfully his half-sister Shirin later came to live with us.  Shirin spoke to me constantly in Persian (Farsi) and I gradually started to pick up the language.  When Khosro returned from travelling, I would write all the Farsi words in English for him to explain their meaning, and memorise them. 

We then moved to another city, Abadan.  The house we lived in had no running water but it was all we could afford.  An elderly man would come up the concrete stairs having to carry two huge pails of water balanced at each end of a big rod which went across his shoulders. This was our water delivery!  There were a couple of serious incidents with the children both health wise and accident wise.  Fortunately, they recovered but these were situations that I had no idea about and could not have imagined how to cope with.  Somehow and in some way I muddled through.  

Soon after, luckily for us all, Khosro was transferred back to Tehran and we could get out of Abadan which was quickly becoming unbearably hot.  One day there was a desert storm and the whole sky went black in the middle of the day, quite an unnerving experience. 

The only advantage of us moving around so much was that my grasp of Farsi improved and Khosro’s family were pleasantly surprised that I could now talk to them, and of course for me it was invaluable.  It was now time to consider finding work to supplement our income.  Although speaking Farsi would help me in my working life, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was usually someone with whom I could speak English.   

One day Khosro brought home a typewriter with a Pitman’s book on how to teach yourself to type, and so I set to learning in order to be able to get work.  At my interview I remember that I couldn’t even put the carbon paper in straight.   However, after this shaky start I got a job with an agricultural company run by a Dr. Fakhnea and soon my typing speed improved as well as my confidence!  In Tehran, we lived sometimes with, or near, Khosro’s mother and aunty and they helped quite a lot with the children while they were small. 

Back in the UK

However, once again work was not continuous for Khosro and I and the children flew back to England in March 1966 where we stayed with my family in Goole.  Khosro joined us a few months later.  We decided to live in Hull where I took up a nursing post at the Royal Infirmary and then we both started training to become State Registered Mental Nurses at De La Pole Hospital.  Again, trying to study and look after two small children proved too difficult.  In the summer of 1967 we made the decision to return to Iran again after deciding that our life in Iran was better. This time we were delayed in Istanbul because our luggage was lost.  When it was finally retrieved a lot of presents and clothes had been stolen.  From there we travelled by bus this time and although the scenery was spectacular, the hairpin bends high up in the mountains were terrifying!  Thankfully we arrived in Tehran safely and soon secured work – firstly at an International Shipping Company and then at Iran National Manufacturing Company which made Paykan cars. 

We returned to England in 1969 where I obtained a part time nursing post at Hull Royal Infirmary and Khosro worked at Ellerman and Wilson Import and Export Company.   Due to personal reasons Khosro decided to return to Iran and applied for an English teaching post with the Imperial Iranian Air Force.  After sitting an English test, he passed with flying colours.  His command of English was excellent as literature was a passion of his.  He started to train as an English teacher and when we joined him in 1971 (this time travelling by air) I also applied.  The outcome of my test results were marginally less than his!  We worked opposite shifts in order to be there for the children but the salary was very good indeed.  We taught the pilot cadets English and found the work fulfilling.  We rented a very spacious apartment and enjoyed a good standard of living.  We employed a woman helper who did the cleaning and cooked for us.  For the first time in our marriage finances became more secure and we could start saving.  We also met many people from all over the world.  The job was hard at times but we stayed there for four-and-a half years.

In 1973, once we had the security of jobs, we went on holiday to Shiraz and stayed with a Bahá’í family.  The father was custodian of the Báb’s house and he arranged to take us there.  How blessed we were to have this unbelievable privilege!  I’m not sure if I knew how amazing this was at the time but I will never forget that atmosphere of spirituality as we entered the room where the Báb had declared His mission.  We said our prayers with tears streaming down our faces.  It is an experience that has stayed in my mind to this day.  The girls were so happy that day as they ran around the gardens and the rooms.  Not sure how that was allowed but they also remember that day, which is even more astonishing and shows the power of that Holy Spot and the effect it has had on young and old.  How utterly heartbreaking that such a holy and sacred place has since been completely obliterated but how very blessed we were to have been able to visit when we did. 

The other advantage of our work was that it was possible to send the girls to Arkanne School, a private school which was run by an American lady and her Iranian husband.  They were taught lessons in Farsi in the mornings and English in the afternoons.  They both loved that school and were well liked.  They helped out with supervising and helping younger children at summer camps that took place.  As they got older it became necessary to change schools.  We also had to move house as the landlord wanted to move his family into our apartment.  The girls had to go to an all-Iranian school.  They survived the move, but it was not the same for them.  For their English to keep on improving, I bought textbooks in English and read a lot with them.  We made friends with another mixed family, wife American and husband Iranian and so the girls spoke English with their daughters and shared a wealth of books that were shipped from America. 

While working at the Air Force in 1976 I received belatedly the sad news of my father’s passing from a heart attack.  It was very upsetting to be so far away but I couldn’t go over at that time and the funeral had already taken place.  I did manage a visit to the UK a year later. 

Whilst at the Air Force, we also saved up to buy our own home but the house prices in Tehran were too high and so another change occurred.  After visiting the North of Iran for holidays, we realised that we could be much better off if we lived there and bought a house.  In the end we found a plot of land in a village called “Kardgar Mah’halleh” (the place of workers!) about 16km from the bigger town of Shahsavar.  We built our home but, having given up our jobs, we had to move in before it was completely ready. Once again we had to suffer no water supply!! 

We regularly had to go over the dirt road to the neighbours’ well and get our water or else do the dishes there.  The village had never had visitors from abroad and so I and the girls really stood out!  It was another big change and we gradually learned to cope.  We built a well in order to have our own water supply directly from the main pump. Unfortunately, it kept breaking down which was very frustrating. The supply became erratic at times and our tanks of water upstairs would overflow and cause problems.  It wasn’t long before the Authorities brought electricity to the area so that was a double bonus!  The village people were sure we had brought them good luck.  Once we had moved, I managed to get work as an Executive Secretary with Hyatt Regency Caspian Hotel in Chalus, between July 1976 and December 1978.  Khosro also worked at the Hyatt and then at Ramsar Hotel doing accounting and arranging exports and imports. 

We ambled along with this life until about October 1978 when rumblings of disquiet and demonstrations were being broadcast.  On one occasion when driving from work through a village, there had earlier been demonstrations against the Shah and angry people were banging on the car with sticks.  However, I and my Iranian passengers were allowed to drive through.  On another occasion I had stopped off in Shahsavar only to find the place like a ghost town and people peering from behind doors.  There had been a demonstration and a lot of shooting.  I had previously felt entirely comfortable living there but, to my surprise when I was out in public, I was all of a sudden looked at with suspicion.   It was the beginning of feelings of alienation with effects of propaganda regarding the influence of the West.   

More and more demonstrations occurred up and down the country and soon the hotel was shut and all the foreign staff felt it was safer if they made arrangements to go back to their home countries.  Next, all the schools and universities were shut until further notice.  Suddenly from all-systems-go, we all found ourselves at home with the television only showing minimal programmes and mostly news of riots and propaganda against the Shah and his secret agency the Savak.  We were facing a very uncertain future and this propelled us into another change. 

The enforced break from work meant I had a lot of time on my hands and the girls spent most days reading and writing, and of course we were all worried.  Letters were not getting through and my poor mother was distraught during this period.  She eventually received my letter of reassurance which had taken two months to reach her. Something that I cannot fully recall or explain compelled me to reach out and start reading The Dawn Breakers and then Thief in the Night and then the compilation of the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from cover to cover. I slowly began to feel a deeper conviction, a realisation of true faith.  It could only be, looking back, the power of the Holy Words and the power of the company of martyrs that I was reading about that gave me both vision and fortitude to see that my life needed a drastic change and somehow there was no time to vacillate.   

Furthermore, my daughters wrote me a long and earnest letter setting out their wish to leave Iran, that they felt that it was better to be in England and that life in the village was tedious and boring as well as scary and they felt that a decision needed to be made.  It was like they also had received a message and had been asked to express their feelings in writing.  It was a truly moving letter, Caroline especially having a way with words. 

I could see I was being given the vision that for us it would be impossible to continue to live in Iran as Bahá’ís.  Strangely enough though, in Iran the official version there was that the Bahá’ís were under the protection of Ayatollah Khomeini!!  I’m so glad that I did not believe it and furthermore knew that we were being guided back to the UK.  I felt very clearly that this revolution was not going to end well and that we all needed to leave quickly. I was determined to get back to England and serve the Cause.  It was time to make up for all the lost time and to really focus on my Bahá’í life.  For Khosro the move was not so easy but he gradually came around to the idea so we started to make the necessary arrangements.   The girls told their close friends and Caroline said that they all wished that we could take them too.  She found it heartbreaking to leave them, and even though they were not Bahá’ís we knew that they faced an unsettled future. 

We travelled to Tehran to stay with Khosro’s mother and sort out our passports and eventually we left for England on 30^th April 1979, initially staying with mum and brother Colin in Goole, and then to Huddersfield to live with my sister Viv and husband Jack Crook, nephew Jon and niece Anna.  It was not an easy transition and for the girls a culture shock.  As the situation in Iran was all over the news, they were at a loss as to whether to mention to friends they made that they had come from Iran or not.  They spoke American English and this attracted a lot of attention at the school and Caroline mentioned that she was not believed when she said that she was from Iran and they all insisted that she came from the USA!  Later on, Cathy attended Greenhead College which, thankfully, she did like. 

The English weather got us down and we missed the warm sunny summer days of Tehran.  By July I managed to obtain a nursing post at a nearby geriatric hospital. I had attended interviews for office work but of course had no formal qualifications so this was frowned upon.  The girls and I moved into a council house, which was in walking distance of the hospital.  I had walked past that house regularly on my way to work and prayed I could move in there.  When I told my colleagues that there was a workman in the house the Sister said, “They’re getting it ready for you!”  I prayed about it and explained to the lady at the Council housing office that my husband was going to join us and that there was no room at Viv and Jack’s home.  One day a card dropped through the letter box and against all odds, I was offered the very house I had longingly looked at!  The power of prayer!  By the time we moved in, Khosro had miraculously got out of Iran on his passport which had been withheld, and joined us just before Christmas of that same year.  There was some complication the day before his departure and he really thought that they would not let him leave Iran.  He had managed to sell the house despite the unsettled situation but the money could not all be transferred.  We eventually received some of it in dribs and drabs.  In the end, we started our lives in the UK with enough to get by.  I was relieved when I began working.   Such were the times in 1979 and many Iranians had similar experiences. There was much turmoil for all.  My beloved mother was in poor health when we returned to England and she passed away in August 1981.  I was so thankful that we came back when we did and that I was able to spend time with her during her final days. 

We were welcomed into the little Bahá’í community in Huddersfield and soon settled in.  The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kirklees was formed at Ridván 1980.  Apart from myself and Khosro, members consisted of David and Lois Lambert, Patsy and Graham Jenkins, Brian and Sue Parsons and my sister Viv.  This was my first time as a member of an Assembly and I was elected as secretary as well!  Little did I imagine that I would still be a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Kirklees thirty-eight years later. I saw many of the friends growing and developing together, which for me was an enriching experience, bringing about much joy and stability to my life.  We all have our different personalities and ways of doing and saying things, but we strived to mature together and build a stable foundation through action and solidarity.  Similarly, with Khosro, our understanding of the Faith and how to put it into action grew and developed in our marriage over time. As our Assembly grew in maturity, members felt able to bring their personal problems to the group which suggested that their trust and confidence in the divine Institutions was also growing.  Once again, in 2008, I had the honour of being elected secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kirklees for seven years until in 2013 Mrs. Janet Fozzard Tabarandak was elected Secretary.  I also held this position during other years and have served on our local Martha Root Teaching Project committee. These experiences helped me to grow spiritually, ensuring that records of community events were recorded. This led to an archive of newspaper clippings illustrating events held over 20 years chronologically put together. It has served as a complete profile of all activities undertaken by the Bahá’ís, their friends and acquaintances.

Financially, we were getting on our feet again and in 1990 we obtained a mortgage to purchase the property when the Right to Buy scheme was set up by Mrs. Thatcher’s government.  This was made possible because Khosro obtained an accountancy post with Courtaulds Manufacturing Company (near Halifax) but was made redundant after just two years as the factory closed down. When Khosro was studying for his ICMA accountancy qualification at Derby University, we tried to exchange our council house for one in Derby.  However, this did not materialise.  When we subsequently bought the property, we put it up for sale as we were planning to move elsewhere.  However, that was not to be either so I strongly feel it was meant to be that we remained in Kirklees. 

My sister and husband moved from Huddersfield to the Bahá’í Centre in London, where they served as caretakers. Afterwards they pioneered to Hong Kong, eventually settling in Portugal.  After Jack died in 1991, Viv stayed in Portugal (where she held a teaching post) for four years and then moved to Cambridge. We used to spend hours chatting on the phone and felt it made sense for us to live nearer each other.  I was delighted when Viv moved back to Huddersfield with her daughter Anna in November 2003.  Her son Jon had previously returned there where he had purchased a house in 1998.  Viv and I have continued to work together as a team, attending and supporting events and getting ourselves known over the past 14 years. 

After nursing for seven and a half years I felt very strongly that I needed a change of direction.  Something was pulling at me to make another change in my life.  I left nursing in 1987 and for six months had no idea what I wanted to do.  My sister reminded me of my love of music (singing and piano) and suggested a Music Therapy course.  This meant I needed a degree so I enrolled to do ‘GCSE’ and ‘A’ level music full time as a mature student at Huddersfield Technical College, and then in 1990 went on to study for a BA Honours degree in music at Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge (now known as Anglia Ruskin University).  I obtained my degree in 1993.  However, my chosen studies took me down another path of service to the Cause.  More of that later.  It was a wonderful experience taking voice and piano lessons as well as studying a range of other subjects. We formed a Bahá’í Society with Ladan (née Vazirzadeh) and Parvaneh (née Farid).  Derek Cockshut came on one occasion to give a talk.  On a few occasions my university non-Bahá’í friends came to holy day events.  My friend accompanied me on the piano at a Naw-Rúz celebration held at the Friends Meeting House and also at an Intercalary Day event. 

Pilgrimage

We have been on one three-day pilgrimage (with Mrs. Jaleh Alaee, wife of Mr. Hassan Alaee, previous long-serving custodians of the Guardian’s Resting Place) and two nine-day pilgrimages. I think if there was one thing I had to choose that stood out for me, it would be the sheer height and grandeur of Mount Carmel, coupled with the breathtaking view from the top of the terraces leading to the Avenue of the Kings. I find it particularly stunning at night-time. We had a very inspiring talk by Counsellor Grossman from the International Teaching Committee on what it means to be a pilgrim, and how significant it is, and the fact that we are chosen to be Bahá’ís. He talked about his family and how they were not Bahá’ís, but they were very good people; he did not consider himself to be any better than they were, but he was chosen, and this really made a deep impression on me. He stressed the responsibility that being chosen represents, and what we should do when we return home. He also emphasised the special significance of pioneering.  I was surprised at first about Bahá’ís returning to Haifa again and again on pilgrimage, as I thought that, having once been, one would be full up. Now that I have had this precious bounty I understand why!  There is so much to take in and I too felt a strong pull to repeat the experience, which of course happened. 

I have met Hand of the Cause Mr. Furútan and listened to talks by (among others) Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum and John Huddleston.  This further enhanced my understanding of the unity of the Universal House of Justice and ways in which to fulfil my duty as a Bahá’í.  

Khosro and I were privileged to attend a weekend deepening in Bournemouth with Mr. Adib Taherzadeh in 1981.  Adib was always so interesting and inspiring.  He would often say we are “full of shortcomings” but would emphasise that we are still loved and capable of developing our spiritual side.  

Service in Kirklees

I have endeavoured to play an active part in the Plans laid down by the Universal of Justice and have been involved with many teaching projects in the Huddersfield community. These include public talks, concerts, participation in One World Week, exhibitions, firesides, performances at InterFaith events etc.  In 2000 the Assembly wrote to Kirklees SACRE ‘Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education’ in schools to ask if we could represent the Bahá’í Faith on the Council.  They accepted for me to be present as an observer as the meetings are open to the general public. After attending regularly for seven years, a lovely representative from the Church of England proposed that I should be co-opted as a member.  This was agreed.  At last!  In 2009 I was invited to give a talk on the Bahá’í Faith at one of their meetings and was also able to distribute copies of “The Bahá’ís” magazine at that meeting and a previous one.  A real victory!! 

There were many beautiful gatherings which occurred in Kirklees and the two events which really stand out for me were held in the 1980s.  One was during the Six Year Plan when my daughter Caroline and I held a series of nine firesides on consecutive nights at our home, with a different speaker/topic each night.  It was the first example of intensity that I had experienced and as a result, Janet Fozzard not long afterwards declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh.  It was a very exciting nine days and very affirming that continuous effort will yield fruit.  Janet has since been a long-term devoted and active member of our Bahá’í community. 

The other was an InterFaith event for One World Week at the Town Hall in Huddersfield, when I sang and read from the Writings to an audience of over 200 people. My brother Arthur accompanied me on the piano.  I have also sung at Interfaith events in London but most memorably on two occasions at Acton Town Hall in London as part of the programme where the Persian singer Agahi was performing before a very large audience.  I cannot begin to explain why it is that I experience extreme terror before performing on stage and know that it is only my love for Bahá’u’lláh that gives me the courage to do so.  On some occasions it is worse than others and many times I feel I want to shrink into the background and sometimes wish I didn’t have this ability to sing.  However, as soon as the words of the prayers flow out, I can feel the spirit coming through and hope that this translates to my listeners too.  Music moves hearts and it is always my fervent wish that I can reach out to listeners and attract them to the Bahá’í teachings. 

Due to my involvement with Huddersfield Interfaith Council, I have been asked as the Bahá’í representative, to contribute at many events.  In 2013 I took part, along with other ladies of different faiths, in the Hindu Festival of Divali at Huddersfield Town Hall where, along with the other ladies, performed a traditional Hindu dance.  At this same event I was approached by a gentleman, Dr. Vijay Nadella, who asked me to sing at their all-day event for Prayers for Peace at the Hidawi Centre and dedicated to the Glory of God.  I chose a song from the backing track “Enlightened Heart” about the principles and some prayers on unity.  This took place on 10^th November 2013 and I had lovely feedback afterwards.   

I also repeated the same programme at the Hindu Mandur in Leeds on November 9^th 2014.  Everyone was very welcoming and friendly.  They arranged transport for myself and Viv and presented me with a bouquet of flowers.  We were taken home by a lovely young Hindu couple who asked many questions about the Bahá’í Faith. 

The love of Bahá’u’lláh certainly increases one’s faith and confidence, which would not normally be forthcoming!  The Walk of Friendship is one event in mind as well as Women’s International Day where I either gave a talk or said Bahá’í prayers.  When we were asked by the National Spiritual Assembly to hold prayer meetings for the friends in Iran, the Reverend Alan Boyd arranged a meeting at the Methodist Mission.  Several people of all faiths attended and heard the Holy Writings spoken and sung.  This is very significant as a few years back, although we could have Bahá’í events at the Methodist Mission, we were not allowed to teach.  A few years ago I wanted to arrange a Bahá’í meeting there but was refused on the grounds that “it is not Christian-based!”  Alan felt quite apologetic about it but he did invite faith representatives to speak on a particular theme at the Golcar Methodist Church.  Members from different faiths were all given different themes to choose from and I was invited to give a talk on the Bahá’í Faith.  Viv accompanied me and we felt it went well and was a very exciting occasion.  Although I was very nervous, the prayers we said beforehand certainly helped me and the presentation went well.  We were fortunate that through our association with North Kirklees Inter Faith Council we held a Bahá’í exhibition at Dewbury Town Hall.  A booklet entitled Faith in Action was produced with contributions from the major faiths.  A very comprehensive account of the Bahá’í Faith was presented along with a photograph of Ethel Jenner Rosenberg, the first native believer in the United Kingdom, when she became a Bahá’í in 1899.  A larger booklet was produced by Kirklees Faiths Forum and four of the friends were interviewed and photographed, which was featured along with information about the Bahá’í Faith. This also included contributions from the major faiths.

We have also met up with the MP Mr. Barry Sheerman on several occasions concerning the plight of the Bahá’ís in Iran.  This was reported in the Daily Examiner.  A lot of the Bahá’í events over the years have received very good press coverage. One particularly notable report was when the South African artist James Webb was invited by the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival to create a multi-channel sound installation to fill the Art Gallery with the sound of prayer from all the major faiths.  Viv and I met up with him and I sang a Bahá’í prayer (Blessed is the Spot) which was recorded in the presence of Val Javin, the Daily Examiner reporter.  The result was a very favourable write-up in the newspaper complete with the photograph of the three of us.  Val said she “felt honoured to be present.”  What better illustration of the power of the Sacred Text! 

My sister and I became the Bahá’í representatives on the Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary which supports asylum seekers and helps newcomers to settle into their new surroundings.  The Quaker friends hold several events at their Meeting House and extend an open invitation to all once a month.   This gives people a chance to meet each other in a friendly environment and not feel so isolated.   

Since acquiring my degree, I have devoted a lot of time and thought as to how I can best serve the Faith through the Arts.  In 1993 my husband set up the George Townshend Travelling Bahá’í Teacher-Training and Teaching Project.  This was an individual teaching initiative approved and commended by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the UK and the Universal House of Justice. David Ridehough and myself travelled with Khosro to different communities up and down the country. The course was consequently filmed at the home of Richard and Parisa Hagan resulting in the production of videotapes and later DVD’s. I was responsible for the morning and afternoon devotionals which consisted of Prayers, Readings, Singing/Chanting and playing recorded music.  Confirmations came through meeting with so many different communities singing/chanting on a regular basis and receiving positive feedback from the friends.   I also assisted with the selling of books and training materials.  We made regular trips to London where Khosro held the course at Mr. and Mrs Alaee’s home.  On those occasions we would stay with Khosro’s brother Fariborz in Edmonton.   

We also held the Course at Sidcot Summer School and HM Prison Stocken in Leicestershire in 1998.  This was kindly arranged by Shahram and Karin Firoozmand who lived in Peterborough. They also arranged a public meeting at the local library where Khosro gave a talk. 

On our many travels up and down the country, visiting about 18 communities, I was privileged to meet Suzanne and Kingsley Swan (wonderful musicians) and asked them if we could make a CD together. Having had first-hand experience of how hearts can be moved through the medium of music, I set some of the Bahá’í Prayers/Writings to music and compiled a programme of music (Prayers and Songs) which can be performed for Bahá’ís and close contacts and, as has happened, an even wider audience. My main difficulty had been finding someone to accompany me.  My brother Arthur played the piano for me on many occasions but due to living so far apart it didn’t happen too regularly.  The aim has always been to rejoice and uplift and attract the hearts of Bahá’ís and seekers alike to the Bahá’í Writings and I knew that Kingsley and Suzanne would be the right people to help me. 

Kingsley had met a couple, Paul Ogden and Yoanna Browning, at one of their concerts, who had a recording studio at their home in Oxford.  We arranged with them to record the songs there and after several months and a lot of travelling backwards and forwards (often in the early hours from Fariborz’s London flat) the CD “Enlightened Heart” was born in the summer of 1999.  The publication of the CDs was kindly sponsored by Richard and Parisa Hagan to whom we are greatly indebted.  I will always be grateful to Kingsley for the wonderful musical arrangements and backing tracks which he worked so hard on.  Some of the compositions were my own, and others were contributions by friends of the Swans as well as from Kingsley himself.  Suzanne also provided the backing tracks.  I was very sad to learn of his passing in 2005 and always think of him when singing. The backing tracks have proved invaluable whenever I give performances. Even after 17 years I still receive heartwarming confirmations regarding the CD I recorded.  Some time ago I received a lovely email from a Bahá’í lady, Margaret Love, whose husband Don was at that time in a nursing home after suffering an accident many years ago.  He regularly listened to the songs and prayers on the CD especially when the carers were putting him to bed.  They’ve all learned the words!  At a Christmas event which relatives and friends attended, Don sang along with one of the Hidden Words and Margaret said there was hardly a dry eye in the house.

After studying up to Book 7 of the Ruhi Institute course in 2012, I had the privilege of tutoring Book 1 with two young Chinese students from Huddersfield University.  David and Louise South also attended and my sister Vivien assisted.  David learned of the Bahá’í Faith through Louise, a Dutch Bahá’í. They had a Bahá’í wedding in Huddersfield and I was asked to give a short talk about the Bahá’í Faith after the ceremony.  David said afterwards that it had been well received.  

Viv and I completed studying Ruhi Book 8, part 3 on 18^th August 2016 with Auxiliary Board member Dr. Steven Cleasby as tutor.  His wife Ramona and mother Marion Pollitt were also in the group and we all enjoyed it very much.  It was lovely to be together on a regular basis to study the Faith and something we always looked forward to.  We are very fortunate to have Steven in our neighbouring community (Calderdale) who devoted his time in a very busy life to tutoring us. I went to see my daughter Caroline and family in Australia for three months from 25^th October 2016 to 25th January 2017 and when I returned, we started studying Book 9.  I very much hope to complete the course before making more changes to my life! 

Footnote:

Since writing this Bahá’í History my beloved husband Khosro ascended to the Abha Kingdom in the early hours of July 9^th 2015.  He fell ill at Christmas 2014 but had been in poor health for a few years.  My daughter Catherine and grandson Kamal (James) came back from a visit to my family in Australia in January 2015 and have stayed with me since then.  I was very glad of their love and support during a very difficult and stressful time.  Khosro’s final days were spent in hospital as he was too poorly to return home.  He talked about the Abha Kingdom on so many occasions and my heart is comforted in knowing that his soul is progressing in all the worlds of God. Thankfully our daughter Caroline was able to travel from the Gold Coast in Australia to the UK to see him one last time and subsequently put on a beautiful memorial programme held at the Gold Coast Bahá’í Centre after his passing.  Her husband Kamran Aazami and sons Idin and Samir were in attendance along with 70 of the Bahá’ís of the community.  Here in Huddersfield we also had a beautiful ceremony arranged with Cathy.  Caroline put together the order of service and emailed all the contents to be presented in a service booklet.  Janet conducted the funeral service so wonderfully with many Bahá’í friends attending from nearby communities as well. Khosro’s brother flew over from France for the funeral and dear David Lambert came from his pioneer post in Macedonia.  The funeral prayer for the dead was read at the graveside where Khosro is buried at New Hey Lane overlooked by Castle Hill amidst beautiful scenery.  This is the first Bahá’í burial in Huddersfield.

A year later on the anniversary of Khosro’s passing, Richard and Parisa Hagan invited the friends to a memorial service at their home.  It was a wonderful celebration of his life and so lovely to have nineteen friends in attendance.  Since completing this history our dear Bahá’í friend Mr. Albert Smith died on August 18^th 2016 and is also buried in the same cemetery. 

_________________ 

Christine Deihim 

Queensland, Australia 

May 2017 

Footnote:

Since finishing my Baha’i History in 2017 I sold my house and went to live with my daughter Caroline and family in Australia from 2017-2019 (they emigrated in 2005.) I had the honour of singing with the Baha’i choir at the Choral Baha’i Festival at the Baha’i Temple in Sydney in 2018 and at MAAG (Multifaith Advisory and Action Group) meetings as well as devotional meetings held at the Baha’i Centre in Gold Coast.   

On my return to the UK in July 2019 I went to stay with my sister Viv and again joined the Kirklees Baha’i community in Huddersfield and took part in the celebration of the 200th centenary of the Birth of the Báb held in October at the home of Nick and Ruby Morris (nee Dr. Ruby Lagnado).  The event included a devotional, introduction to the event, singing and shadow theatre (illustrating Bahá’í historical events.) This was attended by a large number of friends of the Faith as well as Bahá’ís from neighbouring communities.   In January 2020 I pioneered to Jersey for seven months and stayed with fellow Baha’i Eleanor Mazidian to help with teaching activities.  We set up our devotional meetings (the invitations in shop windows attracted our first enquirer) when the pandemic hit and somewhat curtailed our activities. Fortunately, we were able to meet up with the dear Bahá’ís in Jersey and Guernsey for 19 Day Feasts via video link.  Eleanor took part in an interview on the local radio (Radio Jersey) on the occasion of the centenary of Abdu’l-Bahá’s knighthood (27th April 1920) conferred upon Him by the British Empire for “services rendered unto the British government.”  At some later stage we contacted the local newspaper which resulted in a large photograph of the Shrine of the Báb with details of contacts being published in the Jersey Evening Post. 

I returned to Huddersfield in September 2020, after which time the UK went through two more lockdowns due to the pandemic.  We were fortunate in being able to hold meetings via zoom.  Viv and I were delighted to be able to complete Book 9 Unit 2 with Dr. Steven Cleasby as our tutor.  

I was privileged to be asked to give a presentation on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the 28th November 2021 to mark the 100th anniversary of His Ascension. My sister Viv and I decided to set up some prepared questions and answers.  It was a lovely gathering at Nick and Ruby’s home which included five friends of the Faith. The devotional and talk were filmed by my nephew Jon (Viv’s son). 

I returned to Australia on November 30th 2023 (my 5th visit) and so I have come to a new chapter in my life deciding on plans and hoping to travel between the UK and Australia supporting both my daughters and contributing to the Baha’i community in both countries. 

For now, I am grateful for all the lessons I have learned in life so far and the many more yet to come. 

 __________________________________ 

Christine Deihim 

Australia 

(updated March 2024) 

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