Local Bahá’í history

Visits to Bournemouth from Shoghi Effendi, the grandson of `Abdu'l-Baha and the centre of the Faith from 1921 to 1957 In 1920 Shoghi Effendi arrived in England to study at Oxford University with the purpose of improving his English to better translate the revealed writings of Bahá'u'lláh, Bab from their original Arabic or Farsi. He visited Bournemouth on several occasions staying with Dr John Esslemont at the sanatorium in Southbourne where he practised. There was already a small Bahai community in Bournemouth centred around Dr Esslemont, and in 1920 from 10-15 September Shoghi Effendi visited Dr Esslemont at the sanatorium where they were joined by Shoghi Effendi's sister Rúhangíz and by a Persian believer Aflátún. During the long summer holiday in 1921 Shoghi Effendi visited Dr. Esslemont again in Bournemouth probably around the 20th of July for two weeks. But it was to be in December of that year that Shoghi Effendi once more visited his friend Dr Esslemont and this time in very different circumstances. News of the passing of his grandfather 'Abdu'l-Baha had come on Nov 29 th by cable from Haifa in Palestine. The unexpected news hit him hard and as well as grieving the loss of his beloved grandfather Shoghi had also discovered that he had been appointed as Head of The Faith, or The Guardian as he was to become known. Whilst preparations were being made to return back to Haifa Dr Esslemont went to London. In his diary letter to Lutfu'llah Hakim of 8 December he recalls visiting Shoghi Effendi after the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha: “I found poor Shoghi in bed, absolutely prostrate with grief. At first he seemed absolutely overwhelmed by the loss, unable to eat, to sleep, to think. During the day, however, he recovered, and after tea he got up and came through to the drawing room, where we had a little meeting. Shoghi came to Bournemouth with me, as we thought the rest and change at Bournemouth while the necessary preparations were being made for the journey, would be best for him.” According to Dr Esslemont, Shoghi Effendi spent the evening of 2 December through to the morning of 7 December in Bournemouth. He then returned to London pending his return to Haifa. Information source: Bahai Library Online and Prelude To The Guardianship. Riaz Khadem