John Yeowell“Stubba”

ᛉ April 10, 1918 - September 25, 2010 ᛦ

John Leslie William Yeowell, better known as Stubba, was born in England on April 10th of 1918. We know precious little about his family or early life.  

Most of our knowledge of him comes from his military service and role in the Royal Stuart Society. In the military, he served in the Spanish Civil War, the Indo-China War, and in Burma in the 40s and early 50s. He retired from military service in 1954.  

As far as his role in the Royal Stuart Society, he was elevated to the position of Vice President and was said to be seventh in line for the throne of Great Britain if the Stuart line were ever restored to power. He was so treasured by this society that, upon his death, they performed his funeral service. 

After his time in the military, he discovered Ásatrú and met John Gibbs-Bailey, also known as Hoskuld. Hoskuld had experience with various early Ásatrú groups over the previous 30 years, and introduced Yeowell to the religious teachings of that time. Throughout the 1960s, the two men stayed in consistent contact and cultivated knowledge on the faith of their ancestors. In 1973, they formed the Committee for the Restoration of the Odinic Rite, the predecessor to the modern Odinic Rite.  

During these early years with the Committee, John Yeowell adopted the name Stubba, which he took from a Saxon chieftain who had ruled in the area now known as Whitechapel.  

As the Committee of the Odinic Rite started to find its footing, Stubba played an integral role in creating Ásatrú doctrine with what little knowledge they had at that time. This included helping Hoskuld create the Nine Noble Virtues; Hoskuld had come up with a list of eight, and Stubba added a ninth one. These virtues, along with Allsherjargoði Flavel’s addition of Victory, are still used by the Asatru Folk Assembly to this day! Many of our Folk, AFA or not, strive to live their lives by these virtues.  

As Hoskuld’s time in Miðgarðr began to come to a close in the 1970s, Stubba became much of the face of the Odinic Rite. He became the first Director of their Court of Goðar, leading important efforts in bringing his Folk back to their troth with the Æsir. He assisted in the publishing of the Raven Banner, the first Ásatrú publication in the United Kingdom.  

Stubba led the Court of Goðar until 1989, when he retired from leadership to focus on writings, recording of Ásatrú music, and research. He wrote and published several books in his lifetime, but perhaps more notably, he wrote a letter to the Australian government requesting information and photographs of Heilagmaðr Alexander Rud Mills. He had nearly completed a manuscript regarding this, but there is no known copy in existence.  

Stubba passed from Midgarðr and joined his ancestors on September 25th, 2010. He was given a funeral by the Royal Stuart Society, followed by an Ásatrú ceremony where he was honored at the famous White Horse Stone — resting place of Horsa, one of the first Saxon chieftains to set foot in Britannia.  

Stubba was a warrior, a student of our Folk’s history, an author, and a pioneer of our ancestral faith. He was part of the tip of the spear in leading the British Folk in reforging their loyalty to the Æsir, and the Asatru Folk Assembly will honor him forever! 

Hail Stubba!

Hail the Æsir! 

Hail the Asatru Folk Assembly!