Estelle Roberts – The Remarkable Medium Who Helped Bring Spiritualism to the Public
When we look back at the history of British Spiritualism, there are certain names that deserve to be remembered for the contribution they made to the movement. One of those names is Estelle Roberts, a medium whose life, dedication and many mediumistic abilities made her one of the best-known Spiritualists of her generation.
Born May Estelle Wills on 10 May 1889 in Kensington, London, Estelle became widely recognised for her clairvoyance, clairaudience, healing work, trance mediumship and direct voice séances. She was also known for her association with her spirit guide, Red Cloud, whose teachings she shared with audiences through her trance work.
Her story is one of perseverance, commitment and a lifelong connection with what she believed to be the Spirit World.
A Childhood of Unusual Experiences
Estelle was one of eight children and, from a young age, spoke of hearing voices and seeing people whom others could not see. She described these experiences as encounters with spirit people, although her family did not understand what was happening.
Among the visitors she remembered was a brother who had passed before she was born. She also spoke of seeing other spirit children and having conversations with them.
At that time, Estelle had no real understanding of Spiritualism or what her experiences might mean. They were simply part of her everyday life.
She left school and began working as a nursemaid at the age of fifteen. Her early life was not without hardship, and she experienced considerable responsibility from a young age.
Personal Loss and the Beginning of Her Spiritualist Journey
Estelle married Hugh, and together they had three children. When Hugh became seriously ill, the family struggled financially. Estelle worked hard to support them, making sacrifices to ensure her children were cared for.
Hugh passed away in May 1919. Estelle later described this period as a deeply difficult time in her life.
Following his passing, she moved with her children and continued working to provide for them. She eventually met and married Arthur Roberts, and it was during this chapter of her life that her involvement with Spiritualism began to develop.
A neighbour invited her to attend Hampton Spiritualist Church. At one of the meetings, a demonstrating medium recognised something in Estelle and told her that she was a medium with important work to do.
For Estelle, this was a turning point. Experiences that had followed her since childhood began to make more sense within the teachings of Spiritualism.
The Arrival of Red Cloud
One of the most significant parts of Estelle's mediumship was her relationship with her guide, Red Cloud.
She began to become aware of him more clearly as she developed her mediumship, and he became closely associated with her trance work.
Through Estelle, Red Cloud gave addresses and teachings to audiences, sharing ideas about spiritual understanding, life after death and the responsibilities of living a spiritual life.
Red Cloud was an important part of Estelle's public work, and many people came to hear the teachings delivered through her trance mediumship.
Her book Red Cloud Speaks later brought some of these teachings to readers.
A Medium with Many Gifts
Estelle Roberts was recognised for demonstrating a wide range of mediumistic abilities.
Her work included:
Clairvoyance: describing spirit people and giving messages to those attending her demonstrations.
Clairaudience: reporting that she could hear spirit voices.
Healing: offering spiritual healing to those who came to her.
Trance mediumship: allowing Red Cloud to speak and deliver inspirational addresses through her.
Direct voice mediumship: holding séances in which voices were reported to be heard independently of her normal speaking voice.
Her direct voice séances were particularly remembered by those who attended them. They were held in darkness, with Red Cloud understood by Spiritualists to be communicating through the phenomena.
These demonstrations became part of her reputation as a versatile and experienced medium.
The Royal Albert Hall and Her Public Demonstrations
As Estelle's reputation grew, so did the audiences who wanted to see her work.
She demonstrated mediumship at major venues, including the Royal Albert Hall in London. Her public appearances attracted considerable interest, and historical accounts describe audiences numbering many thousands.
At a time when Spiritualism was still misunderstood and sometimes treated with suspicion, Estelle's public demonstrations brought the subject before people from many different backgrounds.
She was not simply known within small Spiritualist circles. Her work attracted public attention and was discussed by journalists and other prominent figures.
One of those journalists was Hannen Swaffer, a well-known supporter of Spiritualism. He famously described Estelle as:
“The medium who made Spiritualism respectable.”
It is a memorable tribute and gives an indication of the influence she had on the public image of the movement.
Her Connection with the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain
Estelle was associated with the Marylebone Spiritualist Association, which became the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain (SAGB).
She demonstrated her mediumship in its services and was part of the wider Spiritualist community that helped bring mediumship and its teachings to a larger audience.
Her work was also influential to other mediums. Her demonstrations of evidential clairvoyance inspired people who went on to develop their own mediumship.
Estelle's story is therefore not only about her own abilities, but also about the encouragement and inspiration she gave to others.
Her Books and Lasting Teachings
Estelle shared her experiences and understanding through her writing. Among her best-known books are:
Red Cloud Speaks (1938)
Forty Years a Medium (1959)
Fifty Years a Medium (published in 1969)
These books provide a valuable insight into her life, her development and the way she understood her work with Spirit.
They also help preserve an important part of Spiritualist history for those who wish to learn more about the mediums who helped shape the movement.
Remembering Estelle Roberts
Estelle Roberts passed to Spirit on 30 May 1970, aged 81.
Her life spanned a period of considerable change, and during those years she became one of Britain's most widely recognised Spiritualist mediums.
Whether remembered for her clairvoyance, her trance work with Red Cloud, her direct voice séances or her public demonstrations, Estelle left a distinctive mark on the history of British Spiritualism.
For those of us who continue to work within mediumship today, looking back at the lives of those who came before us can be both fascinating and inspiring.
Their experiences remind us of the dedication, patience and commitment involved in developing mediumship, and of the importance of sharing our work with care and responsibility.
Estelle Roberts remains an important figure in that history. Her story deserves to be remembered, not only for the medium she became, but for the life she lived and the contribution she made to Spiritualism.
Her legacy continues through the books, historical accounts and memories of those who followed her work.
Books by Estelle Roberts – Her Written Legacy
Estelle Roberts left behind a fascinating written record of her life, experiences and work as a medium. Her books offer readers an opportunity to explore her mediumship in her own words, including her experiences with her spirit guide, Red Cloud.
Some of her best-known publications include:
1. Red Cloud Speaks (1938)
This book shares teachings attributed to Estelle's spirit guide, Red Cloud, offering readers an insight into the spiritual philosophy and messages delivered through her trance mediumship.
2. Forty Years a Medium (1959)
Estelle's earlier autobiography, in which she recounts her life, the development of her mediumship and many of her experiences working with Spirit.
3. Fifty Years a Medium (1969)
An updated version of her autobiography, originally published as Forty Years a Medium. This edition included an additional chapter covering the following ten years of her life and work. It contains personal accounts of her clairvoyance, healing, psychometry, public demonstrations and direct voice séances.
For anyone interested in the history of British Spiritualism, these books offer a valuable opportunity to learn about one of the movement's best-known mediums through her own recollections.
They also help preserve her story for future generations who wish to understand the history and development of mediumship.
