All of Meher Baba’s early Western followers were independent souls, but Enid Corfe was without a doubt one of the most individual and independent of the lot.

Of English birth, she met Meher Baba early on, in the 1930s. She was at Nasik in 1937, she met him at Portofino and various other rendezvous. But the independence sometimes shocked her fellow Baba-followers. Once when Baba sent word for her to come to him in France, she sent back word tha she couldn’t come because she had a date. It of course shocked her peers but I have no idea what Baba thought of it.

But she told me another story which has stuck with me and which I have found deeply moving. Enid was incarcerated in an Italian concentration camp for several years during World War II. Young and beautiful she drew the unwanted attentions of the camp commandant. One night he came to her room and demanded that she say “I love you.” Enid turned to look at a picture of Meher Baba on a beside table and said, “I love you.” Frustrated by her quick and clever response, the commandant gave up his pursuit and left her alone.

Enid lived for many years in the USA, in New Jersey, so I saw her on occasion, many times at the home of Fred and Ella Winterfeldt. We got to know each other a bit and when she retired and started traveling around the county in an RV, a friend and I who owned wooded property in the Berkshires of Massachusetts invited her to use the property anytime she liked and gave her a key to the gate. She did use it and once turned up when we were their for a weekend. I always enjoyed Enid’s company.

Eventually, Enid moved back to England. I saw her the last time at the dedication of Pete Townshend’s Oceanic., She was sitting in the front row at the opening program and I know she didn’t recognize me as she was going blind. I leaned over to her and said “Enid, it’s Ann Conlon” She jumped up from her chair and hugged me. In the next few days, we made a visit to the Tate Gallery together and spent one afternoon drinking gin in her hotel room and talking about Baba.

Eccentric as she was, I’m sure Enid loved Meher Baba deeply and I’m just as sure that He knew that And after all, that’s what’s important.