Helen Duncan was released from prison on September 22, 1944, and made a promise to stop holding séances. However, this promise didn’t last very long and in November 1956, Duncan was arrested once again during another séance in Nottingham “on suspicion of fraudulent activity.” However, the BBC reports that no charges were filed against Duncan, who would theoretically have been charged under the Fraudulent Mediums Act had she been charged. But according to “Accused” by Willow Winsham, Duncan was “in a bad way” even before the police raised the séance. Having been shaking and unsteady, “with two burns on her right breast and stomach,” Duncan was given insulin during the arrest in an attempt to stabilize her condition.
This ended up being Duncan’s last séance and less than a month later, on December 6, Duncan passed away at the age of 59, with some remembering her as the “last witch” of Great Britain. After her death, at least one medium received news of her safe arrival in the afterlife and her reunification with her daughter and her spirit friend Albert. Duncan’s even reported to have been sighted by mediums as late as the 1980s.
There have been several campaigns to pardon Duncan throughout the years, with her supporters maintaining that she was wrongfully convicted. However, the Scottish Parliament has repeatedly rejected all requests to pardon Duncan as of 2022.
