Welcome to the Home Counties Magical Society Website.
The Home Counties Magical Society is situated in Reading, England, established in 1947 it is one of the most enthusiastic and well respected societies in Great Britain.
This website is for visitors and members to find information about our society, its upcoming lectures and events.
Please look around and we hope the information is useful and beneficial to both members and visitors.
Subscriptions for 2009 - 2010 will be due on 1st May 2009. All members will be receiving a letter with details on how to pay their subscriptions for the coming year, if you have not received your letter and subscription information please contact Simon Williams - treasurer@hcms.org.uk
We have just been told that one of our honorary members, Freddie Firth, passed away last night (26th June 2009).
He had just celebrated his 89th birthday last week.
There is no other news at present.
Comedy on Water, one of the events during this Festival features as a "headliner", Noel Britten. The event takes place on Tuesday 21 July 7pm to 10.30pm on board The Waterman which leaves from Hobbs Boats, Station Road, Henley on Thames. The cost is £12.00 with a bar available on board. The 2008 event was the first event to sell out.
Full details can be seen by logging on to www.henleyfringefestival.com which will give you details of all the events and booking information.
Conjuring Up Comedy with VAT (Very Amusing Tricks) played to an enthusiastic audience last Saturday evening at The Swallowfield Parish Hall when Ian Keable presented his one man evening of comedy and magic. Sorry that no other members were present to both enjoy and learn from a skilled master of his trade, who performs to a standard that we should be seeking ourselves.
The first half was a well arranged performance of various effects which illustrated the different aspects of the magical art interspersed with the decidedly wicked humour that is Ian’s trade-mark. All without giving any offence due to the slight smile and tongue-in-cheek delivery. Cut and restored rope, torn and restored newspaper, coin pail, a cod cards up the sleeve routine led into Sympathetic Silks (good to see this classic effect) flowing into a combination of audience-thought items which culminated in Ian’s very personal presentation of Confabulation. A Dictionary Test, Add a Number led to a Telephone Directory revelation followed by a baffling Newspaper Headline Prediction to close the first half.
We received this message from Dale Salwak this weekend, Japan’s Mahka Tendo has died of cancer:
It is with much sadness that I report the passing of Japan’s Mahka Tendo from cancer early on the morning of May 26th at the age of 49. Mahka was known and respected and loved by the magical community all over the world. For many months he fought bravely and strongly, his family at his side.Many magicians, upon learning of his illness, continued to send him DVDs and e-mailed messages of encouragement. These meant a lot to him. He died knowing that others cared.
We wish to pass on our condolences to Mahka’s freinds and family, and are saddened by the great loss to magic of such a talented performer.
Members will be pleased to learn that Sean Lobban, a magician from the Portsmouth and District Magic Circle has, with his fellow magicians, completed the walk from Portsmouth to London via Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke, Reading and Windsor to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust. .
Excellent news is that the target of £5,000 has been reached. If you would like to add to the sponsoring you can do it directly on the Anthony Nolan Site
On Friday 8th of May, the walkers on the 'Magic Trek' arrived at HCMS in Reading literally on the last leg of their walk, which will finish at the world famous Magic Circle in London.
We caught up with the walkers and spoke to HCMS Member, Robert Bone on why he decided to walk in aid of The Anthony Nolan Trust:
Like Sean Lobban I'm a professional magician, I have a lucky, and privileged life-style and thought it was a great way to raise awareness and funds for a charity to help others. We set off from Basingstoke at 10:30am this morning and arrived in Shinfield just a few minutes after 5:00pm. For me personally, the walk wasn't too tough, mainly resulting in some sore legs, but some of the others are starting to get blisters and sores.
The walk is being done by a small group of magicians and is almost a traveling show now:
It was great to spend time talking to other fellow magicians of different styles and experience on the walk, and showing each other a few magic tricks on the way.
Another of the walkers, Rod Newman has vowed to do a death-defying underwater escape if his team of entertainers raise £5,000 on the 100-mile trek. Rod is walking the whole way in a straitjacket.
If you want to support the Anthony Nolan Trust you can sponsor the walkers directly on the sponsorship site.
The walk finishes at The Magic Circle tomorrow Sunday 10th May at about 6:30pm.
Our President, Simon Williams, presented the walkers with a cheque on behalf of the society, and members who had donated, Rob Bone was also sponsored, and you can continue to sponsor the walkers directly at The Anthony Nolan Events site
Alex Lodge, a former regular at the Reading Junior Days and a winner of the John Hart Trophy presented, 'Vision', his Magic and Illusion Show at The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke last evening and scored well with the almost fully filled house.
The show was well supported by an attractive team from the Basingstoke Academy of Dancing who, in addition to their own "spots" supported Alex in presenting the illusions.
Midway through the first half there was a guest appearance by Max Somerset (the Sorcerer from the BBC2 Sunday morning show) who did just one item with a "Willing Audience Volunteer" who allowed his watch to be "bagged" and included with the five brought along by Max. By a process of elimination and apparently random choice five envelopes were "well battered" by Max, and audience member and the "W. A. V." who all welded a mighty steel hammer with great gusto. Thankfully the remaining "unbattered" envelope contained the "W.A.V.'s" own watch so all ended well.
Written by Keith Churcher (Regional Representative for TMC)
Saturday, 27 June 2009 00:00
Members will remember that in September 2008 an entertaining examination evening was held at the Society's meeting and four of our members were successful in gaining admittance, after approval by the Council of The Magic Circle.
In due course we can perhaps arrange another examination evening. If you are already a member then you might be interested in obtaining your Associate Membership of The Inner Magic Circle, uur three members who just "missed the boat" at the September evening may wish to have a further attempt.
I'm taking over the running of the raffle
from Keith Churcher, and would like to make this a great part of the monthly
meeting, offering a small selection of quality prizes that you want to
win. The raffle generates a small income for the HCMS, but over the year
this can add up to enough to cover the cost of a lecture.
I want to make the raffle something
that people want to enter, and not just feel obliged to. To do this I want
to be able to offer prizes that people want. Naturally we can't be having
a plasma TV or laptop as the star prizes each month (although donations of these
would be gratefully accepted!)
If you would be kind enough to donate
something towards the raffle it would be greatly appreciated. For example;
bottle of booze, DVDs, small appliances, etc. Of course magical related
prizes are more than welcome. If you have a book or trick that is
currently taking up room in the back of your cupboard then please donate that as
a raffle prize, and hopefully it will help someone else who can use
it.
I think the important factor for the raffle
is quality, and would much prefer to have two good prizes as compared to half a
dozen trinkets.
Please email me (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
or call 07930 420257 if you have anything to contribute.
On Friday I headed out to see Derren Brown’s - Enigma. at the Hexagon in Reading, it was possibly one of the finest shows we’ve seen for some time, and I wrote about it during my weekend slot on iTricks.com
Objective Productions Andrew O’Conner and Anthony Owen were also there catching the show, along with a sell out house that gave Derren a full standing ovation both nights. Andy Nyman, who has been filming ‘Black Death’ in Germany and also directed the show had flown back for the Sheffield leg of the show, but wasn't at the Reading run.
I wouldn't want to spoil the show for anyone who's not seen it yet, so you'll have to wait until the end of the run for a full review, but I can tell you that this is a show you must go and see if you want to see possibly one of Derren Brown’s best. There are still some tickets available for certain venues (click read more to jump to the list).
One of the highlights was heading backstage at the Hexagon with a few friends (two of whom you may recognise as members!) to meet up with Derren and his crew after the show, there was also a hint of a possible extension to the tour in London. The Photo also got picked up on Derren's Official Blog
I'd very much like to thank Coops, Derren, his crew and the Leggy Blonde who is ‘Phillis Dorris’ for all their loveliness during the evening, and Derren's attempt at healing my leg (sorry it didn't work!)!! Click read more for the remaining ticket locations:
The best option is for the West End Run London, Monday June 15 - Saturday July 18 - Adelphi Theatre, LONDON - Box Office: 0844 579 0090
Online booking click here There are still many seats available (blocks of 2 and 1) for almost all weekday performances, weekend shows are on limited ‘returns only’ booking.
May 28th, 29th, 30th NORWICH Theatre Royal SOLD OUT
June 1st, 2nd, 3rd NEWCASTLE Theatre Royal - SOME TICKETS AVAILABLE - 0844 811 2121
June 4th, 5th & 7th GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall - Disabled and Wheelchair seats available only - 0141 353 8000
Robin Maddy was appointed the new president of the Home Counties Magical Society at last nights Annual General Meeting.
Simon Williams, the previous president passed over the position and responibilities to Robin. On behalf of all members we wish to thank Simon for his hard work, and congratulate Robin Maddy on his new position.
A full report and minutes on the AGM will follow in the next few days.
To start to list the reasons why one should go and see Greg Wilson lecture, is nigh on impossible.
His lecture at the Home Counties last night has to be one of the most informative, educational, and enjoyable lecture I have seen in many, many years, probably ever.
The first half of the evenings planned event, covered material from his dvds, off the cuff, on the spot, pyrotechnical pasteboards, and card stunts.
He also demonstrated his super bill changing effect “foreign exchange”, and an effect that matches his classic impromptu routine re-capped, in which a pen turns around, under increasingly more, and more impossible conditions.
After an excellent and much needed cup of tea, in the second part of the planned event… (there’s those words again) Greg shared some fantastic stuff that you can do impromptu in your favourite coffee house, or burger bar.
A particular favourite, and one that extracted a genuine layman’s reaction, was a two cup, sugar monte`
The method was fiendishly simple, the effect was sublime. As indeed were all his coffee house effects.
More cards, coins and tips followed… (Or not, in the case of his vanishing sugar. No tip required)
And the planned event came to an end.
We have moved the John Carey lecture to July 16th (rather than June), to allow us to host a rather special lecture in June. Check out the Program and Lecture page for full details on the date change. We would like to thank John Carey for his assistace in the date move.
Congratulations to Ian Souch for becoming the winner of the HCMS Paul Pearman Cup for last nights Competition. A full review of the evenings competition, along with a short video will be available soon, but Ian was judged the most entertaining act of the evening by the judges.
Ian mixed some traditional magic, with some excellent mentalism effects into a wonderful show of just why he deserved to win the cup. Starting with vanishing pens and coins, he moved quickly into a book test, and multi phase prediction and Konfabulation type effect.
Sean Lobban attended our meeting last Thursday and ran through details of his Magic Trek walk. It's A Sponsored Walk From Portsmouth To London starting on the 5th May end finishing 10th May 2009 which will take in vists to local Magic Clubs & Societies On The Way! The walk is to raise money For The Anthony Nolan Trust.
The Magic Trek will begin in Portsmouth from the home of The Portsmouth & District Magic Circle on Tuesday 5th May from there is will walk to the home of The Associated Wizards of the South in Southampton (about 17.5 miles). The next day, Wednesday 6th May, starting from Southampton to the home of The Winchester Magical Society (about 13 miles). On Thursday 7th May they will walk from Winchester to Basingstoke (around 19 miles). And the following day, Friday 8th May, it's on to Reading to see us at The Home Counties Magical Society (about 16 miles). Windsor is the next destination on Saturday 9th May (about 19 miles). The last day of The Magic Trek, Sunday 10th May, is to the finish in London (around 22 miles). The approximate total distance of The Magic Trek will be 106 miles!
Welcome to the Home Counties Magical Society Website.
We received this message from Dale Salwak this weekend, Japan’s Mahka Tendo has died of cancer:
Members will be pleased to learn that Sean Lobban, a magician from the Portsmouth and District Magic Circle has, with his fellow magicians, completed the walk from Portsmouth to London via Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke, Reading and Windsor to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust. . 
On Friday 8th of May, the walkers on the 'Magic Trek' arrived at HCMS in Reading literally on the last leg of their walk, which will finish at the world famous Magic Circle in London.
We caught up with the walkers and spoke to HCMS Member, Robert Bone on why he decided to walk in aid of 
Alex Lodge, a former regular at the Reading Junior Days and a winner of the John Hart Trophy presented, 'Vision', his Magic and Illusion Show at The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke last evening and scored well with the almost fully filled house.
On Friday I headed out to see 
Robin Maddy was appointed the new president of the Home Counties Magical Society at last nights Annual General Meeting.
Congratulations to 