Home Counties Magical Society

We are extremely pleased to be able to say that we have secured Cameron Francis to lecture on 3rd March 2010. Cameron Francis is an actor and magician currently living in Gainesville, Florida.

He has created many original effects and has collaborated with some of the top names in close up magic, including Dave Forrest, Aldo Colombini, Peter Duffie and Richard Sanders.

He has had tricks published in Genii Magazine, Magic Magazine, Magician Magazine and the Stone Cold Magic e-magazine. Cameron is lecturing only TWICE in the UK, and this will be his FIRST UK lecture, making this an evenign not to miss.

We expect again a large number to attend please note that guests are welcome at a cost of £8.

Please note that some filming for Camerons DVD will take place during the evening.

Information was received from Susan Barry last month, with the sad news of the death of former prominent member (a Past President and long-term Society Treasurer) of the Home Counties Magical Society, Ray Trinder.  

Ray who was 84, died peacefully last month.  The Society wishes to pass its condolences to Ray's widow Rosalind and all the family.

The funeral took place on Tuesday 22nd December at 11.30am, at the Reading Crematorium, All Hallows Road, Caversham, Reading, RG4 5LP.

We have recieved information from Ray's son Colin, that if people do want to send cards of sympathy to Rosalind please send them via himself, Colin Trinder, at 18 Rainbow Way, Abingdon, OX14 2PF

Any donations should be to Kidney Research UK, whose work will hopefully allow Rosalind to carry on without her dearest Carer. Please mark donations: Raymond George Trinder and should be sent c/o Cyril H Lovegrove Ltd, Funeral Directors , Caversham, 58 Briants Ave, Caversham, Reading, RG4 5BA

I have just checked the Magic Lantern Society web page, and there has been an amendment to their programme.  The Paul Kieve talk will now take place on Thursday 28th January 2010.

The talk on the 10th December 2009, will be "Visualising the Marvellous: G A Smith and his film "Santa Claus" (1898).  G A Smith was one of the great early film pioneers.  A stage mesmerist and an associate of the Society for Psychical Research, his six "spooky" films of 1898 represent his facination with the "other side" and his close association with late Victorian paranormal culture.  The series featured ghosts, telepathy, fairies, the devil, tranformations and visions.  Its only survivor is "Santa Claus".  In it, Santa fills the childrens stockings with presents and then...vanishes.  This was a simple and effective demonstration of the new medium's ability to create an image of wonder.

The talk will be given by Dr Frank Gray, who is the Director of Screen Archive South East at the Un iversity of Brighton, and is a specialist in late Victorian cinema.

Bill Hammersley

We have just heard that Jim Cellini has passed away this evening in switzerland.

A sad loss to magicians and buskers throughout the world

The Associated Wizards of The South (A.W.S.) are holding their Centenary Convention on 11th April 2010 at the Crossfield Hall, Romsey, Hampshire.

Lectures will be performed by Kostya Kimlat: Close-up Magic, Paul Gordon: Card Magic, Mike Stokes : Balloonoligy, James Brown: Hypnotist and Pick Pocket, Mel Mellers: Comedy Magic The Gala Show includes performances by James Brown, Mel Mellers, Mark Worgan and Tensai

Full details: http://www.awsmagic.co.uk/Convention/home.html

Yesterday (Sunday) I had the pleasure of again being a guest at The Young Magicians Club 2009 J-Day. The doords opened at 10 am for the waiting crowd of eager and enthusiastic young members, who filed in, collected their programmes and seating details from YMC Chairman Mandy Davis made their way into the Club for either coffee or a cold drink (but in many cases to gather with friends and "out with the cards and ropes").

At 10.30 am we were called to the Theatre for the Welcome and Official Opening of the Day. Mandy introduced some of the magical names then present and then called me on stage for, as she said herself "Keith has something for the YMC and I am as curious as the rest of you".

I explained that some years before the Reading J-Days finished we had been presented with a Mascot and it was now felt more appropriate for this to move to a new home. I unveiled the mascot (see photo) , actually I took off a black plastic bag as none of my rabbit productions were big enough to hold the mascot and allow a magical production !

David Nixon - Entertainer with the Magic Touch (Edwin A. Dawes, Stephen Short)

Hardback, 276 x 210mm, 288 pages, price £35.00  www.jeremymillspublishing.co.uk.

Mention to anyone ‘Magic and TV’ and you will normally get one of a number of answers depending on the age range, but you can almost guarantee that one of those names will be David Nixon. Dubbed ‘The Father of Magic on TV’, David is fondly remembered by many for this relaxed and friendly style of magic, and his long career on TV in the 1950’s through to the 1970’s. Yet strangely, there has never been any major book on David’s life and career. Thankfully Edwin A Dawes and Stephen Short have collated photos, memories and first hand experiences from many of David’s family, friends and colleagues in show business into a wonderful, enlightening, humorous and factual trip through the life, times and experience that was ‘David Nixon - Entertainer with the Magic Touch’

Delving into this gorgeous and lavish book there is an abundance of photos, magazine clippings, show bills, and television stills, many of which have been collected from the Nixon family, friends and associates, these create a wonderful base around which David’s life story can be told, over 200 photos and illustrations covering all the aspects of David’s on stage, screen and personal life bring the book and David’s story to life. The book was written with help and assistance from the Nixon family, a number of close friends and colleagues of David including the late Ali Bongo. Their memories of David also helps capture and convey David’s delightful charm not only of his magic, but of his personality as well.

Many thanks to everyone who donated prizes to this months raffle. The raffle that takes place at most meetings is an important way to continue to raise funds for the society, These funds help us put on more lectures, and keep your subscriptions as low as possible.

At the Ian Keable lecture the raffle generated £32 and a number of members donated prizes. Many thanks to those who did, and those who brought tickets.

If you have anything that you'd wish to donate to the society for the raffle, please let Rob Bone know (you can email him at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Small or Large, all donations are gratefully received.

We have updated the calendar of events and lectures for 2010, included in the lectures for next year are Noel Britten, Gary Jones and HCMS friend Aldo Colombini. We'll also have the annual general meeting, and the competition night.

We also have a host of other lecturers that we are currently talking with, but please if there is a specific area or lecturer you'd like to see, let any of the council know at the next meeting.

you can see all the lectures listed in the programme and events page