Home Counties Magical Society

Alex Lodge, a regular at the Society's Junior Days, will be making a return visit to The Haymarket Theatre on Tuesday March 30th.

The show he is presenting,  "A Magic and Light Spectacular" will feature World Champion Hoolahooper Bee Varga from Hungary, Juggler Steve Arnold plus Comedy Magic and Illusion from Alex.

Tickets can be obtained from the Theatre Box Office, telephone 01256 844244. Full details can be obtained from Alex's WebSite  www.alexlodge.com

Don't Forget that 18th March in our Competition night, everyone is encouraged to enter, please give your names to Dan Hudson as soon as possible - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We've added two great lectures to this years line up, Magician, Writer, Comedian and all round nice guy Mark James will join us in July, and Thom Peterson will be back with us again in August.

Mark James will be with us on July 15th, Marks lecture will be in two parts, the first half mainly close-up magic, and the second half stand-up and comedy magic.

Thom Peterson joined us last year, and his lecture was met with such positive comments that we're bringing him back for a brand new lecture on August 19th. This lecture will be completely different to last years and Thom will only be doing 2 card effects, the reminder of the lecture will be non-card effects,  covering close-up and stand-up magic.

We're very sad to report that Patrick Page MIMC with Gold Star, died yesterday afternoon after a very long battle with cancer. There cannot be anybody that wasn't influenced by Pat in some way. He was a legend, a master, and one of the best entertainers there was.

Pat was responsible for so much in Magic, often working behind the scenes, advising or consulting, you will find his name on many many programs, films and documentaries.

Pat will be greatly missed, and is another pillar of our community that we have lost.

Rest In Peace Pat..

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 !