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Jack Stephens: 8th December, 1952 - 14th May, 2015
Remembered by Ian Keable
One
of this country's top children entertainers, Jack Stephens, has sadly died at
the far too early age of 62 after a short illness. Jack was one of those people
born to entertain children. Naturally cheerful and exuberant himself, he passed
that enthusiasm directly on to those he performed magic for.
Not limiting himself to magic, Jack's formal show comprised making balloon
animals, puppets and singing and playing the guitar. He had a relaxed style,
getting the children's attention through his personality and skills - not
relying on loud music, raising his voice or resorting to questionable humour.
Children adored him, both on and off stage, not just for his magic but also for
his 'silly' jokes.
Jack was born in December, 1952 and came over to England from his native South
Africa in 1980. He lived and worked for a travel company, for ten years in
London; but when he and his wife in 1990 decided to move to Wiltshire, Jack took
the opportunity to turn professional. In his career as a children's entertainer
he worked in all arenas from libraries, school groups, weddings, cruise ships as
well as private parties. So successful was his business, that he set up an
agency to pass on work he could not do himself.
Jack enjoyed writing and contributed many articles and reviews to various
publications - including MagicWeek. Looking at some of his back catalogue on
this site - whether it be a magician he saw on a cruise ship, a television
recording he attended or a review of a magic DVD - one is struck how positive
and upbeat he is about what he has seen. He never saw it as his role to
criticise his colleagues.
His top magic moment might well have been performing for the Queen with close-up
magic at a private lunch party. However his reminiscences about a young boy
picking up his magic wand, and tapping everything in the room to see what would
happen to them, is surely a greater legacy to his skills. As Jack himself wrote:
"I thought this a beautiful moment and so very magical." You can read this story
and more about him in the
Magic Profile he wrote in 2006.
However nothing sums up better Jack's love of children and entertaining with
magic than the fact that he worked regularly for POD Children's Charity, which
organises entertainment for children in hospital and hospices. The administrator
calculated that Jack had performed magic for nearly 5,000 children in Bath,
Bristol and Swindon. He truly believed in the therapeutic benefit of laughter
and magic.
Jack leaves his wife Rosemary, who will continue to run his agency, and two
children, Caroline and Susie - both of whom are expert balloon modellers in
their own right.
Ian Keable, May 2015