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The Inaugural Meeting of the Manchester
Circle of Magicians
Tuesday 15th January, 2002
Reported by Derek
Lever
It was envisaged that a small room at the Masonic Hall, Salford would amply suit
the needs of this new Society. However by 7.00 p.m. it had been moved into the
spacious Ballroom, but even this could not cope with the numbers and it was
standing room only on this memorable night.
Over 120 magicians attended the event and 102 actually became paid up members
with the remainder being unable to join after the supply of application forms
ran out. Phil Tilston and Anne Lever on the Registration Desk coped brilliantly,
with the queue at times stretching from the Registration Desk and down the
corridor. Peter Woolley was formally elected President, Carl Royle as President
Elect, Phil Tilston as Treasurer and Derek Lever as Secretary.
The formal part of the meeting over Derek Lever lectured for nearly two hours
showing a fascinating range of apparatus from 1890 to the current day for which
he received a long and loud ovation. The atmosphere was superb with much
laughter being generated throughout the night proving that the members were
certainly having fun. Many familiar faces were evident including some of the
areas top professionals. Prior to the meeting Carl Royle had appeared on BBC
Television News presenting a 5 minute spot and also BBC Radio publicising the
event. A raffle organised by Syd and Dot Kenyon raised the magnificent sum of
£90.00 for the Club’s coffers and the magic carried on in the private bar of the
Masonic Hall long after the meeting ended.
The Manchester Circle of Magicians is certainly the newest Club in the area but
the fact that it is now the biggest seems to prove that it has a valuable role
to play in the magical life of Manchester.
Derek Lever, Secretary
www.taurusmagic.net/manchester.html
© Derek Lever January 2002