I.B.M. British Ring 58th Annual Convention

The annual convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25, one of Europe's longest-running magic conventions. Featuring international performers, Star Lectures, the Dealers' Magical Trade Fair, the Close-Up Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy, the Competition for the New Silver British Ring Shield Awards, Children's Showtime, and International Magic — the Gala Show.

President Les Nottle and his wife Win look forward to welcoming conventioneers to Eastbourne for the 58th Annual Convention, with a special welcome to those attending their first Convention and to the Overseas Visitors who travel from around the world for what many say is one of the most memorable magic gatherings anywhere, in the presence of His Worship The Mayor of Eastbourne, Councillor R. A. (Ron) Parsons, and the International President of the I.B.M., Jep Hostetler. Registration opens in the Winter Garden on Tuesday evening from 19.30 hours, after which delegates may chat in the Floral Hall until 20.30 hours before visiting the Dealers — no admission unless wearing a badge. The Dealers' Magical Trade Fair, arranged by Tony Shelley in the Exhibition Hall adjacent to the Winter Garden, opens that evening and runs through to Sunday lunchtime, with the Craig Trophy awarded to the Dealer presenting the most attractive display, judged on Thursday morning by Mr Barry Reece, Manager of Langley Shopping Centre. Wednesday opens with the Magic of the Dealers in the Floral Hall, Tony Shelley introducing the Magic Dealers as they demonstrate their latest items, assisted by John Palfreyman, at the keyboard Dave Cass, before the Official Opening of the 58th Convention at the Congress Theatre by the President, followed immediately by Magicians of the World, introduced by Simon Lovell (USA/UK), with Aquarius (UK), Larry Becker (USA), Dan Garrett (USA) and Steve Walker (Australia), at the organ Dave Cass. Olly and Friends present their Puppet Magic in the Gold Room at 16.00 hours, introduced by Les Nottle, President of the British Ring, alongside the Eddie Dexter Welfare Stand, run by Cynthia Neptune and her helpers, with gifts, novelties, raffles and competitions in aid of the Benevolent Fund. Overseas Visitors are requested to meet Mr Barry Laymond in the entrance to the Winter Garden at 20.00 hours, prior to the Civic Reception Ball & Cabaret in the Floral Hall, given by kind invitation of the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs R. A. Parsons, who together with the President of the British Ring and the International President of the I.B.M. will receive the Overseas Visitors, with dancing to the Ray Campbell Band and cabaret in which Terry Seabrooke introduces Graham P. Jolley and Chris North, with flagbearers from the pupils of The Sussex School of Dance. Thursday brings Star Lectures in which John Palfreyman introduces Derek Lever, presenting Jack Hughes Magic & Other Ingenious Apparatus, and Jeffery Atkins introduces Salvano, presenting Secrets of a Professional; the Close-Up Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy in the Floral Hall, arranged by Janet Clare and Mike Gancia, with Tony Shelley as Chairman of the Judges; the Ladies' Afternoon in the Gold Room, with a demonstration of Hair and Make Up by Raynes of Eastbourne, followed by afternoon tea and a raffle; and Hospital and Special Venue Shows, organised by Derek McFaull, taking magic out to local schools, hospitals and care organisations across Eastbourne on Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon. Thursday evening brings the Competition for the New Silver British Ring Shield Awards at the Congress Theatre, organised by John Palfreyman with Colin Peters as Assistant Organiser, Ron Lang as Stage Manager and Eddie Dawes as Chairman of the Judges, with fifteen competitors performing for the Shield, the Theo Speaker Cup, the Alastair Wand, the Conventioneers Trophy, the Craig Trophy (for the performance by a lady magician), the Dittia Shield and the Tom Harris Cup. Friday opens with the Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers for 1994/95, followed by a Star Lecture in which Terry Herbert introduces Jon Tremaine, presenting 'It's not what you do....', a recipe for presenting painless Children's Parties; the International Close-Up in the Gold Room, organised by Mike Gancia and Janet Clare, with Larry Becker (USA), Dan Garrett (USA), George Johnstone (USA), Tony Wilson (NZ), Simon Lovell (USA) and Robert Swadling (UK); and Eddie Dawes' Magical Lights of London at the Congress Theatre, recapturing some of the personalities and the magic seen in the Metropolis over the years, featuring Duncan Fletcher & Olive, Ricki Martyn & Joanne, Dick Newton, Charles Pemberton, Lynn Thomas and John Wade, supported at the keyboard by Dave Cass with stage direction by Ron Lang. Peter Scarlett introduces Larry Becker for the late-afternoon Star Lecture, 'Stunners', and a Wine Sales Point is set up in the Crush Bar to take orders for wine at the Banquet. The Convention Banquet in the Gold Room, with Toastmaster John Pye, precedes the Presentation of Awards by the President and The Late Late Gala, in which George Johnstone introduces David Tomkins, Eve'n Alan, Sabrina Fackelli and Jimmy Carlo & Crystal, with Dave Cass at the keyboard. Close-Up Sessions, arranged by Rovi, are held each night after programme events at the Lansdowne Hotel. Saturday brings Children's Showtime, devised and introduced by Terry Herbert, with Jon Day, Gary the Musical Clown, Eric Sharp, Dennis Patten's Punch & Judy, Philippe and the I.B.M. Clowns, at the Devonshire Park Theatre; a reception at the Town Hall given by the Mayor for Overseas Visitors, with Bob Hayden escorting delegates by bus; Star Lectures in which Peter Scarlett introduces George Johnstone ('50 Years a Full Time Pro'), Rovi introduces Dan Garrett, President of the Society of American Magicians ('Magic of the U.S.A.'), Richard Stupple introduces Henrique ('A Different Approach to Magic') and Bob Hayden introduces Ron Gilbert ('Children R' Magic'); and Eddie Dawes' More History of Mystery, the Collectors' (and Other's) Seminar in the Gold Room, with Bobby Bernard ('Oh No, That's Impossible'), Pejay ('A Glimpse of the Origin of Playing Cards'), Kent Blackmore ('Levante — His Life No Illusion') and Charles Reynolds ('Lost Illusions'). Saturday night's International Magic at the Congress Theatre plays two houses at 18.00 and 21.00, the programme arranged and presented by Jeffery Atkins with Ron Langhorn as Stage Director for the British Ring and Ali Bongo as Programme Consultant, Assistant Stage Managers Peter Laing, Neil Roberts and Jon Tucker; Alfred Hayes (Australia) is Master of Ceremonies, with Tom Anders (France), Eve'n Alan (Sweden), The Great Fiasco (England), Larry Becker ('Russian Roulette', USA) and Norm Nielsen (USA) in the first house, and Magic Flair (Germany), Salvano (Poland), Gennadiy Kil (Russia), Franklin (Germany) and Christian Farla & Company (Holland) in the second; the taking of photographs and videos during the performance is strictly forbidden. Jack Delvin presents a mystery late-night event in the Gold Room at midnight. The Convention closes on Sunday with the Convention Service, conducted by the Reverend David Abel, followed by the Installation of the new President, Tom Owen, arranged by Ted and Rene Whebell, after which a Cocktail Party precedes the President closing the Convention. Organising Secretary: Jeffery Atkins.