I.B.M. British Ring 65th Annual Convention

The 65th Annual Convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25 takes place 11th–16th September 2001 at the Spa Complex, Scarborough, with further events at the Futurist Theatre and the Crown Hotel. The week brings together international performers for Star Lectures, the Competition for the New Silver British Ring Shield, the Close-Up Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy, Hospital and Special Venue Shows, the Ladies’ Afternoon, The Magic of the Atkins Years, the Convention Banquet, the International Close-Up Gala, The Late Late Gala and the International Magic Gala Show. The Committee have made this 65th Convention a tribute to the late Jeffery Atkins, the man who became known as The British Ring.

President John Palfreyman and Dorothy Savage look forward to welcoming conventioneers to Scarborough for the 65th Annual Convention, with a particular welcome to first timers and to the Overseas Visitors who put the ‘International’ into the Brotherhood of Magicians, in the presence of The Worshipful The Mayor of Scarborough, Councillor Mrs Lucy Haycock, and the International President of the I.B.M., Bob Escher, attending with his wife Sandy. Following the loss of Jeffery Atkins, the Committee felt it right and proper that this 65th Convention should be a tribute to the man who became known as The British Ring. Registration opens on Tuesday evening in the Grand Hall, followed by the Dealers’ Exhibition and a meeting of the Hospital performers in the Music Room. Wednesday opens with the Magic of the Dealers in the Spa Theatre, introduced by Bob Hayden, before the Official Opening of the 65th Convention at the Futurist Theatre and Scarborough Sorcery, in which Guy Bavli introduces Philip Crowther, Piet Forton, Obleo and Jimmy Carlo & Crystal. The day closes with the Civic Reception Ball & Cabaret in the Ocean Room, with dancing to The Doug Stewart Band and a cabaret in which Peter Greenwood introduces Miss Debi & Company and The Krankies, with flagbearers from The Dance Warehouse of Scarborough. Thursday brings the Close-Up Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy, arranged by Mike Gancia; a Star Lecture in which Peter Scarlett introduces ‘An Audience with Wayne Dobson’; the Hospital and Special Venue Shows organised by Derek McFaull, taking magic out to local schools, hospitals, hospices and day centres, with the I.B.M. Clowns attending some venues; the Ladies’ Afternoon at the Crown Hotel with Marie Dixon presenting ‘Marie Lloyd — Queen of Comedy’; a Star Lecture from Gerry Luff with ‘Bits of Fluff’; and the evening Competition for the New Silver British Ring Shield at the Futurist Theatre, followed by Wayne Dobson Entertains. Friday opens with the Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers for 2001/2002, followed by Phil Temple’s presentation introduced by Eddie Dawes, the International Close-Up Gala organised by Mike Gancia with Carl Andrews, Lee Asher, Lee Davis, Dominique Duvivier, Steve Walker and Paul Wilson, and Eddie Dawes’ ‘The Magic of the Atkins Years’ — recollections of some of the magic and performers characteristic of the Jeffery Atkins era — featuring Roy Davenport, Martyn James, Patrick Page, Bertie Pearce, Brian Sefton and Alan Shaxon. Tom Owen introduces Norbert Ferré for the late-afternoon Star Lecture, and the Convention Banquet at the Crown Hotel, with Toastmaster John Pye, precedes the Presentation of Awards and The Late Late Gala, in which Richard Pinner introduces Matthias Rauch, Mike Cassidy, Bin Lin and Daniel Dean & Co. Saturday brings Star Lectures from Dominique Duvivier, Lee Asher, Carl Andrews, Paul Wilson and Bob Wooding, Children’s Showtime 2001 at the Spa Theatre devised and produced by John ‘Sly’ Smith and compered by Tony Rix, the Grand Auction in aid of the Benevolent and Welfare Funds with auctioneer Alan Driffield, Eddie Dawes’ ‘More History of Mystery’ seminar with Roger Crosthwaite, Jim Cuthbert, Charles Reynolds and Chris Pratt, and the Young Magicians’ Workshop organised and hosted by Mandy Davis. Saturday night’s International Magic at the Futurist Theatre plays two houses at 18.00 and 21.00, the programme arranged and presented by the late Jeffery Atkins and Tony Shelley, with Ali Bongo as Programme Consultant and Neil Roberts as Stage Director; Steve Walker is Master of Ceremonies, with Norbert Ferré, John Archer, Al Carthy and Magic Elixir in the first house and Muriel & Christophe Rossignol, The Great Fiasco, Kenji Minemura and Silvie & Thierry in the second, and Dave Cass at the keyboard. The Convention closes on Sunday with the Convention Service conducted by Derek McFaull, Chaplain to Salisbury Cathedral, and the Installation of the new President, Mike Gancia, arranged by Rene & Ted Whebell. Organising Secretary: Tony Shelley. Dealers’ Exhibition: Bob Hayden. Chief Steward: Don Beattie. Official Interpreter: Bill Schotanus.