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74th British Ring IBM Convention
22nd - 26th September 2010, Eastbourne
Update 19, August 2010
Bob Hayden, British Ring PRO
On reading the Convention Programme of events you will have noticed that
the Banquet has been superseded by a Gala Dinner. It is only the name that has
been changed and the hope is to make it a more attractive event by introducing
close-up magic around the tables, a few novelties and generally updating
everything. Looking back over past Convention Souvenir programmes the banquet
was introduced as an event in 1948 in Bournemouth. The price? 10/6d and the menu
was in French!
While the gala Dinner is in progress Films will be shown in the Floral Hall by
Bob Hamilton and will consist of compilations of previous Conventions and some
vintage footage of yesterday’s magicians. Each year Bob prepares an edited
compilation of the highlights of the Convention which serves as a record for
eternity. This is in addition of preparing and screening a moving and befitting
memorial in which the magic of those members who have passed away in the
previous 12 months are remembered. The screening gives us the opportunity to
reflect on us being able to have had their friendship and enjoying their
company.
So what do we know about Bob Hamilton, the most modest of men, who behind a
camera does so much recording the art of magic and how did he become involved in
doing so. Magic has been a hobby of Bob’s from an early age and it was when
attending one of Ron MacMillan’s International Conventions in Tottenham Court
Road he, like many others was unable to see what the lectures at the other end
of the hall from him was doing. He put a suggestion to Ron that he could project
the lecture onto a large screen at the same time recording it. The following
year Ron got him to do just that and so the principle of using screens for these
types of presentations was born and was the start of his involvement in
providing video services to magic events on a hobbyist basis with borrowed
equipment.
In 1993 he took early retirement from his position as a Training Manager for a
Pharmaceutical Company where he had introduced video into the training
programmes and with his son Peter he set up The Magic Video Company and soon was
being commissioned to make training programmes for corporate companies. With his
long interest in magic Bob behind a camera is a wizard knowing where not to
point the lens, while he relies heavily on Peter’s expertise on editing and
compilation.
Despite his heavy involvement in recording magic, Bob still manages to perform
formally and informally half a dozen times a year. He still buys books (he has
an extensive library) and is interested in new techniques. Magic first came into
Bob’s life when at Primary school in the Poole/Bournemouth area in the 40’s
Percy Bee pulled a string of sausages from inside the jumper of a boy sitting
next to him. A box of tricks and getting hold of an Ellison’s Catalogue
established his interest. After the family moved to Rowlands Castle Bob joined
the Astral Magical Society who met in nearby Emsworth. With the society he
performed his first public show being billed as the club’s youngest magician. He
always preferred performing card magic; although he did go on to do billiard
balls, card manipulations and many of the classics.
He entered a talent competition on Southern Television doing the Vernon Ball and
Cone and Slydini’s Torn and restored newspaper in a three minute slot. Although
he didn’t win, his performance was seen by Lewis Ganson, a neighbour in Rowlands
Castle, who congratulated him but reminded him that smiling when performing was
a necessity. So impressed was Lewis with Bob’s Torn & Restored Newspaper he
invited him round to his house so he could include the effect in a film he and
Harry Stanley were making. When Harry asked Bob to prepare a twelve minute act
Bob backed away preferring to have magic just as a hobby. So he turned his back
on becoming a professional magician and opted instead for a career as a training
manager and continued as a hobbyist magician, until his encounter with Ron
MacMillan brought another aspect of magic into his life.
Bob, by documenting magic in the way that you do, you provide an invaluable
record of contemporary magic for future generations. For this you will always be
held in the highest esteem by the magical fraternity.
This year there is going to be a change of host for the Stage competition. It is
being entrusted to Michael Jordan of High Jinx and by undertaking the task he is
the youngest person ever to undertake what must be the most testing event to
host. In his introductions he has to, at all times, be impartial being careful
not to appear to give any one of the 10 competitors any hint of preference at
the same time keeping the audience interested. This can be demanding as at
anytime there can be a mishap in the setting on an act’s props requiring an
unexpected fill in.
Michael has already proved himself as a competent performer by being, with his
sister Siobhan, The Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year and winner of the
British Ring Silver Shield. It is great for the future of magic in general and
our Convention in particular that one as young as Michael would even consider
taking on this role. We are confident that he will prove a worthy successor to
all of those who have preceded him in the job.
Attention all you Young Magicians. The British Ring is offering to all young
magicians of 18 years of age and under a special weekend registration for the
British Ring Convention. The price of £35 includes all lectures, workshops and
the International Magic Show on Saturday 25th September and Sunday 26th
September. Only admission to the Children’s Showtime is excluded.
Mandy Davis and the Young Magicians Club will be holding a workshop on Saturday
afternoon at 15.30 in the Congress Suite when she and her team will assist you
in solving any particular problem you may be having in either performance or
presentation. As usual she is inviting some of those appearing in the Convention
to come and talk to you. So far she has approached Hayashi the International
Manipulator to be present and she is hopeful others will be able to do so but it
will depend upon their commitments.
Remember this workshop is for you Junior Magicians only; all others are
excluded. This is an opportunity to meet and mingle with the World Stars of
Magic.
If you haven’t already registered fro the Convention there is still time to do
so. You can do so from the British Ring website
www.britishring.org.uk
or by contacting the Registration Officer Neville Johnson by telephone on 01202
873234 or by e.mail at
nevillejohnson25@aol.com. If you are unable to attend the whole Convention
day registrations are available. Don’t let this great magical event pass you by.
Get your application off today.
Bob Hayden, British Ring PRO, August 2010. www.britishring.org.uk