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Ralph Hall
Remembered by Peter Zenner
Although
we knew that Ralph had been battling with cancer for a long time, it still came
as a shock when we heard of his passing on February 28th, 2011, just two weeks
after his 79th birthday. Ralph never made a fuss, he just got on with his very
full life and only his close friends knew that anything was wrong.
Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on February 13th, 1932, it was Ralph's
brother who received the proverbial box of tricks as a present. He showed no
interest, but Ralph did. Magic grew into a hobby and, for a while, a part-time
profession. The highlight was when he and his partner Mollie won the British
Ring Shield in 1959 with a sensational vanish of a rabbit from a clear perspex
box.
After managing a branch of the travel agent, Thomas Cook, in Scunthorpe,
Lincolnshire, Ralph and his bride Mollie moved to the small village of Everton,
North Nottinghamshire, in 1966 and opened a grocery shop and newsagency. They
put on a show at the village hall and the locals were very surprised to see that
this very professional presentation featured the man who delivered their
newspapers every morning and the lady who served them their groceries!
The one word to sum up Ralph would be "enthusiastic". He was an expert
sleight-of-handster but also played the accordian and the organ - and he could
juggle just about everything. The low ceiling of their cottage prevented
practice, so the locals were amazed to see him on the local playing field with
his clubs, cigar boxes and Diabalo. He could also be seen cycling around the
village on his unicycle!
Ralph was one of a small group which we called 'Midwiz'. Seven of us used to
meet in each other's houses in rotation, one day a month. This started almost 40
years ago and the "Secret Seven" is now down to the "Mystic Three". My lasting
memory of him will be his squatting down on the carpet to show us his latest
coin routine. Enthusiastic to the end, he even made it down to the IBM
Convention at Eastbourne last September. We miss you, Ralph - and our
condolences go to Mollie and their children Miranda and Michael. Rest in Peace.
Peter Zenner, March 2011