I.B.M. British Ring 15th Annual Convention 1951

The 15th Annual Convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25 takes place 3rd–7th October 1951 in Bournemouth — “Britain’s Loveliest Resort” — for the Ring’s Festival Convention, in the Festival of Britain year. Wm. G. Stickland, in whose home town the Convention is held, presides as President, with Harry Kaye as President-Elect, and the Burlington Hotel at Boscombe is Convention Headquarters, with events at the Bournemouth Pavilion, the Town Hall, the Boscombe Hippodrome and the Selwyn Hall. The programme includes an International Cabaret arranged by Jean Poisson with visitors from many lands, the Civic Reception, the Competition for the British Ring Shield, a lecture session with Geoffrey Buckingham, a Cocktail Party with Close-Up Magic, the Grand Convention Banquet, Children’s Playtime and the great Festival Gala.

Wm. G. Stickland, President, writes that it is a source of great pleasure that his home town of Bournemouth has again been chosen as the venue of the Convention during his year of office, and welcomes all his friends of the British Ring and brother I.B.M.ers from all parts of the world to the Fifteenth Annual Convention. Those organising the Convention fully realise the task that confronts them in staging one to surpass the success of the last Bournemouth Convention, and no effort has been spared to introduce new features; the programme is so full that there is little time for the beauty spots of the town that the Mayor suggests, but those able to extend their visit will be well repaid. He thanks the Mayor and Council of Bournemouth and their officials for the facilities granted, and the Convention Committee, the Honorary Secretary and the many members who have given their services. The Mayor of Bournemouth, Frank J. McInnes, adds his Council’s pleasure that the Annual Convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (British Ring) is once again to be held in the town, noting its attractions and beauty even in late autumn, while the International President of the I.B.M., Jimmy Lake, sends heartiest greetings from Canada and the U.S.A. and wishes the gala event every success.

The Convention Announcements welcome delegates to the Burlington Hotel, the Convention Headquarters. The Registration Office in the Hotel Entrance Hall opens on Wednesday evening and is open all day on Thursday and at regular hours as announced on subsequent days; delegates who have previously registered apply to Desk “A” for the Convention programme and badge, and all others register at Desk “B”. The Convention badge should be worn at all times, as the rule “Admission only by badge or Registration Card” will be strictly enforced at all Convention events, and lost badges cannot be replaced. Tickets for the Festival Gala are obtainable only from the Box Office, Bournemouth Pavilion, and for Children’s Playtime from the Box Office, Boscombe Hippodrome. The numbers that can be catered for at the Banquet and Luncheon are strictly restricted. The Official Convention Hosts, distinguished by red rosettes, are anxious to assist newcomers and make introductions, and the stewards will give information on any event. Surplus souvenir programmes will be offered at 1/6 each on Saturday morning, a Giant Map in the hall of the Burlington Hotel directs delegates to the Pavilion, Hippodrome, Town Hall and Selwyn Hall, and the Convention Daily Recorder — a trick-by-trick photographic commentary and press reportage, edited by Robert Johnson and incorporating an idea by Charles Scott — can be seen in the Hotel foyer. The Subscription Secretary will be at the Registration Desk to take members’ subscriptions, and Crescent Studios, Boscombe, are the official Convention photographers.

The programme’s list of previous Conventions runs from Cheltenham (1931 and 1932), Northampton (1933 and 1936), Leamington Spa (1934 and 1935), Buxton (1937), Malvern (1938) and Southport (1939), through the war years of 1940 to 1945 during which no Conventions were held, to Hereford (1946), Buxton (1947), Bournemouth (1948), Southport (1949) and Harrogate (1950). The Ring’s officers include President Wm. G. Stickland (also Hon. Treasurer), President-Elect Harry Kaye, Past Presidents Oswald Rae, Herbert J. Collings, John Ramsay and His Honour Ernest Wethered, O.B.E., Hon. Secretary H. J. (Jeff) Atkins, Assistant Hon. Secretary A. R. Johnson, Hon. Librarian Archie Tear, Hon. Solicitor Donald Crombie and Hon. Editor George Blake, with Eddie Dexter as Hon. Welfare Officer. The Ring also pays tribute to John Gambling, its Grand Old Man of Magic — 85 years young and still going strong.

The Convention opens with the Night Before Party at the Burlington Hotel on Wednesday 3rd October. On Thursday 4th October the Official Opening is held at 3.30pm in the Burlington Hotel Ballroom, with the introduction of Overseas Visitors and afternoon tea (non-residents 2/6), followed at 4.45pm by the International Cabaret arranged by Jean Poisson, in which Jean Poisson, Henk Vermeyden (Holland), Laurie L. Ireland, Mystic Craig and Elmer Eckam (U.S.A.), Johnnie Geddes (Scotland), Guy Bert (Paris), Hugette Delysiolle (winner of the Ladies’ Contest at the Paris Congress 1951), Charles Wicks (Australia), F. G. Cleaver (Argentine), Stan Hall (Canada) and Fu Ling Yoo (India) have kindly consented to appear. In the evening the Civic Reception is held in the Grand Hall of the Town Hall by invitation of the Mayor and Council, with the Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor F. J. McInnes, J.P., and Mrs. McInnes) receiving delegates, dancing until 11.45pm (evening dress requested) and a cabaret by The Voltaires in “Out of This World”, compèred by Paul Graham; a special bus service runs from the Burlington Hotel. The Dealers’ Exhibition, with fourteen dealers, fills the Writing Room and Cocktail Lounge of the Burlington Hotel.

Friday 5th October begins at 9.30am at the Selwyn Hall with the Competition for the British Ring Shield, under the direction of Oscar Paulson, with eighteen competitors from Swindon to Cardiff drawn in order of appearance and a panel of judges comprising W. Lane, Jack Salvin, Mystic Craig, J. Lea-Axon, F. G. Cleaver and Rodney Andrew. The holder is Louis Martelle; also at stake are the Theo Speaker Cup, the Conventioneers Trophy presented by Mystic Craig and Ralph Read, the Willane Cup for the best performance by a lady member, cash prizes of £10 and £5 and a Case of I.B.M. spoons as Third Prize. At 12.30pm Oscar Oswald presents “Mr. Punch Entertains” in the hotel grounds, the Official Group Photograph is taken at 2.30pm, and at 3pm the Ladies’ Only Afternoon is held in the Burlington Cinema with a presentation of the film “Waltz Time”, a cabaret, afternoon tea and the Ladies’ Hat Trimming and Handicraft Competitions. At the same hour the Lecture Session at the Selwyn Hall features Geoffrey Buckingham’s lecture and demonstration “Manipulations Made Magic”, illustrated by slow-motion films and accompanied by a commentary from Francis White, together with J. B. Findlay’s “A Chat on Collecting”. At 6pm in the Burlington Hotel Ballroom the Cocktail Party, at which the ladies are guests of the British Ring, is followed by Close-Up Magic arranged and presented by Francis Haxton with Harry Fletcher as Master of Ceremonies. At 8.45pm the Selwyn Hall hosts “Join the I.B.M. and See the World”, a lightning trip round the world of magic with Oscar Paulson as Guide and Conductor, and at 11.15pm The Ladies Entertain, a programme presented by the lady members of the British Ring and compèred by Ray Silver.

Saturday 6th October opens with Children’s Playtime at 10.30am at the Boscombe Hippodrome, devised and presented by Wilfred Tyler, with the Boscombe Hippodrome Orchestra under Vic Wilson, Maude Dicker’s “Sunrays”, Harold Poole, Stanley Marelle, John Kenyon, Geoffrey Robinson of television’s “Whirligig”, Tommy Foster, Lao Tang and Company and the Risto Troupe. At 2.30pm the great Festival Gala is held at the Bournemouth Pavilion under the direction of Harry Kaye, with eleven acts including Will Norman, Louis Martelle, Geoffrey Buckingham, Claude Chandler, Milton Woodward and Millicent Cooper’s “Wonder Bar”, Raoul, Jon Gresham, Tornedo, Jay Palmer and Doreen, and Murray, introduced by Paul Graham. At 7.30pm the Grand Convention Banquet is held at the Burlington Hotel with Wm. G. Stickland in the chair and Walter Kemp, M.B.E., as Toast Master, with toasts to The King, the County Borough of Bournemouth, the British Ring (I.B.M.), The Visitors and The Press, followed by an After Dinner Entertainment compèred by Oswald Rae with Frank Boynett, Oliver McKenzie, Percy Bee and Honey, Brian Dawes and his Puppets, Stanley Norman, Edward G. Love, Leger Demain and Ken Brooke. At midnight a “New Era” Demonstration brings the day to a close. Prizes in the Benevolent Fund Prize Draw, organised this year by George Smallwood and Dorothea Woolley owing to the illness of Donald Forsyth, can be seen on the Convention notice board, with tickets at 1/- each.

Sunday 7th October closes the Convention. At 11am the Annual General Meeting and Election of Officials is held at Convention Headquarters for members only, with Wm. G. Stickland in the chair; voting papers not already posted must reach the Official Scrutineer, Mr. Recaldin, or the Committee Room by 1pm on Saturday. The Farewell Luncheon follows at 1.15pm at the Burlington Hotel, with the new President, Harry Kaye, in the chair.