This year the History of Mystery session at The IBM British Ring Convention (Eastbourne 22nd - 26th September 2010), organised and presented by Eddie Dawes for the 38^th time, will move to the afternoon of Friday, after many years of occupying a Saturday afternoon slot.

The varied and interesting programme will include Peter Lane recalling the famous Westminster Royal Aquarium which from 1876 until 1906 occupied the site where the Central Methodist Hall now stands. Although initially intended to be a Central London rival to the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, with up-market attractions plus an aquarium, it never achieved that ambition and eventually became a place of popular and risqué entertainment where magicians, jugglers, acrobats and aerialists were to be seen - but very few fish!

Owen Clark (1877-1929) was a highly original magician and shadowgraphist who earlier in his career made such an impression that Maskelyne & Devant sent him out to the Antipodes in 1908 to head their Touring Company in Australia and New Zealand, and subsequently presented him with a medal to commemorate the tour. Over the years, Christopher Brinson has carried out diligent research on Clark, whose personality led to problems later in his career, and his biography of this enigmatic performer is currently in the press. Chris reports “I have made some exciting discoveries concerning Owen Clark. Some of the material is surprising, and some slightly controversial!” which, together with some of his remarkable inventions of the 1920s, will clearly make for a fascinating talk.

Where would magicians be without their assistants? Assistants come in many guises, some visible others not, some highly competent others less so. Paul Freeman says “I want to pay tribute to those lovely magicians’ assistants that never fail to enchant audiences whenever they appear” and presents the results of his researches in which he identifies and then focuses on “The Iconic Magicians’ Assistant”.

The final presentation, “Hellis in Wonderland”, which is the title of Will Houstoun’s latest book, will be given by the author on Robert Hellis, the 19^th-century magician and dealer who gave lessons to Professor Hoffmann and Dr Lynn. Will’s interesting research stems from a notebook in Peter Lane’s collection containing lessons written by Hellis and continued by an anonymous student, and leads to a study of Hellis’s life and his magic. At the Magic Collectors’ Association Weekend in Chicago in May, Will became the first recipient of the Edwin A Dawes Bursary Award for Magic Scholarship, instituted by Magicana and the MCA, with a cheque for $2000 to assist him with his forthcoming doctoral research on the cultural history of Professor Hoffmann and his impact on conjuring literature in the Literature, Film and Theatre Department at the University of Essex.

You can get more information on our convention which takes place in Eastbourne 22nd - 26th September 2010 either here or get further information at the official British Ring website