Hello Wizards, Well it’s with regret (though not surprise) that the Close-up and Stage competitions have been cancelled due to lack of support. We received just two entries for the Close-up! It is the first time since I joined the Circle (19 years ago) that neither of the competitions will take place. We used to run the competitions on separate nights (and sometimes a Junior Stage Competition) as they each made a full evening! At a recent committee meeting it was felt that should the committee members and those few who support the Roadshow etc. demonstrate the same apathy, the circle would be in a particularly sorry way. In the meantime, the committee asks that the current holders of the trophies remain custodians of them and that they contact a committee member if they’d prefer to hand them back so that they can be stored securely should the competitions return. So what’s happening at the October meeting? This is where the fun starts. How good the meeting is, is up to you. We will still be holding the One-trick contest. This will be judged by the audience and is open to everybody. There will not be a second feature on the evening as it can be a full evening on its own. Whether it is or not is as I said up to you. Surely those who talk a good talk can rustle up one trick! There are those who can and those who do. Which one are you? I’ll get of my soapbox now. Tonight is of course the Bob Eaton Memorial Lecture (I’m sure there’ll be a huge turnout for this one as no-one has to get up and take part. Oops! Back on my soapbox! I think it will be a superb presentation. News for next year. Roy Davenport will be presenting a lecture on the Davenport family and business on March 7th. They are Britain’s (if not the World’s) oldest magic dealers. And have a very interesting family history. Roy will be appearing in the Hey Presto show the following night. He will be presenting the act that won the IBM British Ring Shield in the Stage Competition in 2005. If you’ve yet to see it, you won’t believe the linking rings! He will also be presenting an act that was performed by his Grandfather, Lewis Davenport, which will be of interest following the talk on the previous evening. Also appearing on the show will be Amethyst with their astounding illusions. John Hotowka will be compering the whole evening and presenting his own inimitable style of magic along the way in a spot. Paul Sunderland will be the feature for the Children with his children’s act. Other acts will be mentioned as and when they are confirmed. At present any of the acts in the show will be worth the ticket price asked. Please note that while Keith has initial control of the better seats in the auditorium, they will be sold on a first come first served basis, to members of the Circle and members of the public. Remember our fist aim is getting bums on seats at our main source of income over the year. You could end up sitting up at the back where some feel there is no atmosphere and you could feel very detached from the show. Avoid disappointment and get your tickets as soon as they are available. In the meantime, have you booked you seats for the Presidents Dinner? This is going to be a great night and the price has been kept down due to the problems received last year. A retainer will be kept as well, to be paid on the evening subject to our standards being met. Right, I’m off now to practice my one trick. Still at least I won’t have to ring around and arrange judges timekeepers etc. On my soapbox again! | 
