37 members turned up for the New Members Night, which this year was compered by Ross Risdon in his humorous manner, showing a style and confidence well above his young years - Franco Mattiello, Jon Harris & Lee Pirie performed. Franco started by cutting to the four aces and then proceeded to demonstrate his skill in finding these cards in several different ways. He had a card chosen which turned up instead of one of the four aces. Having two cards chosen, Franco mixed the cards face up and face down, but when he laid the cards out they were all seen to be face down except the chosen cards. Having a card chosen, the card was found on the face of a baseball bat on the backs of the cards. This was a novelty, which the audience seemed to particularly enjoy when Franco walked round to show everyone the effect created by flicking through the cards. Another similar effect had Steve Gore just name a card, whereby Franco revealed this card held by a man in a cannon. Franco finished with a coloured stick routine with the colours changing places. Ross entertained everyone with his story of Farmer Jack and an egg bag, complete with flat cap and accent for the farmer and a routine reminiscent of Tommy Cooper. Jon Harris performed a silent act, starting with flaming paper to hankie, which he vanished to reappear as a rose on a stem. Rolling up a large sheet of paper, he placed the rose inside and proceeded to take out several streamers, constantly unrolling the paper to show it empty. Jon produced a candle from thin air, find spring flowers from a dove pan. Showing several individual silks he produced a bottle of wine from within. He poured some of the wine into a glass and turned the glass upside down to reveal that the wine had gone and had changed into a silk. Tearing up a paper, he finished a nice little act, which has the potential to go places, with the Snowstorm in China. Ross returned with a story about money, demonstrating it by making a large coin appear and vanish as appropriate. Lee Pirie showed how he has progressed since he joined the Bradford Magic Circle by cutting the deck to the four aces, replacing them in the deck and then making them reappear together. Having a card chosen, Lee mixed the cards face up and face down, but when he laid the cards out they were all seen to be face down except the chosen card. Having a new deck opened and shuffled, Lee got Anthony to choose a card. He replaced this onto the top of the deck and then cut the deck. Lee told Anthony his card would be the 5th down in the pack, and it was. He had a card chosen, the name of which appeared on a glasses case, and finished with a silk off rope effect. Thanks to Victoria, Louise and Betty who arranged the food and drinks, we all had something to eat, during which many people took part in the quiz, which was won by Dennis & Gemma (I think from memory!). After the break we had an audition by Paul Beswick, who was a former member of the Bradford Magic Circle going back to 1982. Paul very bravely agreed to do his audition before the whole audience. Some of the items he performed included finding the four aces (yet again!), and then having them change from face down to face up individually. He dealt the four aces into one hand. He had the aces lost in the deck and turned one card face up. Whatever the number of the card was he dealt down to that position in the deck and the corresponding ace was found there. Ross chose the 8D. Paul replaced this in the deck and then proceeded to reduce the deck in size by peeling off every other card. He did this until only one card remained - the 8D. | 
