Hello Wizards, I recently went to a convention across at Huddersfield, well Ainley Top to be precise. It wasn't a magic convention but the Lions International District Convention. For the first time, I decided to also go to the host night, which is usually a fancy dress party. The District Governor's theme for his year in office has been Magic Moments, so it will come as no surprise to you if I tell you that the theme of the Host Night was Harry Potter. I went along, as I knew some magicians from Oldham Magic Circle were going across to entertain with table-hopping and a short cabaret show. I wasn't in fancy dress and was asked what I'd come as, so I answered, 'A magician', and to prove it so, proceeded to entertain a couple of tables myself. I took a moment to have a chat with one of the visitors from Oldham MC and it turned out he was the President of The Order of the Magi. 'Oh,' I said, 'we're in your Cabaret,' referring to their Dinner on 18th March and introduced myself as Co. from Steve Gore and Co. The following morning, at the business meeting (9.00am till 4.30pm for those who think the AGM is too long) a chap came over and said, 'Don't you be doing any magic here!' his son is one of Northern Magic Circle Junior members. He was there however, because his daughter was in the band that plays to welcome our dignitaries and accompany the gathered throng during the National Anthem. They certainly were a couple of Magic Moments. The magical moment for me, however was the KeyNote Speaker's address. He was talking about a charity he founded in 1988 called Music and the Deaf. His name is Paul Whittaker, an Oxford Graduate and Associate of the Royal College of Organists. Not bad for a man born profoundly deaf! Please believe me when I say you would not have guessed he was deaf as he spoke with so much clarity. The aim of the charity is, to quote an article on their website) 'to help deaf people of all ages and degrees of hearing loss access music and the performing arts through workshops, schools projects and signed theatrical performances throughout the UK'. That doesn't mean they execute sign language to convey what's being sung. No they sing the song, the sadness, the passion and the joy of the songs, only in sign. We were given a wonderful demonstration of this by Paul, who incidentally has signed in musicals such as Cats, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Starlight Express and The King and I to name but a few. I think the full list had 43 West End productions. At the end of the song the whole room was lifted to its feet to give Paul Whittaker a long and well-deserved standing ovation. I reflected on how magic is a medium that those with impaired hearing can enjoy. How uplifting that they can now share in the wonders of great musicals. If you would like to know more about Hearing and the Deaf, visit their web site at www.matd.org.uk. Many of you have heard me talk about Lions Clubs International but may wonder what it is actually all about. If you'd like to know a bit more you could view www.lions.org.uk. Anyway thanks for reading, take care and I'll see you next time. |
