The year is 1952 and visitors to a gentlemen's hairdressing shop opposite the Rolls Royce works in Nightingale Road, Derby were especially welcome if they were magicians. It was in this shop that Fred Wiles, the hairdresser, and well known and respected performer Tom Harris formed The Derby Magic Circle on March 25th. Another stalwart enthusiast Wilf Cadman joined them and others were soon recruited. The first official meeting was held at the R.A.O.B clubroom when seventeen members attended.
The first president was Tom Harris, with Fred Wiles secretary and Wilf Cadman Librarian and Producer. Many famous names in magic attended functions or appeared in shows for Derby magic Circle, among them Goodliffe and Dr. Zina Bennett who were Hon. Vice Presidents. Sadly today none of the early founder members are any longer with us.
In 1965 Derby Magic Circle suffered the fate of many "activity" organisations - dwindling membership and lack of support. In October of that year the society was disbanded for almost nine years. In February 1974 John Keith appealed on Radio Derby for anyone interested in re-forming the Derby Magic Circle to meet him at the Sherwood Hotel, Derby. This produced a response from ten magicians who elected John Keith as president, Joe Bonsall secretary and Mike Neal treasurer. Joe Bonsall remained the secretary for 24 years until ill health prevented him from carrying on. Sadly he died at the age of 79 - he was known and liked by everybody.
Derby Magic Circle was into its "second life" and has continued strongly with a healthy membership, often performing for local charities and holding a popular Annual Dinner, Dance and Cabaret, also a very successful Annual Auction which goes from strength to strength. The current membership stands at 40 members.
The Derby Magic Circle Emblem combines magical emblems with those of the local civic authority, consisting of a magic wand protruding from a magician's hat, flanked by two stags from the arms of the City of Derby.
Derby Magic Circle
