The Modern Mystic League
MARCH 2025
Blackburn & District Society of Magicians
For our March meeting, our good friend Roy Field returned to present ‘Tricks from the Parade’. Over the past twenty years, Roy has submitted tricks and ideas to the British Ring Parade, which appears annually in the international Linking Ring magazine. This section has been edited by the prolific Ian Adair for more years than anyone can remember, but sadly Ian passed away last month – making this a fitting memorial.
Roy, three times winner of the Award of Excellence for his articles in The Linking Ring, demonstrated some of the items he has re-worked from old magic books, pamphlets and lesser used, but previously popular, small apparatus.
First up was ‘Boxed Tube’, an example of this process which utilised a standard bill tube in combination with a handkerchief vanish and a set of nesting boxes, Roy suggesting the attractive alternative of a set of Russian dolls.
One amusing item was the imaginative use of an extending fly swatter from Woolworths (regarded in its day as a first-rate ‘magic shop’) as a paddle trick using patter about seagull droppings in Scarborough.
Continuing the seaside theme was the six-card repeat using a set of iconic (but now sadly unobtainable) Donald McGill comic postcards. Roy made the point that, although a worn-out cliche to the magician, this idea is still a novelty to the majority of punters. A Himber wallet was brought into play, along with a sand frame to reveal a chosen Christmas card in an antique shop scenario.
Roy, three times winner of the Award of Excellence for his articles in The Linking Ring, demonstrated some of the items he has re-worked from old magic books, pamphlets and lesser used, but previously popular, small apparatus.
First up was ‘Boxed Tube’, an example of this process which utilised a standard bill tube in combination with a handkerchief vanish and a set of nesting boxes, Roy suggesting the attractive alternative of a set of Russian dolls.
One amusing item was the imaginative use of an extending fly swatter from Woolworths (regarded in its day as a first-rate ‘magic shop’) as a paddle trick using patter about seagull droppings in Scarborough.
Continuing the seaside theme was the six-card repeat using a set of iconic (but now sadly unobtainable) Donald McGill comic postcards. Roy made the point that, although a worn-out cliche to the magician, this idea is still a novelty to the majority of punters. A Himber wallet was brought into play, along with a sand frame to reveal a chosen Christmas card in an antique shop scenario.
STAR LECTURE
with
ROY FIELD
with
ROY FIELD
Throughout, Roy cited all his influences, from Roy Roth’s ‘Visual Transit’ to Roy Johnson, the ‘Shaxon flap’ and the Zelwa cannister.
First British Ring secretary Dick Nesfield (Dleifsen), along with Arthur Setterington, had provided the inspiration for ‘Bell, Book and Candle’, in which a hand-bell was rung to indicate chosen number cards, leading to a line in a book which was revealed in time-honoured fashion; the candle providing appropriate set dressing.
Particularly impressive was Roy’s take on the set of eight linking rings, with a nod to Dai Vernon’s ‘Symphony of the Rings’, which used only three, and Edward Victor’s ‘Magic of the Hands’ part 2. By contrast, Roy refers to his animated version as ‘Crash – Bang – Wallop!’, and his deft introduction of the key ring more than half way through the routine fooled most of those present.
The previous day had been Roy’s birthday, so we celebrated with the gift of a MeMeL Yearbook (in which his articles appear several times), a card signed by members and a birthday cake made by Allan – a man, indeed, of many talents.
The afternoon was a masterclass in the creation of new effects from established principles, and will no doubt have inspired many of his audience to take the same approach. Roy was warmly thanked, with an open invitation to return.
Brian Lead
First British Ring secretary Dick Nesfield (Dleifsen), along with Arthur Setterington, had provided the inspiration for ‘Bell, Book and Candle’, in which a hand-bell was rung to indicate chosen number cards, leading to a line in a book which was revealed in time-honoured fashion; the candle providing appropriate set dressing.
Particularly impressive was Roy’s take on the set of eight linking rings, with a nod to Dai Vernon’s ‘Symphony of the Rings’, which used only three, and Edward Victor’s ‘Magic of the Hands’ part 2. By contrast, Roy refers to his animated version as ‘Crash – Bang – Wallop!’, and his deft introduction of the key ring more than half way through the routine fooled most of those present.
The previous day had been Roy’s birthday, so we celebrated with the gift of a MeMeL Yearbook (in which his articles appear several times), a card signed by members and a birthday cake made by Allan – a man, indeed, of many talents.
The afternoon was a masterclass in the creation of new effects from established principles, and will no doubt have inspired many of his audience to take the same approach. Roy was warmly thanked, with an open invitation to return.
Brian Lead
