The Convention Flyers

OUR THANKS

• To Eric Frank Russell who unable to attend sent best wishes, and enclosed a copy of "Dreadful Sanctuary" and an Orban illustration from Astounding.
• To Ted Carnell who donated many drawings from "New Worlds" and "Science Fantasy", without being asked and "regretted he could not send the cover painting".
• To Mr H.Bilton the Bradford City Librarian, and Mr. MacDonald, Reference Department Librarian, for their very kind and helpful work in connection with the displays in the Bradford Public Library showcases of the FIRST public exhibition of Science Fiction and Fantasy literature in the British Isles.
• To J. Michael Rosenblum for loaning from his immense collection and library many extremely rare and valuable books and magazines, and for the great deal of time and effort he put into arranging the Exhibition.
• To Max Leviten (of Dell's) for distributing leaflets to his customers and for loaning many current new books for the Exhibition.
• To Mr.J.Wilkinson of Bradford Public Libraries, Bowling Branch, for arranging and displaying a small selection of books in his library during the week previous to the Convention.
• To Alan Hunter for donating many of his drawings for the auction.
• To the Nor'West Club for printing, without any charge, the tickets for the Convention. (see above)
• To Bob Foster, for sending copies of his fanzine 'SLUDGE' as gifts to people attending.
• To the many people who gave, some anonymously, books and magazines for the auction.
• To the fans who though unable to attend still sent subscriptions to us.
• To the fans who attended, and, by their active and enthusiastic participation in the items on the programme, made this first postwar Northern Convention a great success.

Pat's Cafe circa 1960, now called Tudor Cafe. (supplied by Derek Pickles)

CONVENTION MEMBERS

Terry Jeeves, Sheffield Lyell Crane, Canada % Connie Prophet, Stockport % E.R.James, Skipton Peter Windle, Batley Kenneth Potter, Lancaster Donald McCormick, Burnley Norman Wansborough, Trowbridge % C.Evans, Manchester Bill Jesson, Manchester Fred Fairless,Stockport Frank Richards, Manchester Ken Woodward, Stockport J.Mawson, Bradford Jack Sturgeon, Bradford Max Leviten, Leeds Leslie Cureton, Bradford Rik Dalton, Leeds Douglas Firth, Bradford Mr J. Wilkinson; Bradford Alec Dicpetrist Bradford Mr Scarr, Bradford K.Wharton, Bradford H. Newrick, Manchester Derek Pickles, Bradford Kenneth F. Slater, B.A.O.R. Alan Hunter, Bournemouth Peter Campbell, Windermere % D.Joyason, Wallasey % Walter A.Willis, Belfast % P.S.Hetherington, Chorley %

Peter Sowerby, Manchester Eric Bentcliffe, Stockport Arthur Duell,Newcastle Bert High, Stockton-on-Tees Arnold Gibson, Batley G.Barstow, Doncaster (RAF) % H.Bourne, Mirfield % David Wood, Lancaster Mrs F.Evans, Manchester Dave Cohen, Manchester Norman Weedall, Liverpool A.E.Williams, Manchester E.Furness, Sheffield %, Ron Schubert, Grimsby Marjorie. E. Harper, Bradford J. Michael Rosenblum, Leeds John C. Park, W.Australia Mrs Dalton, Leeds Donald Towers, Bradford Mrs J.Wilkinson, Bradford Mr. Jesson, Manchester W. Richards, Bradford Mr Mosley, Bradford Mrs H. Newrick, Manchester Mavis E.Pickles, Bradford Ken Smith, Newcastle % Mrs Joyce Hunter, Bournemouth I.Tapping, Houghton-le-Spring Cyril Banks, Co Durham A.V.Clarke, London % Paul Juneau, New Orleans %

% = did not attend

PROGRAMME

The first fen appeared around 11a.m. and by noon there were around twenty people in the room. Arrangements were soon under way and the walls blossomed with artwork, advertisements, and notices; the tables around the walls had displays of books, magazines, and gifts for the auction.

Table at head of the hall: Ken Slater, Derek Pickles, Mavis Pickles, Mike Rosenblum. (jmr)

At 1 o'clock the Convention was formally opened by Derek Pickles, greetings from Eric Frank Russell, L Sprague de Camp and Vincent Clarke were read out. A report of the New Orleans Convention sent by Paul Juneau was read and was received with great interest and amusement. The Guest of Honour was then introduced and he gave a short talk on 'The Definition of Fantasy' in which he criticised a definition made by August Derleth. In this talk Capt Slater suggested alternative definitions.

Far right: Mike Rosenblum, Ken Slater, Derek Pickles. (jmr)