MAP OF PRE-WAR LEEDS FANDOM

In 1988, during the course of my researches for THEN, I received a package from Bert Warnes and George Airey containing a letter, a map (marked up by Airey), and a group photo of Leeds SFA. Finding this again, it seemed a good idea to add the contents to my website.

1. SITE OF FLORIST STREET

Douglas W.F.Mayer, had written to WONDER STORIES proclaiming himself to be secretary of 'a small English science society', the Institute of Scientific Research, which embraced five other organisations including the International Scientific Correspondence Club and two radio research societies. Nevertheless there was still room for the SFL, which duly appointed him Director of Chapter no.17, on 1st April 1935. It would eventually go on to become the country's most active fan group. According to Bert Warnes:

"The first of the Leeds SFL official meetings was held at Doug Mayer's house, which was also apparently the domicile of the Institute of Scientific Research (phooey!) We are convinced this super organisation was invented solely for the benefit of our American cousins - it has a 'ring' to it, hasn't it?

However, George and I had been there previously at Mayer's request, and this request was to make up the necessary quorum to join the American SFL. Which we were only too pleased to do. So we were definitely on the go prior to this."

The announcement of this chapter's formation in WONDER STORIES attracted other local SF enthusiasts, of course, and in May 1935 it held its first official meeting. This was reported in the September issue:

"Our first foreign Chapter, in Leeds, England, held its first meeting on May 18th in the library of the Institute of Scientific Research of Leeds. All the members were present...and a dues of four pence per month was decided upon to cover secretarial expenses and the purchasing of old science-fiction magazines. C.H.Macklin was elected treasurer and A.Griffiths was made a new member of the Chapter."

The 'Institute of Scientific Research' and its 'library' were actually the house at 20 Hollin Park Road where the 16 year old Mayer lived with his parents. By the end of July membership had grown sufficiently - numbers having been swelled by newcomers such as R.W.Robson, W.G.Stone, F.W.F.(Frank) Dobby, and P.W.Berry - that the comings and goings had all gotten to be too much for Mayer's elderly parents. Thus, in August, Leeds SFL moved its meetings to the 5 Florist Street home of the newly-married Warnes, which was to be its home for the next year. Warnes has estimated that by the end of 1935 Leeds SFL had about twelve members, of whom about half were regulars:

"Sept 1936: About this time the SFL officially left Florist St., primarily due to the fact that the whole district was shortly to be demolished (although, in fact, this did not take place until late '37). In a way this could not have happened at a better time as the SFL as we were then had outgrown its home and was ripe for expansion with an increasing membership."

2. QUEEN SQUARE

On Sunday 3rd January 1937, Leeds SFL ran the world's first ever SF convention, which was held in the Theosophical Hall, then at 14 Queen Square, an event which attracted several out of towners. Ted Carnell, Walter Gillings and Arthur C. Clarke met up at St. Pancras Station late the previous night and caught the mail train to Leeds, with Maurice K. Hanson joining them at Leicester. The train arrived at Leeds station - which was apparently then still under construction - around 4.00 a.m. The quartet were met by Harold Gottliffe, who whisked them away to the Clubroom, where they were given breakfast. Queen Square is still there and was visited by Peter Weston and me in June 2011, when this video clip was taken:

• The First Convention

3. SITE OF 9 BRUNSWICK TERRACE CLUBROOM

Ted Carnell described the clubroom thus:

"That Clubroom really had something. It was as comfortable as any large single room could be, which had been fitted out by the ingenuity of the members, and we remember Michael Rosenblum giving us a conducted tour round the book-wracks -- sorry -- but they were an eye-opener to ordinary fan who hadn't had the yen to make a collection."

In the aftermath of the convention the Leeds group split into SFA and SFL factions. Writing to me about this period some fifty years later, Bert Warnes said the conflict:

"...split our membership irrevocably. (Looking back, we were rather surprised to find we were at Brunswick Terrace for only about 6 months!). Come the break and in the Summer of '37 we were officially back at Florist Street once more. Where we remained until October '37 when we were removed because of impending demolition.

"It was some little time after this event that the actual split took place. The division was sufficiently drastic to lead to both factions going their own way and to differing locations. We have talked over this period at great length. Neither George or myself, who were actively involved at the time, have now any clear recollection of what actually occurred. No doubt ((Brunswick Terrace)) was vacated by both parties - it is thought that at one time serious consideration was given to our taking over another room in the building, but serious consideration is as far as it got. We cleared out, taking with us that part of the library we considered to be ours."

Since the SFL faction refer to themslves as "9 Brunswick Terrace" in the July 1937 NOVAE TERRAE, this suggests the group did in fact remain at that address after the departure of the SFA, at least for a while - the address is notably absent from Leeds SFL publications from the following year. As for what happened to it:

"9 Brunswick Terrace was demolished with many other properties when the present Merrion Centre was built. Brunswick Terrace still exists in part as a thoroughfare parallel with the rest of Rockafella's & Cinderella's Disco & Dance Halls. The clubroom was on the left-hand side approaching from Clay Pit Lane."

4. ROUNDHAY ROAD

Bert Warnes again:

"April 1938 - Sept 1939: We now come to the real hey-day of Leeds SFA, which was now comfortably ensconced at 312 Roundhay Road. The premises consisted of an attic flat over some shops, which we were delighted to obtain through the efforts of George Airey, who was able to again prevail upon his employers (the builders and estate agents I referred to earlier on). The flat was sited opposite the Clock Cinema and was undoubtedly the best venue we ever had. In fact it was to cosy and comfortable that George and his wife, when they married sometime later, occupied it as their home for some time to come.

We were fully occupied the whole of 1938 and well into 1939 at this address. George had done his stuff again and we were not without our creature comforts. As a result our membership was strong and attendances were regular, although we did have a few 'fringe' followers who came and went. Our activities were now becoming more varied. Apart from 'lectures', film shows etc., we can remember being into ESP. However, this rather flopped when Doug as the 'transmitter' (from his house) to George as the 'receiver' (with a pack of cards in the club) forgot all about it,' so poor old George was left more or less playing Solitaire.

We can confirm that our friends in London were invited here and that several accepted and were, we believe, duly impressed."

Leeds SFA (Nov 37) - Rear: P.W. Berry, Frank Dobby, A. Miller, F.V. Gillard. Front: George Airey, Doug Mayer, Bert Warnes.

"Apropos of the photo George has come up with. There are a number of our members missing including Albert Griffiths. The picture was taken 'proper like' at a studio in Leeds, and the missing faces couldn't make it for one reason or another. A. Miller was one of our stalwarts being with us from start to finish. We would dearly like to meet him again, but alas no contact - he would've been invaluable on this exercise. Dobby too was another, and whilst Gillard was an old faithful he disappeared altogether in 1939."