WIENCON - THE 1966 SFCD CONVENTION

The convention took place over the weekend of 5th - 8th August at the Palette Restaurant in Vienna. Archie & Beryl Mercer both wrote extensive reports on the event, links at bottom of page below:


Front: Axel Melhardt, Waldemar Kumming, Renee Uher. Middle row: Fred Koch, Ric Brader, Beryl & Archie Mercer,
Volker Marckardt. Rear: unknowns

Known attendees of 123 who attended:
Heinrich Arenz
Margaret Arenz
Dr Milan Bevandic
Ric Brader
Dieter Braeg
Walter Ernsting
Franz Ettl
Gerd Hoff
Helmut Hörnlein
Olga Janowsky
Eddie Jones (UK)
 Gerald Kaiser
Anne Keylock (UK)
Gary Klüpfel
Fred Koch
Waldemar Kumming
Hans Langensteiner
Kurt Luif
Edi Lukschandl
Peter Mabey (UK)
Volker Marckardt
Lore Matthaey
 Axel Melhardt
Archie Mercer (UK)
Beryl Mercer (UK)
Holger Müeller
John Owen (UK)
Dr Winfried Petri
Walter ("Fuchs") Reinecke
Gerhard Richter
Peter Ripota
Franz Rottensteiner
 Dieter Sachse
Tom Schlück
Wolfgang Thadewald
Renate 'Renee' Uher
Ernst Vloek
Gerry Webb (UK)
Norman Weedall (UK)
Charlotte Winheller
Johann Winter
Gert Zech
Also Viennese fans Daniela and Christel, no surnames mentioned

I have two photos taken at the con and supplied by Tom Schlück. These show Walter Ernsting being inducted into the Knights of St. Fantony


Norman Weedall, Eddie Jones, Peter Mabey, John Owen, Tom Schlück

Eddie Jones, Peter Mabey, John Owen, Tom Schlück, Walter Ernsting

BERYL MERCER:

Came time for the St. Fantony ceremony, and the representatives of the Order retired behind the scenes. Waldemar obliged with suitable background music as the Knights filed out - Archie, Eddie, John, Norman, Peter and, of course, Tom Schlück. In his quiet, musical voice, Tom read (in German) the time-hallowed legend of St. Fantony. Peter took over, rolling out the sonorous, mystic syllables, and Eddie sent John and Norman to search for the chosen candidate. Thus was Walter Ernsting brought before the Knights; Eddie called for the water from St. Fantony's Well, and I, in my role as cup-bearer, carried it to him, together with the Knife of the Oath. Walter passed the Test, and so another Knight was pledged to St. Fantony.

Later in the evening, the German and Austrian fans staged a ceremony of their own, inaugurating a "Sword-'n'-Sorcery" Club. This was much more energetic than the St. Fantony proceedings; matched pairs of "armed" and "armoured" opponents jousted vigorously, attempting to clout each other with home-made pikes and what looked like wooden swords.

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