History
Written by Jim Cuthbert
Paisley Magic Circle was formed in September 1938.
Originally it took the name of the former Paisley magical club, Paisley Magical
Society. It kept this name until 1967. The founder members were Tom Ellis,
Watson Black and Wyndham Lee.
The first meeting was held in the Y.M.C. A building in the High Street,
Paisley. This meeting place lasted a very short time as the YMCA was handed
over to the War Office for use during the war years. The first meeting saw
Harry Fenton, Alex Gillougley and Malcolm McIntyre joining with the founders.
During the war years the club took on the role of a transit club. Many
magicians both British and American landed at Glasgow, Greenock and Paisley
harbour and were soon making their way to Paisley Magical Society meetings.
Despite the rationing there was always tea and magic on the menu. Like the
London Windmill the society never closed.
The club moved to many meeting places over the years. These included: Miss
Balmford’s home in High Street, Paisley, The Masonic Hall, Ralston, Methodist
Hall, Coats Memorial Hall, Coats Memorial Church Hall, Paisley Town Hall and
the Boys Brigade H.Q. in Paisley.
Like most other clubs PMS started to present magical shows annually from 1943
and after a long run the members decided to stop in 1963. A few have been
organised since then but usually along with some other organisation such as
Church groups. The entrance fee is shared with the organising group and the
club.
It was the Paisley Club which proposed the formation of The Scottish
Association of Magical Societies in 1950 and Max Raskin was invited to carry
out all the planning on behalf of the club. A record of this intended meeting
with all the magical clubs in Scotland is recorded in the minutes of Perth
Magic Circle of 16th May 1950. Max was the first President of SAMS and
presented the Max Raskin Cup for children’s magic.
The club organised a one day magical convention in 1979. It was held in
Johnstone Town Hall and had lectures by Peter Jeffries and Paul Scott and a
gala show with Bill McBrinn, Jimmy Fleming, Les McLean, Freddy Lee, Les &
Lynn Paul, Cadabras and Paul Scott. This one day convention was so successful
it has been repeated annually since then and is still a main part of the club’s
programme.
The Renfrew District Council have supported the club by providing Civic
Receptions for the Fifty and Sixty year celebrations. As part of the fifty year
celebrations the council also worked with the club to present the first one
month Museum exhibition of magic in Scotland.
The club started its own club magazine in 1997 entitled The Pattern (the
Paisley Pattern!!). The magazine contains reviews on magical effects, suggested
reading, personal best books list, coming events and some history of the club
and magicians of the past.
Paisley Magic Circle has honoured many magicians over the years. There have
been only four Honorary Presidents namely, Harry Fenton, Jimmy Flemming, David
Haggarty and Val Le Val.
Honorary Vice Presidents:- Peter Allan, Les Levant, John Ramsay, John Cranston,
Zina Bennett, Tom Ellis, Harry Fenton, George Birrell, William McDonald, Colin
Goodburn, Margaret MacLean and Jim Cuthbert.
Honorary Members:- Harry Willane, Tom Ellis, Charles Wilson, Tommy Frederick,
George Willison, Fred Balme, Bill McBrinn, Adrian Harris, Stuart Leith, Cynthia
Neptune, Bill
McLeod, Roy Scott, Paul Daniels and Brian Jeffrey.
The club has provided the magicians of Scotland with a number of magical
lecturers. These include Val Le Val, Jim Cuthbert, John McCracken, Colin
Goodburn, Peter McLanachan and Jimmy Fleming.
Paisley was one of the six founder members of the Scottish Association of
Magical Societies and went on to win many of the SAMS competitions.
Cannon Trophy:- 1985, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001
Ramsay Rose Bowl:- Bill Miller 1985, Nigel McCulloch 1988, Ina Cuthbert 1993,
Alan Duncan 1995, Paul Nardini 1997, John Kelly 2000
Anne Warlock Cup:- Bill Miller 1985, Alan Duncan 1995, John Kelly 1998 and 2000
McMillan Shield:- Harry Willane 1961, Secret Service (David Ennis, Brian
Jeffrey and Karen Kelly) 1997, Pavneesh Gupta 1999.
Max Raskin Cup :-Bill Miller 1985
Fletcher Cup:- Hugh Gillies 1969, Hugh Gillies 1977, Brian Jeffrey 1988/89/90,
Brian Jeffrey 1992, Paul Nardini 1997, Paul Nardini 1999
Murray Wand:- Leslie Melville 1993, Margaret McLean 1991,
Craig Quaich:- Ina Cuthbert 1992, D. Haggarty 1999
Presidents of SAMS :- Jim Cuthbert, Jim Fleming, David Haggarty, Brian Jeffrey,
Robert Lees, Max Raskin (3), Val LeVal and Margaret Maclean.