The Medway Magical Society

Welcome

Our Magic Society is dedicated to supporting magicians in the Medway Towns and surrounding areas.

As well as providing an opportunity for magicians to learn their craft, we also work in the local community raising money for charity.

We have a mix of members, from enthusiastic amateur magicians to full time magicians who are household names.

Our members range in age from 16 to 80, all of whom share a love of this fascinating art!

Charity

As a Society we do a lot of charity work. This year our chosen charity is Help For Heroes

3 of our members recently supported the Mayor of Medway's annual ball, by performing close up magic during the meal. Pictured(l-r) are Vice President Paul Denbow, President Tim Decker and Secretary Tony Hanscombe.

Next Meeting

President's Evening

Tuesday 16th Mar

President, Tim Decker will be hosting a teaching evening where members will be learning some of the best new effects published in the last few years.

Past Meetings

Open Evening and Magic Show

Tuesday 2nd Mar

Our first meeting at our new HQ in Medway Maritime Hospital Social Club.

This was a great success with over 100 people in the audience. Thanks to performers: Paul Martin, Terry Knight and Tony Hanscombe and Tim Decker. Thanks also to founder member Harry Reeve who was our MC.

A visit from the South London Magic Society

Tuesday 1st Feb, 8pm

The SLMS visited us for an evening of teaching. Thanks very much for a great evening and we look forward to visiting you in March.

South London Magic Society

A trip down memory lane

Tuesday 19th Jan, 8pm

Archivist Terry Knight, shared some of the history of the club with a romp through the club archives. Founding member Harry Reeve also reminisced on various characters he has met through his life in magic.

What I got for Christmas

Tuesday 5th Jan, 8pm

A good start to the 2010. Members enjoyed sharing new magic that had got for Christmas. This was also a good social evening.

The Annual Bunny Pull

Tuesday 1st Dec, 8pm

This was a very entertaining evening. Thanks to our two competitors, Gary Bowes-Read and Paul Denbow for entertaining and congratulations to Paul on winning the trophy for the first time.

After an interval, Treasurer Keith Borland will be organising some party games. This was a great success in the summer and should prove to be a very interesting and fun evening.

Winner Paul in action with a terrified spectator!!

17th Nov

Open Meeting

For the first time, the Medway Magical Society had an open evening. Friends of members and the General Public were invited along to hear about our Society, see some magic performed and even to learn some simple tricks. The evening was a great success and everyone present enjoyed the event.

3rd Nov

Steve Price

Steve is a full time magician and is very well regarded for his funny and entertaining magic. This was a very entertaining and educational lecture. It is easy to see why Steve is so successful, as he really thinks very deeply about what he does and how best to present it. Highlights were his any thought of card to balloon and omelette roulette.

Steve Price Illusions

20th Oct

Dan Garrett

It was great to welcome Dan back after over 10 years.

This was a lecture with something for everyone, with magic for children to corporate audiences, close-up and parlour magic. A wide range of magic, taken from his classic lectures and also a lot of new material.
This was a great lecture and has been well received by several societies across the UK

DanGarrettmagic.com

Annual Dinner

10th Oct 2009

This was one of our most successful dinners ever. With several of our guest telling us how great the evening was.

We were honoured to have Jack Delvin, the newly elected President of the Magic Circle as our guest. Our Founder member, Harry Reeve presided over the evening which saw close up magic from several of our members and a cabaret from Vice President, Paul Denbow and members, Terry Knight and Spencer Wood.

6th Oct

Secretary's Evening

This was a great evening of entertainment from members: Tony Hanscombe, Jim Hall, Gary Bowes Read and Terry Knight. Ably compered by Founder Member Harry Reeve.

14th Sep Lecture from Ali Cardabra

This was a fascinating lecture from one of the most experienced magicians around. Ali demonstrated Some really great tricks, simple to do and very commercial.

Ali Cardabra

1st Sept

Our Annual Cabaret Magic Competition Congratulation to Spencer Wood on winning this competition.

Spencer entertaining one of our guests with a fork bending routine

18th August

A visit from the Merlin Magical Society

Following our successful visit to the Merlin Society we were delighted to welcome 4 members of their Society to come and perform and teach for us. This was a very interesting and varied evening, with some mentalism, cards rope and coin magic.

TUESDAY 4th AUGUST – SUMMER OLYMPICS – Keith Borland – OPEN EVENING

Keith revived this evening, which was popular several years ago. Events included:-
Sprint
Marathon
Magical tasks(gymnastics) with Star guest
Shooting
Relay
Dinner(NO food)
Quiz

This was a great evening enjoyed by both our members and their families and friends.

21st July

8pm

It's in the book. Lecture from Tony Hanscombe

Secretary Tony Hanscombe performed and lectured on his act, which was all carried out from a Book, which contained all the necessary props (Hence the title). Effects included the production of a silk streamer from thin air, unequal ropes using necklaces and a crystal mentalism routine. Tony gave credit to the various magicians who had inspired his reasoning and it was obvious that much thought and planning had preceded the session and that style and presentation was unique to him.

7th July President's Evening

Tim Decker, current president and 3 former presidents, Harry Reeve, Tony Hanscombe and Keith Borland presented effects they had never shown at the club before. The second half of the evening was learning session, where members picked effects to learn and show from a variety of books.

16th June

Vice President Paul Denbow and President Tim Decker performed for members as part of the Gold Star Competition.

The second half of the evening was a show and tell session with founder member Harry Reeve, explaining how he got into Magic and demonstrating some of the many effects he has developed over the last 60 odd years. This was a fascinating and informative evening. Thanks to Paul Denbow for hosting and most importantly to Harry for sharing his magic.

5th May

Most Entertaining non card trick (this was a departure from our usual card trick extravaganza). Congratulations to Jim Hall on winning this competition with his entertaining rope routine.

21st April

An evening with Paul Denbow

Our newly elected Vice President entertained members with a variety of different magic effects. Ably assisted by friend Spencer Wood.

17th March

Our Annual Close up magic competition. Member Andrew Paul retained his title in style against strong competition from Tim Decker, Chris High, Spencer Wood and Paul Denbow

3rd March

We welcomed our friends from the Bexleyheath Magical Society who gave us 4 mini lectures.

Thanks to Ian Thom, Roberto Forzoni, Bill Jenner and Jack Delvin.

Dec 2008

Our Annual Battle of the Titans...

Well actually it was the Bunny Pull, a competition between the reigning champ, Gary Bowes Read and our President, Tim Decker.

This was a very closely fought contest which resulted in Gary retaining his title. More importantly, this was a well attended social evening for our members.

Gary with an assistant.