The Ilford Magical Society
Our aim is the same as most, if not all, of the numerous magic societies throughout the world … to foster and encourage friendship and the art of magic.
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We welcome new members and if you would like to join us or attend one of our club nights please contact us.
CHARITY SHOWS
OUR SHOWS
Members of The Ilford Magical Society make regular appearances at fundraising events, presenting close-up ‘right-under-your-nose’ magic and cabaret shows for family audiences in towns and villages across the Essex region including Romford, Upminster, Brentwood and Harlow.
FUND RAISING
By selling tickets, holding raffles and other fundraising activities, organisations can make a healthy profit and leave guests with memories of a great evening of entertainment. A typical show involves up to 10 magicians performing at guests’ tables and presenting a cabaret show with two or three acts.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Prepare for an evening of wonders. In the first half of the evening, our magicians will visit your tables and and perform miracles right under your nose. After an interval where you can have your raffle, you will then be treated to a stage show where a number of magicians will entertain you with illusions and feats of mind reading
CLOSE-UP
Close-up magic is the first part of the evening. Each table will be entertained by four different magicians during the first half of the evening. Prepare for close-up miracles.
STAGE
After the interval, the lights will go down and your attention will focused on the stage where feats of magic, mystery and mind-reading will be on display.
REVIEWS
"I would like to thank all the magicians who performed at Romford Golf Club in aid of Blind Veterans U.K. The evening was a great success and the feedback on the performances was extremely complementary. The amount raised was a substantial £1520!” (Romford Golf Club)
WHO ARE
THE ILFORD MAGICAL SOCIETY
The Society was founded in 1938 and was called The Society of Eastern Magicians. Its activities were curtailed with the outbreak of the Second World War a year later but it was relaunched in 1945 as the Eastern Magic Circle. On January 5, 1948, it had yet another name change and became The Ilford Magical Society.
Over the years, the Society became known affectionately as TIMS and the acronym is now the title of its fortnightly newsletter for members.
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The objects of the organisation are roughly the same as most, if not all, of the many magic societies throughout the world – to foster and encourage friendship and the art of magic.
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In the early days of the society, the main committee members were called Grand Wizard, Vice Grand Wizard and Wizard. A secret knock on the door was required to enter the club room and if members dared to arrive late, they had to recite a poem of apology. This secret knock was also used before the toasts at the annual dinner until the 1970s when the ritual was abolished.
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Today, there are around 50 members – an all-time high – and enthusiasm is encouragingly high too. The Society is constantly developing with lots of new ideas contributed not just by newer members but by veteran members too.
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Almost every week, members give up their time to present outside shows – maybe in hospitals, homes for elderly and disabled people, and for charitable organisations and good causes.
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Members have staged several theatre shows in addition to their regular in-house activities which include fortnightly meetings with lectures by personalities from the world of magic.
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Some of the finest displays of magic are seen during Society competitions, with an array of trophies and cups awarded to top performers.
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Past president Bryan Porter said: “All in all, The Ilford Magical Society is an extremely vibrant, modern magical society whose members are justly proud of the fact that they are just that – members of The Ilford Magical Society.”