British Ring IBM Convention 2006, Part 5 (Written by Steve Evans)

Sunday, September 24
Sunday is usually just travelling home day but this year it contained a couple of unexpected treats. Firstly we had Coffee in the Ice Parlour with John Marshall which was smashing and then we went over to the Stars of the future show (just to have a quick look) and was bowled over by what we saw.

The Event was held in the Floral Hall with a couple of hundred folks in attendance. They held one of these last year but I hadn’t bothered going. I had wrongly thought that it was YMOTY level acts putting on a show. It was in fact young people from the level below that and it was great. Joe Harper is from Driffield is no older than 12 and was very funny and original. We then saw a piece of stop motion animation which was equally entertaining. James Tetlow (who was the Young Magicians Club Member of the year) did a Linking Ring Routine and Jack Gleadow (who was very young and from Hull) closed the show with some funny bits very confidently performed. It was compared by two youngsters whose names I can’t remember but they to did a good job also. It might put them under a lot more pressure but this gem shouldn’t be hidden away at the end of the convention when everyone has gone home. I understand that school gets in the way but perhaps a space could be found on the Saturday instead. If they put the event on next year I suggest you go and see it.

So that was that and it just left us with a four hour drive home, back up the motorway. The journey was made bearable however by the Ryder Cup which we listened to on the Radio as we went, victory being sealed just has we approached spaghetti junction. So that was the IBM done for another year. I had a great time and Sep enjoyed herself to but must say I enjoy it a lot more now that I take part in it a bit. Overall I would say it was a good convention, one of the best I’ve been to for a while. Next year is Southport and I’ve already booked our hotel.

Note from Steve Bedwell: Thanks a bunch Steve, I look forward to hearing about Southport.