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Voice of the Imagination, whole no. 19, November 1941

Page 12

F I R S T  O P E N  A I R  S C I E N C E  F I C T I O N  M E E T I N G -- ENGLAND !
As Reported By [Signature fo Ted Carnell] "The weekend meetings were rather dizzy affairs. Despite our attempts at planning, nothing went to schedule. Joan Chapman caled me up on the phone early Saturday to sya that Ken has been posted farther afield -- a postal from Joan Temple in Cornwall stated Bill's leave had been put back two weeks. It began to lock as though there would be very few at the meetings. Anyhow, Saturday's noon meeting brought Maurice Hanson -- the first time we had seen hi since before Dunkirk, when he was home on leave from France. He looked fine, having filled out and become quite a tough looking customer. Frank Arnold was there, still as a dynamic a personality as ever. Bob Gibson arrived okay -- a tall, slow speaking Canadian, with a memory for authors, stories and magazines that licked all our attempts. '' We think Bob holds the record for the longest one way to any fan meeting -- roughly 7000 miles.  Not only that, but it was his first meeting with any other fan. Makos Doug Webster's 600 miles small looking -- and Doug has yet to meet another fan! Well, bob went down well with the crowd, his slow speech and mannerisms being a great contrast to our hurry-hurry-hurry ways. The other newcomer was young Art Williams. A very nice fair-haired youngster with a bright bird-like movement of his head. '' By the time we reached Charing Cross Road I was having a tough time keeping track of everybody. Y'see, the pull of the bookshops was too great for everyone, and they were eventually strung out along a 300-yard front. '' Later most the gang went to see 'Fantasia', Sunday was a far better 'do' -- and I can announce Britian's first Open Air Science Ficion Meeting. The chances of obtaining a room for a meeting had gradually dwindled by the time we all met, so we were rather at a loss to knwo where to park ourselves. The gather was scheduled foe 3:30 p.m. at Liverpool Street railway depot -- that raised a laugh when Irene, Bob and I arrived. The gang had spread out numerous copies of recent magazines on the Waiting Room table, and an elderly man had mistaken the literature for general reading material supplied by the railroad people. So he was wading into a copy of ASTONISHING and nobody had the heart to take it away from him. '' Present were Hanson, Birchby and girl friend Denise Laws, with her girl friend Lilian Jaggers. Rounding out the feminine section was Harold Chibett's wife Lily, and Irene. The four of them being staunch weirdists -- maybe they'll get up a section after the war! Masculine: Chibbett; Ken Bulmer and Art Williams, newcomer collaborators on most everything stfictional; John Craig; John Beynon Harris; Bob Gibson and myself. Not a bad gathering considering the circumstances. '' After much trouble with the gent who had borrowed the mag --  he wanted to finish reading it and mail it on! -- we invaded the Restaurant and had tea -- moved across Town a couple miles and had more tea. In a quiet little bacjwater off Holborn we found an unoccupied bandstand, with seats, and held our meeting there 'neath overlapping trees and swarming skeeters. Everyone signed an illuominated address (?) which I am forwarding to you by slower mail '' The discussion centered round what we should do after the war, and embraced publications, both pro and amateur, the BIS and it's technical programs, and the revival of the SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION. '' One suggestion which might well come about, was a central Association with various sections -- one for authors, one for amateur publications; another for the library; one for "just fans"; another with connections with BIS for those interested in astronautical experiments, and so on. But the main agreement was that we should have to have a central clubroom which would be open every night in the week, and old faces again, and for a few hours it seemed that we were back in the old days before the war. '' Various pix were taken of the open air group, and I'll be sending you some shortly." (Anyone like to sponsor the presentation of one in the Xmas-Newyear Vom Due to info kindly supplyd by Bob Tucker, $2 will cover the cost of sufficient fotos to cover the edition. And we're not a bit superstitious about accepting $2 bills, if a couple of U woud like to angel Anglic stfan snaps.)

Introducing our New Feature, "IT'S BEEN GRAND KNOWING YOU.....!" By G. Ken Chapman

In presenting this series of 'personal biographies', I would like to say I feel they will bring to my friends in USA something of the 'human' side of some of the celeberties and personalities with whom I have come into contact during my fantasy-fictional adventures. '' I call them 'personal biographies', you will notice, although 'personal impressions' would probably have been a far better description. However, I think I have gotten farther under the skin of most of these guys than just 'impression', solet us leave it at 'biography', eh? '' Anyway, I make no pretence at giving you a full-fact-history of any of my subjects, but rather to tell you some of the little, intimate things I have learned of them (No blackmailing--that's a promise!) during my acquaintance. '' I begin with my est pal--Ted Carnell--and that I think is adeqaute and appropriate .....later, the War and H.M. Royal Navy permitting, I will line al the British 'gang', as well as some of my oversea friends, up for your inspection. '' I hope you will glean, from my descriptions, some infinitesimal part of the intense enjoyment I have partaken from my actual experience, for if you do, I shall have done a darned grand job of work. (hopefully), G.Ken. ("Sailor") Chapman.
EDWARD J. CARNELL: Of all the grand folks that fantasy-fiction has brought tp me as friends, I know that there is no one I regard more sincerely as a dear comrade the Ted Carnell. One of the grandest chaps that's ever been built! '' Fantasy has done much for me in the way of good friendships, if in no other fashion, but I count my association with E.J.C. as more important than any other. '' I first met Ted at a BIS meeting, something in the nature of five years ago, although I knew him as a wtf. celebrity and by correspondence for some time perviously. '' A tall, dark, handsome chap he was then, and

Saving...

F I R S T O P E N A I R S C I E N C E F I C T I O N M E E T I N G -- ENGLAND ! As Reported By [Signature fo Ted Carnell] "The weekend meetings were rather dizzy affairs. Despite our attempts at planning, nothing went to schedule. Joan Chapman caled me up on the phone early Saturday to sya that Ken has been posted farther afield -- a postal from Joan Temple in Cornwall stated Bill's leave had been put back two weeks. It began to lock as though there would be very few at the meetings. Anyhow, Saturday's noon meeting brought Maurice Hanson -- the first time we had seen hi since before Dunkirk, when he was home on leave from France. He looked fine, having filled out and become quite a tough looking customer. Frank Arnold was there, still as a dynamic a personality as ever. Bob Gibson arrived okay -- a tall, slow speaking Canadian, with a memory for authors, stories and magazines that licked all our attempts. '' We think Bob holds the record for the longest one way to any fan meeting -- roughly 7000 miles. Not only that, but it was his first meeting with any other fan. Makos Doug Webster's 600 miles small looking -- and Doug has yet to meet another fan! Well, bob went down well with the crowd, his slow speech and mannerisms being a great contrast to our hurry-hurry-hurry ways. The other newcomer was young Art Williams. A very nice fair-haired youngster with a bright bird-like movement of his head. '' By the time we reached Charing Cross Road I was having a tough time keeping track of everybody. Y'see, the pull of the bookshops was too great for everyone, and they were eventually strung out along a 300-yard front. '' Later most the gang went to see 'Fantasia', Sunday was a far better 'do' -- and I can announce Britian's first Open Air Science Ficion Meeting. The chances of obtaining a room for a meeting had gradually dwindled by the time we all met, so we were rather at a loss to knwo where to park ourselves. The gather was scheduled foe 3:30 p.m. at Liverpool Street railway depot -- that raised a laugh when Irene, Bob and I arrived. The gang had spread out numerous copies of recent magazines on the Waiting Room table, and an elderly man had mistaken the literature for general reading material supplied by the railroad people. So he was wading into a copy of ASTONISHING and nobody had the heart to take it away from him. '' Present were Hanson, Birchby and girl friend Denise Laws, with her girl friend Lilian Jaggers. Rounding out the feminine section was Harold Chibett's wife Lily, and Irene. The four of them being staunch weirdists -- maybe they'll get up a section after the war! Masculine: Chibbett; Ken Bulmer and Art Williams, newcomer collaborators on most everything stfictional; John Craig; John Beynon Harris; Bob Gibson and myself. Not a bad gathering considering the circumstances. '' After much trouble with the gent who had borrowed the mag -- he wanted to finish reading it and mail it on! -- we invaded the Restaurant and had tea -- moved across Town a couple miles and had more tea. In a quiet little bacjwater off Holborn we found an unoccupied bandstand, with seats, and held our meeting there 'neath overlapping trees and swarming skeeters. Everyone signed an illuominated address (?) which I am forwarding to you by slower mail '' The discussion centered round what we should do after the war, and embraced publications, both pro and amateur, the BIS and it's technical programs, and the revival of the SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION. '' One suggestion which might well come about, was a central Association with various sections -- one for authors, one for amateur publications; another for the library; one for "just fans"; another with connections with BIS for those interested in astronautical experiments, and so on. But the main agreement was that we should have to have a central clubroom which would be open every night in the week, and old faces again, and for a few hours it seemed that we were back in the old days before the war. '' Various pix were taken of the open air group, and I'll be sending you some shortly." (Anyone like to sponsor the presentation of one in the Xmas-Newyear Vom Due to info kindly supplyd by Bob Tucker, $2 will cover the cost of sufficient fotos to cover the edition. And we're not a bit superstitious about accepting $2 bills, if a couple of U woud like to angel Anglic stfan snaps.) Introducing our New Feature, "IT'S BEEN GRAND KNOWING YOU.....!" By G. Ken Chapman In presenting this series of 'personal biographies', I would like to say I feel they will bring to my friends in USA something of the 'human' side of some of the celeberties and personalities with whom I have come into contact during my fantasy-fictional adventures. '' I call them 'personal biographies', you will notice, although 'personal impressions' would probably have been a far better description. However, I think I have gotten farther under the skin of most of these guys than just 'impression', solet us leave it at 'biography', eh? '' Anyway, I make no pretence at giving you a full-fact-history of any of my subjects, but rather to tell you some of the little, intimate things I have learned of them (No blackmailing--that's a promise!) during my acquaintance. '' I begin with my est pal--Ted Carnell--and that I think is adeqaute and appropriate .....later, the War and H.M. Royal Navy permitting, I will line al the British 'gang', as well as some of my oversea friends, up for your inspection. '' I hope you will glean, from my descriptions, some infinitesimal part of the intense enjoyment I have partaken from my actual experience, for if you do, I shall have done a darned grand job of work. (hopefully), G.Ken. ("Sailor") Chapman. EDWARD J. CARNELL: Of all the grand folks that fantasy-fiction has brought tp me as friends, I know that there is no one I regard more sincerely as a dear comrade the Ted Carnell. One of the grandest chaps that's ever been built! '' Fantasy has done much for me in the way of good friendships, if in no other fashion, but I count my association with E.J.C. as more important than any other. '' I first met Ted at a BIS meeting, something in the nature of five years ago, although I knew him as a wtf. celebrity and by correspondence for some time perviously. '' A tall, dark, handsome chap he was then, and