New Barkby W.I

President, Shirley Franklin, welcomed New Barkby WI members to the institutes July meeting.
Business matters were dealt with, including the singing of ‘Jerusalem’.
The speaker for the evening was Bishop, Peter Fox, a retired bishop, but also, a member of the ‘Magic Circle’. The talk was titled, ‘A Magical History Tour’.
With power-point presentation, the earliest records appear to have been depicted in the Lascaux (France) cave painting, but even in biblical times, Aaron threw down his stick before Pharaoh, and it became a snake.
One trick performed as the talk progressed was cups and balls. The balls sometimes disappeared or even increased in size as they appeared, or, also becoming an apple, pear or lemon.
Other illusions were a glass of milk being tipped upside down, without spilling the liquid, linking rings and a rope trick; sometimes with the help of audience participation.
Tom Harry Houdini to Dick Ritson (aka Wul Ling – ‘The Magical Mandarin’), These have been successors to the art. Mr Ritson’s pupil was Harry Carson, who, in turn, had a pupil – Peter Fox, our evening’s speaker and entertainer.
Jean Brutnall gave our thank you to Peter Fox.
Competition for something with a ‘magic’ connection – winner, Valerie Cobb with an old booklet on ‘Convenient Card Magic’.
Raffle won by Cilla Lane
The date of our nest meeting is Wednesday 7th August. The Speaker will be Martin Grant – ‘Remap Leicester’
Visitors always welcome to attend. Syston Community Centre 7.30pm