Difference between revisions of "Ina Shorrock"

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[[File:InaShorrock.jpeg|thumb|left|'''Ina Shorrock.''''' Art by [[Eddie Jones]] from ''[[Waldo (Bentcliffe)]]'' 1''. ]]
 
[[File:InaShorrock.jpeg|thumb|left|'''Ina Shorrock.''''' Art by [[Eddie Jones]] from ''[[Waldo (Bentcliffe)]]'' 1''. ]]
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'''Ina Shorrock''' (née Picken) was a [[Liverpool]] [[fan]] who discovered [[fandom]] in 1950. Her first [[convention]] was the 1952 [[Eastercon]], [[London SF Con]].
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'''Ina Shorrock''' (née Picken) was a [[Liverpool]] [[fan]] who discovered [[fandom]] in 1950. Her first [[convention]] was the 1952 [[Eastercon]], [[London SF Con]].
  
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She was a member of the [[Liverpool Group]], and generally acted as a social director for Liverpool fandom. She belonged to the [[SFCoL]] and the [[BSFA]] (which she chaired). She was married to fellow [[fan]] [[Norman Shorrock]].
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She was already an [[sf]] reader in the late 1940s but when she first met her future husband [[Norman Shorrock|Norman]] it was several months before they realised that they were both science fiction enthusiasts. Reportedly she saw a copy of ''[[Astounding]]'' in his jacket pocket. 'After that I ''had'' to marry him, for his collection,' she said. They married in 1950.
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She was an original member of the [[Liverpool Group]], and generally acted as a social director for Liverpool fandom. She belonged to the [[SFCoL]] and the [[BSFA]] (which she chaired). At the 1954 [[Supermancon]] she and [[Pat Doolan]] were likely the first British fans to appear in [[Hall_Costumes|costume]] when they dressed as 'Bergey Girls'.
  
 
[[Eric Bentcliffe]] described her in ''[[Waldo (Bentcliffe)]]'' no. 1 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Waldo/Waldo01.pdf December 1959, p. 11]):
 
[[Eric Bentcliffe]] described her in ''[[Waldo (Bentcliffe)]]'' no. 1 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Waldo/Waldo01.pdf December 1959, p. 11]):
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  Hell, if it wasn't for that bum Norman I'd have married her years ago!
 
  Hell, if it wasn't for that bum Norman I'd have married her years ago!
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Norman died in 1999 but Ina continued to be a regular attendee at UK [[Eastercon]] and [[Novacon]] well into the twenty-first century and usually volunteered to help in some capacity, often at registration desks. In a 2010 change-of-address notice in ''[[Ansible]]'' – when she was about 82 – she was still saying 'Passing fans always welcome'.
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After her death, [[Ramsey Campbell]] wrote in ''Ansible'' #404:
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I think Ina was the absolute quintessence of all that was best about fandom. She was certainly the greatest hostess I’ve ever known. She made everyone welcome as soon as they stepped through the front door. We’ll never forget those dinners of hers or the Christmas parties, a great part of what made Christmas for us. She and Norman embodied the [[Transatlantic Fan Fund]] with their hospitality, and I know many visitors from abroad felt that way. She wouldn't just leave you replete, she would find you a bed if you needed one, or failing that a couch – at any rate make you comfortable.
  
 
* [https://fanac.org/fanzines/Prolapse/Prolapse13.pdf “Ina Shorrock - fannish superwoman!”] by [[Peter Weston]], ''[[Relapse]]'' 13, (February 2009, p. 8).  
 
* [https://fanac.org/fanzines/Prolapse/Prolapse13.pdf “Ina Shorrock - fannish superwoman!”] by [[Peter Weston]], ''[[Relapse]]'' 13, (February 2009, p. 8).  

Revision as of 14:45, 16 March 2024

(April 19, 1928 – February 10, 2021)

Ina Shorrock. Art by Eddie Jones from Waldo 1.

Ina Shorrock (née Picken) was a Liverpool fan who discovered fandom in 1950. Her first convention was the 1952 Eastercon, London SF Con.

She was already an sf reader in the late 1940s but when she first met her future husband Norman it was several months before they realised that they were both science fiction enthusiasts. Reportedly she saw a copy of Astounding in his jacket pocket. 'After that I had to marry him, for his collection,' she said. They married in 1950.

She was an original member of the Liverpool Group, and generally acted as a social director for Liverpool fandom. She belonged to the SFCoL and the BSFA (which she chaired). At the 1954 Supermancon she and Pat Doolan were likely the first British fans to appear in costume when they dressed as 'Bergey Girls'.

Eric Bentcliffe described her in Waldo no. 1 (December 1959, p. 11): 

Norman’s wife, and British fandom’s 'Hostess with the mostess'. Ina has superabundant energy, and a gift for making people both 'at home' and happy. She’s a Good Cook, the Mother Of Three, and one of tho most attractive femmes in fandom (both as regards looks and personality).

Almost every weekend, at least two or three fen will descend on the Shorrock household together with the local mob - Ina, it seems has the capacity to cope with almost anything at a moment’s notice, there's always plenty of food, drink and hospitality available and, somehow, she finds time to join in the festivities too.

Ina is an excellent Brag player, a good-jiver, quite a wit - and the best stripper this side of the Kansas City Burlesque...

Hell, if it wasn't for that bum Norman I'd have married her years ago!

Norman died in 1999 but Ina continued to be a regular attendee at UK Eastercon and Novacon well into the twenty-first century and usually volunteered to help in some capacity, often at registration desks. In a 2010 change-of-address notice in Ansible – when she was about 82 – she was still saying 'Passing fans always welcome'.

After her death, Ramsey Campbell wrote in Ansible #404: 

I think Ina was the absolute quintessence of all that was best about fandom. She was certainly the greatest hostess I’ve ever known. She made everyone welcome as soon as they stepped through the front door. We’ll never forget those dinners of hers or the Christmas parties, a great part of what made Christmas for us. She and Norman embodied the Transatlantic Fan Fund with their hospitality, and I know many visitors from abroad felt that way. She wouldn't just leave you replete, she would find you a bed if you needed one, or failing that a couch – at any rate make you comfortable.

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

Person 1928—2021
This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names.

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