Don Geldart
(???? – )
Donald Geldart was a UK fan from London active from around 1960 to about 1967. In his early fannish years he was in the army and Ron Bennett's Directory of Science Fiction Fandom for 1960–2 gives addresses at UK military bases where Geldart was a sergeant in the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards).
Geldart attended the BSFA Convention, 1960. Archie Mercer, writing in Cactus 5, said he had thought him to be a "London fringer" but "apparently [he] is really a contact of Ken Potter's". In a letter in Relapse 16 ( February 2010) Jim Linwood confirmed that Potter and Geldart had met while in the army. Geldart also joined the the Science Fiction Club of London (SFCoL) at about this time, contributing to its 1960 combozine as well as Potter's Brennschluss.
He remained very much a fixture of SFCoL activities in 1960 and the first half of 1961. During "Operation Vantage" (Wikipedia) in July 1961 he was initially reported as being posted to Cyprus although he was later confirmed to be in Aden and after that Kuwait where he met up with George Locke.
After his return Geldart remained actively involved until at least the mid-1960s. He attended SFCoL events and other conventions, including Loncon II, the 1965 Worldcon. He is listed in the Bennett Directory for 1966 and he was reported, in Skyrack 80 (June 1965), to be assisting Archie Mercer with programme at Yarcon, the 1966 Eastercon, but mentions of his name peter out around this time. There is no complete membership list for Briscon in 1967 and while he is not known to have attended a partial list in progress report 4 does include "Janet Geldart". Neither Don nor Janet appear on the membership lists for the 1968 or 1969 conventions.
In Relapse 15 (Autumn 2009 ) Peter Weston described Geldart as a "mysterious James Bond-like figure" and there were rumours that he'd been in MI5 or MI6 although Linwood later said he was in military intelligence rather than the secret service. Weston was at the time in touch with Geldart who was living in Telford although he was unable to tempt him to contribute to Relapse.
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