Mal Ashworth

(August 1, 1933 – November 23, 2002)

Malcolm Ashworth became active in fandom in the 50s. He was a member of the Leeds Group and the Bradford Science Fiction Association.

He published the fanzines BEM (1954-1959) (with Tom White), Fringe, and Rot (1955-1963), revived briefly in 1984. He also wrote for other fanzines, including Hyphen and Cry. He attended many British conventions during the 50s.

In the 1950s, he had a story accepted for publication in a woman's pulp magazine.

He was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of beers, and was a member of both OMPA (a founding member) and FAPA.

His first wife, Sheila, wrote for fanzines in the 1950s and ’60s, and his second, Hazel, was a major 1980s fanzine publisher with her fanzine Lip.

Ashworth lost the 1960 TAFF race to Eric Bentcliffe, though he doesn't seem to have been trying very hard because he published A Few Words About Bilbo Bentcliffe in support of his opponent!

His photo appears on page 153 of Harry Warner's A Wealth of Fable.

Fanzines and Apazines:

• Amor [1955]
• Ascent of Next to Nothing [1960] (one-shot for OMPA)
• BEM (1954-1959) (with Tom White)
• Biggy Plonks at the End of Time [1988] (for FAPA)
• Dupe [1954-59] (for OMPA)
• The Fannish Case of Ashworth v Lindsay [1955]
• Fringe [1958-63] (for FAPA)
• I Dreamt I Crept in Marble Crypts [1955] (one-shot for FAPA)
• The Hasty Stopgap [1957] (one-shot for FAPA)
• Hita Pfushana [1988] (for FAPA)
• Jazz-Zine [1955]
• The Last Fans in Town [1955] (one-shot for FAPA)
• My First Real Convention [1954] (one-shot for OMPA)
• Old Gaffer Hossetith Tells It the Way It Is [1988] (for FAPA)
• Rot (1955-1963, revived briefly in 1984)
• Running, Jumping, and Standing Still Fanzine [1961] (one-shot for OMPA)
• Yrautibo [1956] (one-shot for OMPA and FAPA)

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Person

1933—2002

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