Difference between revisions of "W. Alan Devereux"

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m (JVjr moved page W. A. Deveraux to W. Alan Devereux: surname confirmed by grandson, this clearly main form used)
(minimalist update of what we know now about his identity. (This article humbly dedicated to Rob Hansen on whose shoulders we all stand.))
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(????  – )
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(May 18, 1899 – March 1977)
  
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'''W. A. Deveraux''' (? spelled Devereaux in ''[[Novae Terrae]]'' #21, March 1938 and see below!) was a [[UK]] [[fan]] from Tadworth in Surrey active from the 1930s to the 1950s. He attended the [[Eastercon 1944|Eastercon]] in 1944 and the [[Whitcon]] of 1948 and was a member of the [[Science Fiction Association]] (SFA), joining in March 1938, and the [[British Fantasy Society]] (BFS, member #61). ''[[Futurian War Digest]]'' #35 (June 1944) reported from the end of the first day of the 1944 convention:
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'''W(alter) Alan Devereux''' (sadly often misspelled in both contemporaneous fanzines and later research) was a [[UK]] [[fan]] from Tadworth in Surrey active from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was a member of the [[Science Fiction Association]] (SFA), joining in March 1938, and the [[British Fantasy Society]] (BFS, member #61); he attended the [[Eastercon 1944]] and the [[Whitcon]] of 1948.
  
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7.30 The Convention President ([[Walter H. Gillings]]) and Mrs. Gillings and W.A. Devereux arrive. [''… at the end of the day''] Devereux, Gillings & [[John Aiken|Akien]] [sic] decide that everyone must take everything much more seriously
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His life, and age, was rather unusual for an early fan: While born in [[Croydon]], Surrey, UK, he spent his youth in [[Australia]]. He became an architect and in was one of junior partners of [[wikipedia:Francis Richard Hall]] in [[Brisbane]] 1923–7, apparently designing enough buildings to warrant attention of modern architecture historians, putting him in the borderland of [[Celebrity Fen]], if not ''[[Beyond Fandom]]''. He must have been a man of many talents: In 1927 he played Captain Blunschli in the Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society's performance of [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''Arms and the Man''. Still, soon afterwards he moved to England. His grandson, the sculptor Paul Grellier<ref> https://www.paulgrellier.co.uk </ref> recalls "his bookshelf [was] an eclectic mix of spiritual, artistic, travel and sci-fi!"<ref> https://laboite.com.au/about/history/1920/arms-and-the-man</ref> He also did paintings, though apparently, strangely, no [[fan art]].
  
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... although it is unclear how seriously we should in turn take this. For one thing, while the duplication is poor, it is clear from the scan<ref>https://fanac.org/fanzines/Futurian_War_Digest/Futurian_War0405.pdf </ref> that the fanzine used this spelling; yet [[Rob Hansen]] et al. for reasons unknown emended this in the text version to “Deveraux”!<ref>https://fiawol.org.uk//FanStuff/THEN%20Archive/FWD/FWD35.htm#2.NAM</ref>
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''[[Futurian War Digest]]'' #35 (June 1944) reported from the end of the first day of the [[Eastercon 1944]]:
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7.30 The Convention President ([[Walter H. Gillings]]) and Mrs. Gillings and W.A. Devereux arrive. [''… at the end of the day''] Devereux, Gillings & [[John Aiken|Akien]] [''sic''] decide that everyone must take everything much more seriously
  
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The 1945 ''[[Directory of Anglofandom]]'' also lists “Devereux, W. A.” among active fans. It is also worth noting that his address was not "Number, Street" unlike most others, but "The Moorings" in, or rather near the village of Tadworth. This apparently was, or even today is, a substantial estate. Together with the name, it would suggest upper-class origins.
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… although it is unclear how seriously we should in turn take this.
  
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Post-war, one '''Alan Devereux''' published a single story in the [[John Carnell]]-edited ''Jinn and Jitters'' (1946) and was a reviewer for ''[[Fantasy Review (Gillings)|Fantasy Review]]'' in 1947–9.  
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As for the Whitcon, the Booklet page with participants' signatures<ref> Scanned by [[Rob Hansen]]: https://fiawol.org.uk//fanstuff/THEN%20Archive/WtBk.htm</ref> shows a rather clear loopy “W. A. Devereux”.<ref>[[Jack E. Quinn]]'s report in ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' #63 / V3 #9, September 1948, “as extracted from the Whitcon Booklet” has a list with “W. C. Devereux”, an obvious typo likely influenced by the following “F. C. Herman”, a misreading of [[F. C. Newman]].</ref>
  
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It is hardly an overreach to assume that this is one and the same person. In fact, it is rather probable that he was Devereux all along and the early spelling with A were a typo or a complete mirage.
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The January 1945 ''[[Directory of Anglofandom]]'' also lists “Devereux, W. A.” among active fans.
  
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As for the Whitcon, Hansen gives his name as Alan Devereaux in the attendees overview,<ref> https://fiawol.org.uk//fanstuff/THEN%20Archive/Whit48.htm</ref> yet W.A.Deveraux at the booklet/signatures page;<ref>https://fiawol.org.uk//fanstuff/THEN%20Archive/WtBk.htm</ref> looking at the signature, the loop seems ''much'' closer to E. Follows a mention of “Alan Devereaux” in auction. Jack E. Quinn's report in ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' “as extracted from the Whitcon Booklet” has a list with “W. C. Devereux”, clear typo influenced by the following “F. C. Herman” (misreading of Newman).  
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Post-war, as '''Alan Devereux''' he published a single story in the [[John Carnell]]-edited ''Jinn and Jitters'' (anth 1946) and was a reviewer for ''[[Fantasy Review (Gillings)|Fantasy Review]]'' in 1947–9.  
  
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Reportedly, Dever…whatever also attended meetings at The Shamrock and later The [[White Horse]] and [[The Globe]] until at least 1954.
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Reportedly, Devereux also attended meetings at The Shamrock and later The [[White Horse]] and [[The Globe]] until at least 1954.
  
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Also severeal other Devereuxes appear, though without much detail, in later fanzines.<ref>Including this better-unspecified in an anecdote again suggesting upper classes: https://news.ansible.uk/a22.html#09 </ref> Considering the name's rarity they might be relatives/descendants.
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Also several other Devereuxes appear, though without much detail, in later fanzines.<ref>Including this better-unspecified: https://news.ansible.uk/a22.html#09 </ref> Considering the name's rarity they might be relatives/descendants.
  
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* {{ISFDB|Alan_Devereux|name = Alan Devereux}}
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* {{ISFDB|Alan_Devereux|text = Alan Devereux}}
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* https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/20143271/person/18007651368/facts (registration needed)
  
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{{person | born=???? }}
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{{person | born=1899 |died=1977 }}
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:UK]]
 
[[Category:UK]]
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[[Category:Australia]]

Revision as of 17:45, 20 August 2024

(May 18, 1899 – March 1977)

W(alter) Alan Devereux (sadly often misspelled in both contemporaneous fanzines and later research) was a UK fan from Tadworth in Surrey active from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was a member of the Science Fiction Association (SFA), joining in March 1938, and the British Fantasy Society (BFS, member #61); he attended the Eastercon and the Whitcon of 1948.

His life, and age, was rather unusual for an early fan: While born in Croydon, Surrey, UK, he spent his youth in Australia. He became an architect and in was one of junior partners of wikipedia:Francis Richard Hall in Brisbane 1923–7, apparently designing enough buildings to warrant attention of modern architecture historians, putting him in the borderland of Celebrity Fen, if not Beyond Fandom. He must have been a man of many talents: In 1927 he played Captain Blunschli in the Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society's performance of George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man. Still, soon afterwards he moved to England. His grandson, the sculptor Paul Grellier[1] recalls "his bookshelf [was] an eclectic mix of spiritual, artistic, travel and sci-fi!"[2] He also did paintings, though apparently, strangely, no fan art.

Futurian War Digest #35 (June 1944) reported from the end of the first day of the Eastercon: 

7.30 The Convention President (Walter H. Gillings) and Mrs. Gillings and W.A. Devereux arrive. [… at the end of the day] Devereux, Gillings & Akien [sic] decide that everyone must take everything much more seriously

… although it is unclear how seriously we should in turn take this.

As for the Whitcon, the Booklet page with participants' signatures[3] shows a rather clear loopy “W. A. Devereux”.[4]

The January 1945 Directory of Anglofandom also lists “Devereux, W. A.” among active fans.

Post-war, as Alan Devereux he published a single story in the John Carnell-edited Jinn and Jitters (anth 1946) and was a reviewer for Fantasy Review in 1947–9.

Reportedly, Devereux also attended meetings at The Shamrock and later The White Horse and The Globe until at least 1954.

Also several other Devereuxes appear, though without much detail, in later fanzines.[5] Considering the name's rarity they might be relatives/descendants.

Person 1899—1977
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.

  1. ↑ https://www.paulgrellier.co.uk
  2. ↑ https://laboite.com.au/about/history/1920/arms-and-the-man
  3. ↑ Scanned by Rob Hansen: https://fiawol.org.uk//fanstuff/THEN%20Archive/WtBk.htm
  4. ↑ Jack E. Quinn's report in Fantasy Times #63 / V3 #9, September 1948, “as extracted from the Whitcon Booklet” has a list with “W. C. Devereux”, an obvious typo likely influenced by the following “F. C. Herman”, a misreading of F. C. Newman.
  5. ↑ Including this better-unspecified: https://news.ansible.uk/a22.html#09
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