Difference between revisions of "Coroncon"

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''(For other Loncons, see [[Loncon (Disambiguation)]].)''
 
''(For other Loncons, see [[Loncon (Disambiguation)]].)''
  
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'''Coroncon''', more formally the '''London Science Fiction Convention 1953''', was the 1953 [[Eastercon]], held May 23–24, 1953 (Whitsun weekend), at the Bonnington Hotel on Southampton Row in [[London]]. There was no [[GoH]]. [[Fred Brown]] (chaiman). Other committee members aren't named but were presumably London fans..
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'''Coroncon''', more formally the '''London Science Fiction Convention 1953''', was the 1953 [[Eastercon]], held May 23–24, 1953 (Whitsun weekend), at the Bonnington Hotel on Southampton Row in [[London]]. There was no [[GoH]]. [[Fred Brown]] was the [[chairman]] and [[Dorothy Ratigan]] the secretary<ref>So described in ''[[Space Times]]'' #11 (May 1953).</ref>. Other committee members aren't named but were presumably London fans.
  
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Arguably, this was the first modern [[British]] [[SF convention]], setting the standard for all that came afterwards.  As [[Rob Hansen]] notes, "among the new ideas to emerge there were [[name-badges]], [[James White]]'s [[zap-guns]] (a.k.a. water pistols), and [[room-parties]]." It was named "Coroncon" because 1953 was the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
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Coroncon continued the evolution of UK conventions. Hotel venues had been used since 1951 but this was the first where a significant number of attendees stayed on site, and thus the first to see [[room parties]], and the first to use name [[badges]]. It was also scene to the ongoing schism between fans from London and those from the north, particularly [[Manchester]]. It was named 'Coroncon' because 1953 was the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. [[Ken Bulmer]] had originally proposed the name 'Coronvention' and the convention was also variously referred to as 'Boncon' and 'Loncon '53'.  
  
 
== Preparations ==
 
== Preparations ==
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The main venue for the Saturday and Sunday was The Bonnington Hotel on Southampton Row in London. It remains in business as of 2024. ''Fantasy Times'' #179 said that, 'Unlike previous Conventions in London, most conventioneers stayed over at the Bonnington Hotel, and for the first time the whole atmosphere took on the semblance of an American Convention'.
 
The main venue for the Saturday and Sunday was The Bonnington Hotel on Southampton Row in London. It remains in business as of 2024. ''Fantasy Times'' #179 said that, 'Unlike previous Conventions in London, most conventioneers stayed over at the Bonnington Hotel, and for the first time the whole atmosphere took on the semblance of an American Convention'.
  
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As at [[Festivention]] and the [[London SF Con]], preliminary sessions were again held at the [[White Horse]] pub in Fetter Lane on the Friday. This had also been the venue for the 1948 [[Whitcon]].
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As at [[Festivention]] and the [[London SF Con]], preliminary sessions were again held at the [[White Horse]] pub in Fetter Lane on the Friday and presumably Thursday as this would have been the night of the regular meeting. This had also been the venue for the 1948 [[Whitcon]].
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== Attendees ==
 
== Attendees ==
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''Fantasy Times'' #179 mentions 'a very fine spaceship play written by Canadian Bill Morse and Londoner [[Terry Wright]]'. However, Wright isn't mentioned in any of the Coroncon reporting and as of 2024 the name hasn't been located anywhere else. The programme book listed [[Matt Elder]] of [[Glasgow]] among 'a list of the fans who are active in Provincial Science Fiction Groups and other parts of the British Isles and whom, if all goes well, we hope to see at the Convention' but he is not mentioned in any reports so we don't know if he was in fact present.
 
''Fantasy Times'' #179 mentions 'a very fine spaceship play written by Canadian Bill Morse and Londoner [[Terry Wright]]'. However, Wright isn't mentioned in any of the Coroncon reporting and as of 2024 the name hasn't been located anywhere else. The programme book listed [[Matt Elder]] of [[Glasgow]] among 'a list of the fans who are active in Provincial Science Fiction Groups and other parts of the British Isles and whom, if all goes well, we hope to see at the Convention' but he is not mentioned in any reports so we don't know if he was in fact present.
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== The convention ==
 +
 +
As with previous London conventions, fans gathered in the White Horse on Friday. [[Fred Robinson]] was surprised to find the place only 'comfortably half-full' at around 9pm. AS well as London fans, those present included the Bea Mahaffey, Rita Krohne, Jesse Floyd, Bill Harding, the Willises and James White.
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== Publications ==
 +
 +
As previously noted, the flyer implied the existence of 'News Bulletin's but as of 2024 none have been traced. A 20-page programme book was distributed. There was seemingly no post-convention souvenir nor any obvious plan for one.
 +
 +
== Future conventions ==
 +
 +
Coroncon had been selected over competing bids for Manchester and Bradford and took place against a background of tension between London and especially Manchester fandom. [[Dave Cohen]] spoke on Saturday, criticising the London fans for not supporting [[Mancon]]. [[Fred Brown]] responded, claiming somewhat implausibly not to have known about Mancon, and [[Bert Campbell]] made things worse by saying that Northerners  couldn't expect celebrities to come to their convention. [[Fred Robinson]] (from Cardiff) wrote later that perhaps the best model was a the annual 'big' convention in London focussed on the professional side of the community supplemented by a 'fancon' in Manchester or Liverpool for, by and about fandom.
  
 
* {{conpubs|series=Eastercon|con={{PAGENAME}}}}.
 
* {{conpubs|series=Eastercon|con={{PAGENAME}}}}.
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{{fancy2|text=
 
{{fancy2|text=
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([[Ken Bulmer|Bulmer]]) The [[London]] con of 1953, named after some mundane event or other that took place that year; christened thus ten seconds after the proposal for a con in 1953 had been mooted (at the '52 con, also in [[London]]). It was held at the Bonnington Hotel during the same weekend the Queen's Army Schoolmistresses Reunion [!!!] took place there. Site of the '''Roofcon''', and notorious for the quelling by unplayful porters of night [[Room Party|party sessions]].  
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([[Ken Bulmer|Bulmer]]) The [[London]] con of 1953, named after some mundane event or other that took place that year; christened thus ten seconds after the proposal for a con in 1953 had been mooted (at the '52 con, also in [[London]])<ref>Not technically correct. According to Walt Willis, Ken Bulmer proposed 'Coronvention'.</ref>. It was held at the Bonnington Hotel during the same weekend the Queen's Army Schoolmistresses Reunion<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Army_Schoolmistresses Queen's Army Schoolmistresses] at wikipedia.org. Essentially female teachers who taught the children of soldiers at garrisons schools. A linked article confirms that reunions took place in London at Whitsun and in November.</ref> took place there. Site of the '''Roofcon''', and notorious for the quelling by unplayful porters of night [[Room Party|party sessions]].  
 
}}
 
}}
  
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<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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{{convention | series=Eastercon | year=1953 | before=London SF Con |after=Supermancon |locale=London, England, UK}}
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{{convention | series=Eastercon | year=1953 | before=London SF Con |after=Supermancon |locale=London, UK}}
 
[[Category:eastercon]]
 
[[Category:eastercon]]
 
[[Category:fancy2]]
 
[[Category:fancy2]]
 
[[Category:UK]]
 
[[Category:UK]]

Revision as of 07:18, 22 October 2024

(For other Loncons, see Loncon (Disambiguation).)

Coroncon, more formally the London Science Fiction Convention 1953, was the 1953 Eastercon, held May 23–24, 1953 (Whitsun weekend), at the Bonnington Hotel on Southampton Row in London. There was no GoH. Fred Brown was the chairman and Dorothy Ratigan the secretary[1]. Other committee members aren't named but were presumably London fans.

Coroncon continued the evolution of UK conventions. Hotel venues had been used since 1951 but this was the first where a significant number of attendees stayed on site, and thus the first to see room parties, and the first to use name badges. It was also scene to the ongoing schism between fans from London and those from the north, particularly Manchester. It was named 'Coroncon' because 1953 was the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Ken Bulmer had originally proposed the name 'Coronvention' and the convention was also variously referred to as 'Boncon' and 'Loncon '53'.

Preparations[edit]

The convention won a contested bid at the London SF Con of 1952, easily defeating rivals Manchester and Bradford. A convention flyer of unknown date says that News Bulletins will be sent to members of the Society but as of 2024 no copies have been traced.

Membership fees were 2/6d for the 'convention society' plus 5/- per day. Teenagers and 'ladies' were half-price.

Venue[edit]

The main venue for the Saturday and Sunday was The Bonnington Hotel on Southampton Row in London. It remains in business as of 2024. Fantasy Times #179 said that, 'Unlike previous Conventions in London, most conventioneers stayed over at the Bonnington Hotel, and for the first time the whole atmosphere took on the semblance of an American Convention'.

As at Festivention and the London SF Con, preliminary sessions were again held at the White Horse pub in Fetter Lane on the Friday and presumably Thursday as this would have been the night of the regular meeting. This had also been the venue for the 1948 Whitcon.

Attendees[edit]

There is seemingly no published membership list. Fantasy Times #179 (June 1953) said the convention, 'averaged 152 attendees both days'. The following are either mentioned in contemporary reports or appear in photos. Names marked * are family members of attendees who likely weren't fans per se.

  1. Frank Arnold
  2. Dave Barker[2]
  3. Eric Bentcliffe
  4. Bryan Berry
  5. Fred Brown
  6. John Brunner
  7. Daphne Buckmaster
  8. Ron Buckmaster
  9. Ken Bulmer
  10. Brian Burgess
  11. Bert Campbell
  12. Peter Campbell
  13. Ted Carnell
  14. Vin¢ Clarke
  15. Dave Cohen
  16. Tony Cooper
  17. Jack J. Curle
  18. Ron Deacon
  19. Philip Duerr
  20. Charles Duncombe
  21. Frances Evans
  22. R. A. Fairthorne
  23. Les Flood
  24. Jesse Floyd
  25. Georges Gallet
  26. Dave Gardner
  27. Denis Gifford
  28. Maurice Goldsmith
  29. Bill Harding
  30. Peter Hamilton
  31. Paul Hammett
  32. Ernest Harmer
  33. Chuck Harris
  34. George Hay
  35. Arthur F. Hillman
  36. L. Ron Hubbard
  37. Jimmy Ivins
  38. Terry Jeeves
  39. Ken Johnson
  40. Eric Jones
  41. Rita Krohne
  42. Brian Lewis
  43. Bea Mahaffey
  44. Shirley Marriott
  45. Frank Milnes
  46. Jim Mooney
  47. Alex Morrison
  48. Bill Morse
  49. D. Peter Ogden
  50. Nic Oosterbaan
  51. Mary Patchett
  52. Peter Phillips
  53. Ken Potter
  54. Bill Price
  55. Fred Price
  56. Jim Ratigan
  57. Dorothy Ratigan
  58. Fred Robinson
  59. John Roles
  60. Sandy Sanderson
  61. Ken Slater
  62. Norman Shorrock
  63. Mr Solibakke
  64. Louise Solibakke
  65. Pete Taylor
  66. Mike Tealby
  67. Bill Temple
  68. Jeanne Thorne *
  69. Tony Thorne
  70. Ted Tubb
  71. Brian Varley
  72. Norman Wansborough
  73. Norman Weedall
  74. James White
  75. Walt Willis
  76. Madeleine Willis
  77. Helen Winick
  78. Dave Wood
  79. Sam Youd

Fantasy Times #179 mentions 'a very fine spaceship play written by Canadian Bill Morse and Londoner Terry Wright'. However, Wright isn't mentioned in any of the Coroncon reporting and as of 2024 the name hasn't been located anywhere else. The programme book listed Matt Elder of Glasgow among 'a list of the fans who are active in Provincial Science Fiction Groups and other parts of the British Isles and whom, if all goes well, we hope to see at the Convention' but he is not mentioned in any reports so we don't know if he was in fact present.

The convention[edit]

As with previous London conventions, fans gathered in the White Horse on Friday. Fred Robinson was surprised to find the place only 'comfortably half-full' at around 9pm. AS well as London fans, those present included the Bea Mahaffey, Rita Krohne, Jesse Floyd, Bill Harding, the Willises and James White.

Publications[edit]

As previously noted, the flyer implied the existence of 'News Bulletin's but as of 2024 none have been traced. A 20-page programme book was distributed. There was seemingly no post-convention souvenir nor any obvious plan for one.

Future conventions[edit]

Coroncon had been selected over competing bids for Manchester and Bradford and took place against a background of tension between London and especially Manchester fandom. Dave Cohen spoke on Saturday, criticising the London fans for not supporting Mancon. Fred Brown responded, claiming somewhat implausibly not to have known about Mancon, and Bert Campbell made things worse by saying that Northerners couldn't expect celebrities to come to their convention. Fred Robinson (from Cardiff) wrote later that perhaps the best model was a the annual 'big' convention in London focussed on the professional side of the community supplemented by a 'fancon' in Manchester or Liverpool for, by and about fandom.

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959
(Bulmer) The London con of 1953, named after some mundane event or other that took place that year; christened thus ten seconds after the proposal for a con in 1953 had been mooted (at the '52 con, also in London)[3]. It was held at the Bonnington Hotel during the same weekend the Queen's Army Schoolmistresses Reunion[4] took place there. Site of the Roofcon, and notorious for the quelling by unplayful porters of night party sessions.

____

  1. ↑ So described in Space Times #11 (May 1953).
  2. ↑ The assumption is that this is the person referred to as 'Dai Barker' in the membership list of the British Teenage Fantasy and Science Fiction Society. Dai is sometimes used as a diminutive for David.
  3. ↑ Not technically correct. According to Walt Willis, Ken Bulmer proposed 'Coronvention'.
  4. ↑ Queen's Army Schoolmistresses at wikipedia.org. Essentially female teachers who taught the children of soldiers at garrisons schools. A linked article confirms that reunions took place in London at Whitsun and in November.
London SF Con Eastercon Supermancon
1953
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