Difference between revisions of "Romiley Fan Veterans & Scottish Dancing Society"

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  Since the meeting, wild and persistent rumours are flying round the village. One of these is that there is a move to merge all the active fan groups into a national amalgamation to be known as the Romiley, Torbay<ref>Likely Torquay is meant. Clearly the RFV&SDS were not strong on geography.</ref>, & [[London]] Scottish Dancing, Lampshade Makers, Happy Fan Veterans & Promiscuous Snogging Society, with HQ at [[Belfast]].
 
  Since the meeting, wild and persistent rumours are flying round the village. One of these is that there is a move to merge all the active fan groups into a national amalgamation to be known as the Romiley, Torbay<ref>Likely Torquay is meant. Clearly the RFV&SDS were not strong on geography.</ref>, & [[London]] Scottish Dancing, Lampshade Makers, Happy Fan Veterans & Promiscuous Snogging Society, with HQ at [[Belfast]].
  
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The Torquay Happy Fan and Lampshade Makers' Society was the notional sf group in Torquay that was in all probability just [[Nigel Lindsay]], who was himself nominated for membership (#4). Initially it was said that he 'has not cleared himself of the charge of being under-cover man for the dreaded Romiley Fan Dancers' but by the end of #4:
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The [[Torquay Happy Fan and Lampshade Makers' Society]] was the notional sf group in Torquay that was in all probability just [[Nigel Lindsay]], who was himself nominated for membership (#4). Initially it was said that he 'has not cleared himself of the charge of being under-cover man for the dreaded Romiley Fan Dancers' but by the end of #4:
  
 
  We are happy to announce that Nigel Lindsay has renounced all affinities with the Fan Dancers and has been welcomed to the Hallowed Ranks of the RFV&SDS. (But he'll have to watch his step!)
 
  We are happy to announce that Nigel Lindsay has renounced all affinities with the Fan Dancers and has been welcomed to the Hallowed Ranks of the RFV&SDS. (But he'll have to watch his step!)

Latest revision as of 04:12, 13 December 2024

Ethel Lindsay's RFV&SDS membership card, 1955, courtesy of Rob Hansen

The Romiley Fan Veterans & Scottish Dancing Society (RFV&SDS) is explained in the first issue of Now & Then (August 1954): 

When the Turner family moved into the village of Romiley[1], in the County of Chester[2], it found that two major activities of the outside world were sadly neglected. There are no fans here; there are no Scottish dancers. Immediate action was taken to remedy this defect and the ROMILEY FAN VETERANS & SCOTTISH DANCING SOCIETY was founded in April of this year [1954]. Founder members are Harry Turner and Eric Needham; associate membership is automatically bestowed upon all fans who visit 10 Carlton Avenue[3]. Our junior section – Phil, Bill, and Bob Turner – is carrying out an extensive propaganda drive to wean the youth of Romiley from 'cowboys and Indians' and popularise spacemen and BEMs. News for Scottish dancers will appear in future issues...

Now & Then #3 (March 1955) brought an update on recruitment: 

Local propaganda having produced no results, we are reduced to enrolling all fans who stray into the Cheshire countryside and visit the Sacred Place of Romiley. This pilgrimage to HQ may be waived at the Founders' discretion so that membership can be conferred upon deserving fans in remote corners of the Queen's Realm and Other Lands.

Now & Then #4 (June 1955) brought news of the first AGM, attended by out-of-town fans on their way to Cytricon, the 1955 Eastercon in Kettering. It also said that: 

Since the meeting, wild and persistent rumours are flying round the village. One of these is that there is a move to merge all the active fan groups into a national amalgamation to be known as the Romiley, Torbay[4], & London Scottish Dancing, Lampshade Makers, Happy Fan Veterans & Promiscuous Snogging Society, with HQ at Belfast.

The Torquay Happy Fan and Lampshade Makers' Society was the notional sf group in Torquay that was in all probability just Nigel Lindsay, who was himself nominated for membership (#4). Initially it was said that he 'has not cleared himself of the charge of being under-cover man for the dreaded Romiley Fan Dancers' but by the end of #4: 

We are happy to announce that Nigel Lindsay has renounced all affinities with the Fan Dancers and has been welcomed to the Hallowed Ranks of the RFV&SDS. (But he'll have to watch his step!)

Members of the RFV&SDS and the issue of Now & Then in which their memberships were announced. Names marked * are where the 'pilgrimage' to Romiley was waived:

____

  1. ↑ Romiley at Wikipedia where the RFV&SDS goes criminally unnoted.
  2. ↑ At the risk of injecting seriousness into the RFV&SDS, this looks like a typo for 'Cheshire'.
  3. ↑ The Turner family home.
  4. ↑ Likely Torquay is meant. Clearly the RFV&SDS were not strong on geography.
  5. ↑ Described as 'an ex-RAF type who isn't a fan but has the right temperament'.
Club 1954—????
This is a club page. Please extend it by adding information about when and where the club met, when and by whom it was founded, how long it was active, notable accomplishments, well-known members, clubzines, any conventions it ran, external links to the club's website, other club pages, etc.

When there's a floreat (Fl.), this indicates the time or times for which we have found evidence that the club existed. This is probably not going to represent the club's full lifetime, so please update it if you can!

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