George Airey
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George Alwyn Airey was a fan from Leeds active in the 1930s. He was a member of the Science Fiction Association (SFA).
Airey was a friend of Douglas W. F. Mayer and was one of the people called upon when Mayer wanted to form the quorum necessary for the Leeds group to become a chapter of the Science Fiction League. Around 1936 the group obtained a clubroom in Brunswick Terrace. Herbert Warnes later wrote of his friend Airey in Relapse #21:
I would like to record at this point a tribute to George Airey as it was largely due to his efforts that the club developed as well as it did, and as quickly. George is a very quiet and modest individual not given to blowing his own trumpet, at I would like to emphasise that a great deal of credit should be his which I know he would not claim for, himself. I know of one occasion when he trundled a large armchair a considerable distance over cobbled streets on an old handcart! He provided most of our amenities and creature comforts, making bookcases etc., for our extensive library...
He attended the 1937 Leeds Convention where he was appointed treasurer of the newly formed SFA. Additionally he became librarian of the Leeds SFA chapter. When the group moved to new (rent-free) premises in Roundhay Road this was through the efforts of Airey who worked for a firm of builders and estate agents.
In Novae Terrae #21 he was listed among the “distinguished s-f personalities who have promised to attend” the Second British Convention in 1938. There is however no evidence that he was present. Novae Terrae #26 reported him resigning as SFA treasurer in September 1938.
In the 1945 Directory of Anglo-Fandom his name is marked with an X, indicating “his connection with fandom is known to be finally severed”.
However, in 1987 he was one of two veterans of the 1937 convention to attend a convention called Conception to mark its fiftieth anniversary.
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