Pat Darrell
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(???? – )
Pat Darrell was (possibly) a fan from the UK active in the 1950s. The name appears in Ron Bennett's Directory of Science Fiction Fandom for 1955 with a c/o address in Dukinfield in Cheshire, listed as 'P. Darrell' which would normally suggested a male fan. Darrell was a member of the Romiley Fan Veterans & Scottish Dancing Society and contributed three Widowers 'advertisements' to Now & Then #3 (March 1955).
Space Diversions #7 (December 1953) includes a letter from Darrell:
I am very much a neo-fan: I am somewhat confused about it all! Dave[1] seemed wrapped up in sf, whereas Harry T. hardly seemed interested. As I have some experience of market research I think it would be an amusing and entertaining job to try out a survey on fandom: it would certainly enlighten me a little as to the reasons for its being!
Another letter appears in Hyphen #8 (April 1954).
Triode #8 (Autumn 1956) includes a letter from Harry Turner, saying:
Don't know if Archie still suspects me of being a hoax. As Mike Wallace has gone so quiet, I have worked off a little fanarchist feeling by writing an experimental letter to Archie encouraging his hoax theory. It may liven things up a little, they've been quiet of late!
The next issue (#9, January 1957) features a letter from Mercer:
Then there's this Turner Hoax. Can I further it? Dunno. What I received was a card in Turner-type calligraphy signed 'Patricia M Darrel [sic], Miss' stating that she wasn't carrying on with the hoax any longer, any further letters for 'Harry Turner' would be forwarded to Eric Needham who would, no doubt, soon find another accommodation address for his pseudonym. Now, said Pat Darrell, Miss character may be a hoax him, her, or itself – because the formula used is usually plain 'Pat Darrell' without any indication as to gender. Pat Darrell (female variety) was, of course, a character in One in Three Hundred[2]; but the name has appeared in fanzine lettercols etc - and 'P. Darrell" appears in the the Anglo Fan Directory[3] - though not under a Romiley address. (Dukinfield, wherever in Cheshire that happens to be ((Near Hyde... which will probably appeal to suspicious minds[4])) is the address quoted) Anyway, what the hell am I supposed to do? Guess?
It seems we in the twenty-first century must do the same.
____
- ↑ Not clear which Dave this is. Dave Gardner perhaps, based on the previous issue?
- ↑ A 1953 novel by J. T. McIntosh.
- ↑ As noted above, in the 1955 edition. But not thereafter.
- ↑ About five miles from Romily where Turner lived.
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