Second British Convention

(Did you mean a different Necronomicon?)

The Second British convention was held Sunday April 10, 1938, at the Ancient Order of Druids' Memorial Hall in Lamb's Conduit Street, London. It was sponsored by the Science Fiction Association (SFA). It was at the time only referred to as The Second Convention but was retroactively named Necronomicon in an advertisement for Loncon, the 1957 Worldcon, in the Nycon II programme book.

The venue was, according to the official report:

... the 'temple' of the local branch of the Ancient Order of Druids, suitably disguised with dim lights and the conveners were appreciably impressed by the bizarre surroundings.

Harry Turner commented on its 'impressive papier-mache Stonehenge decor'.

There were 43 people present of whom Rob Hansen has identified 25:

• Ted Carnell (MC)
• G. Ken Chapman (chairman)
• Arthur C. Clarke (steward)
• Frank Dobby
• I. O. Evans
• John Russell Fearn (GoH)
• Vic Gillard
• Walter Gillings
• Albert Griffiths
• Maurice K. Hanson
• John Beynon Harris
• Benson Herbert
• Ron Holmes
• Arthur Janser
• Les Johnson
• E. G. Lane
• Prof. A. M. Low
• Douglas W. F. Mayer
• David McIlwain
• Leslie Smith (steward)
• Bill Temple
• Fred Tozer
• Harry Turner
• Herbert Warnes
• Eric C. Williams (steward)

Sid Birchby is also listed as a steward in the official programme but is not otherwise known to have been present. Harry Turner recalled meeting Frank Arnold there but it was years after the event and Arnold is not mentioned in contemporary reports. Similarly Ron Holmes recalled meeting Sam Youd who definitely wasn't there and it's almost certain that he was conflating memories with their meeting at the Third British Convention in the same venue in 1939 which Youd himself described.

The afternoon session was given over to the AGM of the SFA and saw a change in the group's headquarters from Leeds to London. There was also a vote to elect a president. The nominations were John Russell Fearn, Walter Gillings, John Beynon Harris and Professor A. M. Low, with the latter being appointed after a secret ballot.

The evening session involved speakers:

• Prof. A. M. Low -- The value of SF for society
• Leslie J. Johnson -- Man's quest for something better
• I. O. Evans -- On the evolution of SF
• Walter H. Gillings -- About the difficulties in starting a British prozine
• Douglas W. F. Mayer -- SF as a sociological benefactor
• Benson Herbert -- Blather about "Zukunftsstreben"
• John Russell Fearn -- Something like a GoH speech
• William F. Temple -- "The Diary of a Supper"
• Messages from Overseas -- Messages in support of the convention from, among others, Leo Margulies, Ray Palmer and Oliver Saari

The subsequent official report was compiled by Maurice K. Hanson in collaboration with Ken Chapman and Eric Williams. It included comments from Les Johnson:

My most pleasant memory is in having met old friends and acquaintances in mental substance to those formerly but names. I was impressed by the hall's mystic atmosphere almost under the shadow of Stonehenge, Prof. Low's stimulating wit, John Russell Fearn essentially practical, and Douglas Mayer surprisingly oratorical.

See also Early Conventions.

• Details at Rob Hansen's site including links to the programme booklet and official report.

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Convention
	1938

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