THE SHERLOCK HOLMES SOCIETY OF LONDON
Founded as The Sherlock Holmes Society in 1934
A CAPITAL RETURN!
The London Mini-Festival Weekend
Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd May 2016
The Society is continuing its tradition of putting on a weekend of Sherlockian events in London. All members and their guests are cordially invited – we hope you will find something of interest. As always, we have done our best to keep costs to a minimum. Inevitably London, like all capital cities, is expensive. It is, however, where Holmes and Watson lived and worked and there is, therefore, absolutely nowhere like it!
Applications for the various events must be received by Thursday 12th May at the latest, together with the appropriate remittance, where applicable. All prices quoted are per person. We regret the numbers for some events are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis, so please apply early. Where a meal is specified, a vegetarian or fish alternative can be provided, provided they are ordered in advance. All prices are inclusive of room hire, service and VAT. All drinks are on a cash basis and must be paid for individually at the time. Dress at Society functions is usually smart-casual. In particular at the events at London clubs, gentlemen are asked to wear jackets and ties – trainers are definitely not allowed. This is a common requirement in London clubs and we have to abide by it.
PROGRAMME
Thursday 19th May 2016 Evening
Annual General Meeting
The Society’s AGM will be held at The Savage Club, housed in the premises of the National Liberal Club at 1, Whitehall Place, London, SW1, at 6.00 for 6.45pm. The National Liberal Club is located on the corner of Whitehall Place and the Victoria Embankment, not far from Embankment Underground Station, and also conveniently placed for Charing Cross main line station. It is usually possible to find a parking space in the vicinity at this time in the evening – although you may have to pay the congestion charge. http://www.savageclub.com/
Members and their guests may opt to attend the meeting only at no charge, or to dine beforehand at a cost of £42.00 per head. This includes VAT and service but not drinks, which must be paid for on the day. For those who choose to dine, the meal will comprise Beef, Mushroom and Ale Pie followed by White Chocolate and Lime Mousse with a Sablé Biscuit, Coffee and Mints. A vegetarian or fish alternative main course may be ordered in advance – please specify if you want this on the application form.
A cash bar will be open either in the Savage Club Room on the ground floor or in the Smoking Room on the first floor 6.00pm. After the meeting, members may use the National Liberal Club bar. Dinner will be served promptly at 6.45pm in the David Lloyd George Room on the first floor and will be followed by the AGM, from around 8pm. We anticipate that the meeting will finish around 9.45pm, though many members stay on to chat.
After the formal business of the evening we present Ian Keable - a professional magician, who specialises in comedy magic and mind reading, and lecturer. He has written a book, and performs a show, about Charles Dickens as a conjurer. His talks cover 18th century hoaxes (including one on the Cock Lane Ghost, the precursor to Victorian Spiritualism) through to the graphic satirical artists, James Gillray and George Cruikshank.
For tonight's entertainment, Ian will be displaying his 'Sherlockian' mind reading skills and giving some demonstrations of Spiritualist stunts that Holmes's creator might have witnessed. All put together with an appropriate dash of levity.
As this is a professional engagement for Mr. Keable, there is a small additional charge for this part of the evening of £6 per person.
· Meet at the Savage Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1 from 6pm onwards: nearest tube Embankment
· Charge for those opting to dine beforehand: £42.00 US$84.00
· Charge for those attending the magic show (not included in the price of the dinner): £6.00 US$12.00
· There is no charge for attending just the AGM
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Society’s latest publication on the night of the AGM.
Let Me Recommend This Book is the delayed scholarly work arising out of the Society visit to William Gladstone’s famous Hawarden Library in 2013. Edited by Bob Ellis and Roger Johnson, contributors include David Jones, Guy Marriott, Nick Utechin, Jonathan Hopson and Martin Edwards.
This is a splendid 56-page addition to the rosta of Society handbooks that began in 1979.
For UK members, the cost is £7.75 (incl. p&p), BUT if you attend the AGM, you will be able to pick up a copy for £6.50 on the night. There will be no further opportunity so to do.
This is good value for a limited edition example of Society scholarship and is the first result of a new Society push on the publishing front – so do please back our efforts on your behalf.
You can buy on the night (by cheque or cash); but it would be very helpful to us if you tick the indicated box on this form to say you will purchase a copy/copies.
Friday 20th May 2016 Afternoon
Tea on the Terrace of the House of Lords
We are delighted to invite members to a Traditional Afternoon Tea at The Cholmondeley Room and Terrace in the House of Lords. We are most grateful to our sponsor The Lord Horam who is sponsoring our visit as a sitting Member of the House of Lords, a requirement for all functions held in this unique venue. Afternoon Tea will be served from 3.30pm onwards and will feature –
Indian Tea served with a selection of Cucumber,
Tomato, Egg & Cress and Poached Salmon with Mayonnaise sandwiches
followed by
Freshly Baked Scones with Jam and Cream
and a Selection of assorted Cakes and Pastries
Security at the House of Lords is necessarily strict, and admission will be by formal invitation only: for this reason we need to know the full name of your guest if you are bringing one. Successful applicants will receive personalised invitation cards which will have to be produced for the police on the afternoon in order to gain entrance to the building. If you expect to be away at that time please give an address to which mail should be sent to ensure safe receipt. The cost of the Tea is £23.00 / US$46.00 - the magnificent views of the Thames skyline are free!
Numbers will be strictly limited to 120 members and guests; early booking is advised.
· Meet at 3.00pm; Enter via Black Rod's Garden - details willbe on the Invitation cards; nearest tube Westminster.
· Charge - £23.00/ US$46.00 per person.
· Please enclose an SAE as tickets will be issued for this event
Friday 20th May 2016 Evening
"I only wished to ask you how you would go from here to the Strand."
The Strand Magazine was first published in January 1891.
2016 marks its 125th anniversary and also the 125th anniversary of the publication of the first Sherlock Holmes short story “A Scandal in Bohemia”.
Our meeting this evening will focus on The Strand Magazine and we are fortunate to have as our speaker Geraldine Beare. Geraldine is a long-standing member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and she also has the distinction of being the Chairman of The Poor Folk upon the Moor, The Sherlock Holmes Society of the South West of England. Despite its name, this is a delightful, witty and warm Society and we are very pleased to congratulate them upon their 25th anniversary this year.
Geraldine is particularly well qualified to speak on this subject as she indexed The Strand Magazine in 1982 and subsequently selected a range of short stories from The Strand which were compiled into 3 volumes and published by the Folio Society - one of which was recently re-issued by them. She has also indexed all the images in Punch from 1890-1970, helped to index the Pathé newsreels which formed the basis of those you can now access online and indexed The Sherlock Holmes Journal (1952-2002). Apart from indexing, Geraldine gives day-courses on a variety of Social History subjects as well as occasional talks to local societies.
The iconic cover illustration of The Strand Magazine shows a view looking east down the Strand to St Mary Le Strand. The initial view showed Burleigh Street, which was the location of the original office of the magazine before it moved to Southampton Street, two roads along. Our meeting will be held in the Strand Palace Hotel which is on The Strand and is between Burleigh Street and Southampton Street. The view east from the front of the hotel is remarkably similar, despite the passage of time.
The meeting will commence at 7pm and coffee will be available. The cost of the event is £12.00.
· Meet at 7pm at The Strand Palace Hotel
· Charge - £12.00/ US$24.00 per person. Coffee will be available.
Saturday 21st May 2016 Daytime
The British Museum and The Plough
“I would ask you what do you know of the Emperor Shomu and how do you associate him with the Shoso-in near Nara? Dear me, does that puzzle you? Tell me a little about the Northern Wei dynasty and its place in the history of ceramics.”
Join us at the British Museum for a guided tour of the The Percival David Collection. Within this gallery of almost 1,700 objects are examples of the finest Chinese ceramics in the world, dating from the 3rd to the 20th century and amongst other items there are a large number of fine Ming dynasty (1368-1644) porcelains.
We will meet at 2.15pm at the steps to the Museum on Great Russell Street.
Our guide will be Jean Martin a recognised authority upon Chinese pottery. She has lived in Singapore and Malaysia. She read Art and Archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS); which included two units of Chinese Ceramics at the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Artin Gordon Square. Jean Martin was an Assistant Curator at the Percival David Foundation and from 1992 – 2005 Secretary Administrator of the OrientalCeramic Society.
The British Museum is mentioned a number of times in the Sherlock Holmes stories and in particular Mr. Holmes investigated Stapleton's reputation and read up on voodooism on the premises.
After our tour we will adjourn to The Plough, a local public house, where we have arranged exclusive use of the upper room for the Dr Hill Barton Chinese pottery quiz and a well-deserved cup of tea. In the tradition established by Dr Watson all participants have a period of no more than 24 hours to become expert in this subject and prepare for the quiz by whatever means they wish.
Many of you will recall the story of Henry Baker who was a member of the Alpha Inn Goose Club. The Plough is generally recognised to be the original for the Alpha Inn.
This event, including the cup of tea, is entirely free but numbers are limited so early booking is advised.
· Meet at 2.15pm at the steps to the Museum on Great Russell Street; nearest tube Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street and Russell Square
· Charge - There is no charge for this event
· Please note numbers are limited to 39
Sunday 22nd May 2016 Daytime
“The Howling Desert of South London”
Sherlock Holmes and Lambeth
“Wandsworth Road,” said my companion. “Priory Road. Lark Hall Lane. Stockwell Place. Robert Street. Coldharbour Lane. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions.”
Come with us on a charabanc ride, over to the Surrey side! When we think of Sherlock Holmes and London we think of Baker Street ... Whitehall ... Westminster ...
But more of the detective’s investigations took place on the other side of the river, in South London, and from the start the Borough of Lambeth was most fertile area for crime and intrigue. The events recorded in Dr Watson’s very first chronicle were played out in Lambeth, and much of the second as well.
Our vintage Regal IV bus will depart from the Embankment, opposite Embankment Underground Station, at 2.00pm sharp, for a tour of important locations from A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, “The Blue Carbuncle” and “The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax”, as well as the former homes of two illustrious actors. Your guide will be Roger Johnson, who has drawn gratefully on the researches of Bernard Davies and John Weber in planning this very special excursion.
The tour is expected to take three hours, returning to the Embankment at 5.00pm. There should be time for a refreshment break towards the end, but much will depend on traffic conditions. In any case, we strongly advise passengers to bring a bottle of water or soft drink. (No alcohol, please!)
The bus has a strict limit of 39 passengers, so early booking is recommended.
· Meet at Embankment Tube Station – riverside exit – for departure promptly at 2.00pm
· Charge - £16.00/US$32.00 adults per person
· Please note numbers are limited to 39
DIARY 2016-2017
DIARY 2016
30th April Eton cricket match
2nd July PG Wodehouse Society cricket match
2nd – 4th September Weekend - Christ’s College, Cambridge
17th October The Richard Lancelyn Green Lecture – Holmes on
Television
18th November Film Evening