19. ELLA FLIES OUT

SKYRACK 35 (23 Aug 61):

As indicated in the CoA section, Alan Rispin is now down in London, and is sharing a flat with Bruce Burn. Alan, Brian Jordan and Chris Miller roped in Marcus Wigan and held a recent Irlam Minicon. Dave Hall did the washing up. Alan recently hitched through five European countries. Bruce expected at the Parker party Aug 19th which will be held at 36 Warrington Crescent whether or not he makes it! ..... This page written in London prior to the party by Ron Bennett on his annual London holiday. Front page and issue publication possibly held over for news of Ella’s departure to Seattle.

REAL DEADLINE MIDNIGHT STUFF, Saturday 19th August: New side interest for SFCoL fans is ten-pin bowling, a craze which is carrying all before it. At time of writing BSFA Secretary Joe Patrizio holds club championship :: OMPA Editor Bruce Burn arrived back in London three days early on Wednesday.

ELLA PARKER, BIGGEST NAME IN LONDON ACTIFANDOM, FLEW OUT TO THE SEACON ON TUESDAY 22ND, FOLLOWING FAREWELL PARTY THROWN BY SCIENCE FICTION CLUB OF LONDON AT WARRINGTON CRESCENT HOME OF BRUCE BURN AND ALAN RISPIN. THE PARTY BEGAN SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 19TH, AND CONTINUED WELL INTO SUNDAY EVENING WHEN SEVERAL FANS WENT 10 PIN BOWLING. THE PARTY WAS AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS AND ONE OF THE MOST CONVIVIAL I HAVE EVER ATTENDED. DRINK AND FOOD ABOUNDED AND THE PARTY WAS ATTENDED BY BILL TEMPLE, COMPLETE WITH WIFE AND DAUGHTER ANNE, JOE PATRIZIO, TED TUBB, TED FORSYTH, ETHEL LINDSAY, PAUL AND MRS ANDREWS, MARJORIE HARRISON, PETER MABEY, BOBBIE AND BILL GRAY, ARCHIE MERCER (COMPLETE WITH BEARD), PAT KEARNEY, FRED PARKER, ARTHUR & OLIVE THOMPSON, ALAN RISPIN, DIANE GOULDING, BRUCE BURN, DOUG LACEY, RON BENNETT, IAN FAIRBROTHER, IAN & BETTY PETERS, JIMMY GROVES, AL ‘AJAX’ HOCH, JILL & JOHN ADAMS, KEN POTTER AND CHRIS MILLER, AND ELLA PARKER. WHEN ELLA FLEW OFF SHE WAS SEEN OFF BY A PARTY MADE UP OF FRED PARKER, TED FORSYTH, JOE PATRIZIO, RON BENNETT, ALAN RISPIN, BRUCE BURN AND JIMMY GROVES, TO SAY NOTHING OF ARTHUR THOMSON WHO HAD BROUGHT ALONG A CAR BEDECKED WITH GOOD LUCK ATOM-STYLE NOTICES (“GAGARIN, TITOV AND NOW PARKER”). ARTHUR TOLD AMAZED OFFICIALS THAT WE WERE ALL ELLA’S HUSBANDS AND HAD COME TO SAY GOODBYE TO HER, AND ALSO THAT SHE HAS A THREE WEEK BURLESQUE ENGAGEMENT IN NEVADA. ARTHUR ADMITTED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ILLOS HE HAD GIVEN ELLA TO TAKE WITH HER, THIS FOLLOWING THE THEFT OF THE £140,00 GOYA FROM THE LONDON NATIONAL GALLERY.

– RMB


scan supplied by Bill Burns

AXE 11 (Sept 61):

Arthur Thomson and Len Moffatt sent us reports of Ella's travels, which we must condense ruthlessly for lack of space. Ella left from London Airport on Aug 22. The farewell party at Bruce Burn's flat in Maida Vale was a swinging affair that swung from Saturday Aug 19 through the 20th. Attendance was 20-30, including such notables as Bill Temple, Ted Tubb, Bobby & Bill Grey, Jill Adams and her husband, and Archie Mercer complete with new beard, goggles and crash helmet up from Lincoln on his newly-acquired motor scooter, as well as the boys and girls of the SFCoL.

After going home at about 5am on Sunday, Atom recovered enough to go back around 3pm to find those hardy souls still left trekking out to a recently-opened bowling alley to see how steady their hands were....

Ella arrived in Los Angeles Aug 23 at about 9:30pm and was met by the Moffatts and Rick Sneary. Thursday the Moffatts took her sightseeing, then to the Ackermansion, and finally to the usual club meeting. Ella presented LASFS with an Atom-illuminated invitation to become honorary members of the SFCoL, which they gleefully and gratefully accepted. She also presented Rick with a St. Fantony emblem badge to go with his sword and title of Esquire. And the club presented Ella with a copy of THE WILLIS PAPERS, hot off the Gestetner. She gave a short but lively talk and received a standing ovation.

- Larry & Noreen Shaw

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