About the Club

Huddersfield Circle of Magicians is a lively magic club for anyone with a genuine interest in performing magic. We meet regularly at Skelmanthorpe Community Centre, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield where we hold a wide range of activities including lectures by visiting magicians, demonstrations by members, competitions and social evenings.

The club was founded in 1949 by a group of magicians and magic enthusiasts in order to share, encourage and nurture magic and magicians of all levels of ability and interest.

It is predominantly a performing society and we like to go out and entertain when and where we can.

We regularly have visiting professional magicians giving lectures, and also organise visits to other local clubs when they have lectures. Visits are occasionally arranged to magic dealers so that you can browse new products or pick up a bargain.

How To Join Us

If you perform magic and are interested in joining our club please get in touch with us via our Facebook page (link below) or use the form on the Contact page of this website.

We are a friendly and welcoming society and always happy to recruit new members. Whatever aspect of the art of magic you are interested in there is sure to be an existing member who shares your passion and will be willing to help you.

We regularly have visiting professional magicians giving lectures, and also organise visits to other local clubs when they have lectures. Visits are also arranged to magic dealers so that you can browse new products or pick up a bargain.

You will get the opportunity, if you wish, to perform in one of our competitions and also when we visit other clubs to entertain their members.

We have several social events throughout the year including a Christmas party and many other gatherings with our families and friends.

We hold many events during the year such as the Trick of the Year Competition, the Children's Entertainer of the Year competition, lectures by visiting magicians and the Christmas Dinner.

Club History

 Way back in 1949, seven like-minded gentlemen with a shared interest in Magic formed a little group. We have a lot to thanks them for. They were: Frank Cooper (1^st President) A.L. Preston (2^nd president), W. Royce Walker (3^rd president) , Robert H Ward (5^th president), Maurice Taylor (8^th president), Harold G. Beaumont & Brian Oldroyd. The latter two did not hold the honourable position of President.

 W. Royce’s daughter provided the society with an insight and some of her father’s mementos a couple of years ago. Brian Oldroyd was the last surviving founder and we were fortunate to meet him at the 60th Anniversary Show. By the November of 1949 their number had grown to 11. I have been lucky enough to have met and know three of the founders, along with 16 of the 30 Served Presidents. In my 23 years membership I have obviously known all as the years flew by.

Sadly I also knew those who have left this stage to perform for a greater audience. Mike Kinder who was called during the first Dinner Ann & I attended. Rovi was the guest performer that year and had the onerous duty of performing around the tables once we had been ushered into a different room. Maurice Roberts and the paramedics tried to bring Mike back to us. Also taken from us were Maurice Taylor who was still performing well into his 80’s. His Misers Dream and Thumb Tie antics had to be seen to be believed. Frank Butterfield who supported the Society well after he stopped attending regularly. Then there were Terry Belch and David Marsden both of whom were well known to most of our current members.

Here is a link to the past presidents of the club.