IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MIXED EMOTION DAYS. Sadness at the early passing of Chris Pratt, one of The Magic Circle’s outstanding and long serving officers together with the warm exchange of memories and highlights of a man who enjoyed his magic and gave so much to the art in all directions. Over two hundred people gathered at St. Mary’s Church at North Mymms, near his home at Brookmans Park- from the family, from the legal profession, from magic, from all directions to pay tribute to one of the nicest people who ever waved a magic wand.

Sadness was temporarily swept to one side as people observed one of Chris’s last requests – no black ties! The mood of the occasion was set with the music that opened the service – the theme from “Dances with Wolves” followed by a welcome from the Rev. Mary Robbins who conducted the service. Intermixed with traditional hymns were heartfelt tributes from his family, his colleagues, and his friends in and out of magic. His sister-in-law Anne, Father Richard, David Beckley MIMC, Judge Tim Workman, Judge Peter Wallis, Michael Bailey MIMC, his daughter-in-law Claire and the Rev. Peter Liddelow AIMC, Chaplain to The Magic Circle

Chris would not have wanted this to be a sad occasion and so, star performer to the end, the service concluded with a recording of Shirley Bassey singing “I thank you for the years” The tea and cakes refreshments served later were really a mini magic convention in a perfect English setting – a 14th century church where the vicar was the Rev. Davenport and buried in the adjoining cemetery was a certain Dennis Spicer, top ventriloquist who was killed in the 60’s. It was a sad but magical occasion – as Chris would have wished.

Filed under: Magic Miscellanea