If you had paid him privately for a lesson in how to present magic it would have cost you many hundreds of pounds. It was top drawer stuff from a top professional. It was worth the price of  the convention registration alone.

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.

He said he overcame the problem by having a small, portable platform made that lifted him about twelve inches higher so that he could speak above the audience rather than directly at them. He confirmed that it made all the difference in the world and drew increased interest and applause from the audience.

Over the years I have come across a number of other working professionals who likewise, when in cabaret have had made a small Dias made that would lift them up by around twelve inches that made a noticeable and considerable difference to their presentation and reception.

I give four of five times a month a one hour magic presentation called “Behind the Doors of The Magic Circle” to groups of 80 -100 people, usually in local theatres and village halls where I prefer to work at floor level allowing more inter- action with the audience. In so doing I have encountered the same problem and so an enterprising magic craftsman has designed for me a platform that folds in half to form a suitcase in which magic props can be carried. It’s a great idea that takes up no more room in the back of the car and when it’s delivered I’ll let you know how it checks out. But I’m convinced it will be a big advantage in presenting magic to a large group at the same level.