Valentine’s Day Magic in Lincoln

It’s always fantastic to visit the great city of Lincoln; and even better to perform magic there! I was delighted to have the opportunity to entertain audiences on Valentine’s Day this year around the majestic cathedral quarter and Bailgate areas of the unique town centre. The exceptional Paul Massey was on hand to expertly capture the magic, and we had a truly magical day in a stunningly picturesque location.

Providing the gift of magic on Valentine’s Day

The beauty of the close-up magic and illusions that I can deliver is that they can be appreciated in virtually any setting. It was a pleasure to provide some magical entertainment both indoors and outdoors to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Some special mystifying memories were created for the lovely couples I encountered on my travels around the old town centre.

Fun and laughter on Valentine’s Day in Lincoln

Paul Massey is a fantastic Lincolnshire photographer who is available for weddings, events and commercial shoots around the UK and beyond. It truly was a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside Paul as he captured my performance on the day. Find out more about his first class service at: Paul Massey Photography.

It was wonderful to engage both visitors and locals with some magic around the stunning edifice of Lincoln Cathedral. As an experienced performer, I can customise my repertoire to suit the location, and I am very fortunate to have had plenty of experience delivering illusions and legerdemain in an outdoor setting over the years.

Valentine’s Day magic in the Duke William Hotel

After mingling around the cathedral area, it was tremendous to visit the historic Duke William Hotel on the Bailgate and entertain everyone present. This provided me with the opportunity to deliver some of my favourite visual magical effects, as well as some more mysterious routines to captivate the Valentine’s Day audience.

Comedy and interaction are vital elements of close-up magic

It is always vital to strike up a solid rapport with the audience when performing magic. Suffice to say that the Lincolnshire crowd are always a joy to entertain! It was fantastic to blend some of my older material with several newer effects on the day. Indeed, it is very important that magicians continue to strive for excellence within their act, and continue to develop unique and original material for everyone to enjoy.

It’s always a pleasure to entertain at table-side

Overall it was a superb day in Lincoln! Thank you again to all of the lovely people who shared the magic, and I do hope that you were left thoroughly entertained. Special thanks again to Paul Massey and the Duke William Hotel. I hope to return to this fantastic city again very soon and continue to amaze audiences with my sleight-of-hand!

Paul Massey is a professional photographer based in Lincoln. Find out more about his unique service at: Paul Massey Photography

The Duke William Hotel is a first class venue located on the Bailgate, Lincoln. Visit their website at: Duke William Hotel

Find out more about Lincoln Cathedral and how you can visit at: Lincoln Cathedral Info

Lincoln is certainly worth a visit and there are so many attractions and exciting places to experience. Visit the website to find out more: Lincoln Info

David Fox is a professional magician and artist based in the East Midlands. Find out more at: David Fox Magic

Congratulations Jamie and Rachel

‘Thank you so much for helping to make our day special – everyone really enjoyed the magic.’

Jamie and Rachel, Langar Hall, 21st December 2023

I was delighted when Jamie and Rachel asked me to be part of their special wedding day celebrations at the fantastic Langar Hall in Nottingham. Taking place during the festive period, it certainly was an extra-magical occasion!

Langar Hall was the perfect location for the wedding day. With its rustic charm, homely interior and exceptional events team, the stage was well and truly set for an unforgettable experience for all.

Jamie and Rachel’s guests had travelled from far and wide to share the day. It truly was a pleasure and a privilege to chat to family members from both the USA and my home town of Glasgow prior to the highly unique and memorable wedding ceremony.

I can read your mind! A magic moment with Sab during drinks reception. Photographs courtesy of Will Slater Photography.

The lovely couple had requested that I mingle with the guests during the drinks reception. It was fantastic to perform close-up magic whilst the exceptional Stav (lead vocalist and guitarist of The Money) performed an acoustic set in the conservatory area. Card magic, sleight-of-hand, mind-reading effects and child-friendly entertainment were the order of the day during this period.

It’s always a pleasure to entertain all age groups! Photograph courtesy of Will Slater Photography.

After the wedding breakfast, it was superb to entertain both day and evening guests. Everyone was in high spirits, and this was a fine time for both visual illusions and larger parlour effects in the charming function rooms of Langar Hall. It was also a great privilege to perform some specialised customised magic for bride and groom, as well as for close family and friends.

Parlour magic in the exquisite function rooms of Langar Hall. Photograph courtesy of Will Slater Photography.

The Money soon hit the stage and ensured that the party was now well and truly in full swing. The guests were treated to their fantastic set of classic tunes and danced on and on into the night…

Close-up magic for Jamie and Rachel’s evening guests. Photograph courtesy of Will Slater Photography.

Special thanks to Will Slater Photography for sharing these fantastic images from Rachel and Jamie’s big day. Find out more about Will’s first class service at: Will Slater Photography

The Money mesmerised with a scintillating set of sensational classics. Photograph courtesy of Will Slater Photography.

Jamie and Rachel also had their wedding day captured on film. Memory Box Media were a pleasure to work with, and they expertly documented the day. Click link to view their outstanding footage: Memory Box Media

It was a pleasure to create some customised artwork and magic effects for Jamie and Rachel’s wedding day.

Langar Hall is the ideal location for weddings and special occasions. Located close to Nottingham and the main road network, it is highly accessible yet appealingly secluded. Visit their website at: Langar Hall Venue

The Money are an outstanding and much sought after band who can customise their set expertly to suit your next event. Find out more at: The Money

David Fox is a professional entertainer, artist and freelance writer based in the UK. Visit his website at: David Fox Magic

CONGRATULATIONS Jamie and Rachel!

Happy Birthday David!

I have had so many positive comments, everyone loved the spectacle

Audrey (David’s partner) The Royal Oak, Quorn, Loughborough, March 2023

It was a tremendous pleasure and a privilege to entertain David’s friends and family at the Royal Oak in Quorn. It was a very special birthday celebration, and attendees had travelled from far and wide to share this important occasion.

Indeed, I was very flattered when Audrey (David’s partner) contacted me to find out if I was available. It was very kind of Helen (Audrey’s sister who I have performed magic for before at work events) to recommend my services.

The Royal Oak is a fine venue which is located on High Street, Quorn and I thoroughly enjoyed providing close-up ‘mix-and-mingle’ magic for David and his guests. Card effects, sleight-of-hand and mysterious illusions are always great ice-breakers and talking points at parties. They help to bring the guests closer together, and liven up the proceedings.

It was a privilege to mingle with and entertain David’s guests

It was also fantastic to entertain the younger guests who were present with some child-friendly effects and balloon modelling too. It’s very important to include all of the generations at a birthday party so that everyone can share a magical experience!

All generations can enjoy a little magic at a special birthday bash

It truly was a superb day at the Royal Oak with live music and much revelry. David celebrated his birthday in style, and it was fantastic to mingle with, and entertain, such a lovely group.

Thank you again to Audrey, Helen and Mark (photographer) for providing these lovely photos from the day to pop on my blog.

Also, many thanks to Antonio and all of the staff at the Royal Oak for their kind assistance, and for making me so welcome. Make sure you visit this exceptional venue the next time you are in Quorn! Find out more about the Royal Oak at: The Royal Oak, Quorn

David Fox is a professional magician, artist and freelance writer based in the Midlands, UK. Find out more about him at: David Fox Magic

Age UK – A Lock-down Lifeline

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Age UK have done a magnificent job in providing a lock-down lifeline for thousands of older people across the length and breadth of the country. Since March, the charity has been offering invaluable support by ensuring essential medical and food supplies are delivered to people’s homes.

Age UK’s fundraising events are always fantastic to perform at

I have been well aware of the exceptional work Age UK does throughout the community for many years, and I have been very fortunate to have performed magic at their lively fundraising events. These occasions are always very well attended and are opportunities to celebrate their work supporting isolated and vulnerable people.

AADBCCC6-1731-4D35-AA4B-AA52C4F095C1 — Magic at Alea Casino in Nottingham in June 2019 with Age UK

Indeed, I was delighted that the charity accepted my application to assist with food and medical deliveries when the lockdown started. There are a lot of people around Nottingham in the over 70 age group who have been confined to their homes since March, and it has been a tremendously challenging time for them to say the least. Some elderly people may not have friends or family close at hand, so Age UK has provided an essential network for them. I have been very fortunate and privileged to have been part of this team and witness first hand the difference the charity makes.

‘Without the help of Age UK, I have no idea how we would have coped’ reflected Mrs Fletcher, whose husband was hospitalised during lockdown and has thankfully since recovered from the virus. ‘The weekly food and medical deliveries have taken a large weight off our minds and really helped to reduce the stress levels!’

Working with Age UK has been a hugely enriching experience and has provided me with some much needed structure each week during this chaotic time. I always look forward to the deliveries, chatting to different people and listening to their experiences and perspectives. The crisis has made me even more thankful for being fit and healthy, and also revealed the tremendous amount of good will within the community. Local food store employees and pharmacists have been very keen to assist, and gone above and beyond to ensure that vital supplies reach the people who need them most.

Well done to Age UK in coming to the aid of so many people during the crisis, and for all the other fantastic work you continue to do! Why not volunteer, donate or find out more about Age UK at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/

The Curse of the Pharaohs

Like thousands of people all over the UK, I was very disappointed to miss the ‘Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh’ exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery due to the pandemic. Egyptology has fascinated me since childhood when I read about the mysterious ‘Curse of the Pharaohs’.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with the tale, English archaeologist Howard Carter made arguably the greatest antiquarian discovery of all time on the 26th November 1922. After scouring the Valley of the Kings in southern Egypt for two decades, the intrepid scholar had finally managed to locate the tomb of Tutankhamun which had lain concealed beneath the rolling desert sands for over three millennia. Spectacular hieroglyphics, priceless artefacts and the majestic golden sarcophagus of the boy king greeted Carter and his team as they prized open the solid stone gateway to the antechamber.

But the euphoria from the discovery would be short lived. Many people associated with the archaeological feat began to die in mysterious circumstances; most notably Lord Carnarvon who had financed the enterprise. It was believed that he had contracted an unknown disease at the tomb, and at the moment of his death all of the lights in Cairo inexplicably went out and his favourite dog had a seizure and died!

Local people spoke openly of a curse which the ancient Egyptian priests had placed upon the tomb to prevent grave robbers desecrating the final resting place of the Pharaoh. The famous writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – who was a believer in spiritualism – insisted that Carter and his men had angered ‘elementals’ or spirits who had been summoned to guard over the antechamber during the funerary rights of Tutankhamun.

The story had echoes of the notorious ‘Unlucky Mummy’ which was found in Thebes and acquired by the British Museum in 1889. Most people who came into contact with the mummy would either die mysteriously or be met with severe ill luck. The original owner lost his fortune and passed away suddenly along with the men involved with transporting the artefact to London. Some said that the ‘Unlucky Mummy’ even found its way onboard the Titanic and the curse was responsible for the disaster! But this theory was quickly debunked as it still resides in room 62 of the British Museum: serial number EA 22542.

The story that a ‘cursed’ mummy was onboard the Titanic has long been debunked

Indeed, the far-fetched tale of the ‘Unlucky Mummy’ perhaps reveals how the notion of a ‘curse’ or some sort of supernatural occurrence can quickly be distorted and exaggerated. Is it indeed possible to ‘curse’ or ‘hex’ someone? Or perhaps the process is somewhat psychosomatic? That is to say, if someone ‘believes’ himself or herself to be cursed, then they will start to ‘invite’ misfortune into their lives?

The debate about the efficacy of curses is interesting, but one thing is certain, Howard Carter’s incredible find, along with the mystery and majesty of ancient Egypt, will continue to capture the popular imagination.

David Fox is a professional entertainer and freelance writer based in the UK. Visit his website for more details: www.magician-midlands.co.uk

Aleister Crowley, Jimmy Page and the Legend of Boleskine House

Boleskine House on the banks of Loch Ness has long harboured tales of mystery, magic and intrigue. Once owned by the English mystic Aleister Crowley and, in more recent times, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, the house is currently being restored after a fire and extensive vandalism.

The property is currently being restored by the Boleskine House Foundation

This remote area of the Scottish Highlands boasts a plethora of folklore and superstition. A church once stood on the site of the house and a tragic fire is believed to have resulted in the deaths of the entire congregation. In the 17th century a local wizard is also said to have created panic by claiming to have ‘raised the dead’ in the small graveyard which still overlooks the most famous stretch of water in the British Isles. Indeed, the legend of the Loch Ness Monster is renowned the world over and perhaps it was this mystical allure which attracted the notorious Aleister Crowley to purchase Boleskine House in 1899.

My good friend Daniel in the graveyard where a local wizard was said to have ‘raised the dead’ in the 17th century!

Crowley required a secluded habitation to conduct a complex and dangerous magical working known as ‘The Abramelin Ritual’. Driven by a desire to unlock the innermost secrets of existence, the English occultist settled down to a lengthy period of isolation, fasting and barbarous incantations. The ritual involves communication with demonic forces beyond the realms of mundane existence and is most certainly not for the faint hearted.

Aleister Crowley (1875 – 1947) purchased Boleskine House in 1899

However, Crowley would be interrupted at a critical moment and decided to abandon the project in order to assist MacGregor Mathers (the head of the Order of the Golden Dawn – an occult group Crowley belonged to) in Paris. Mathers was facing revolt inside the famous order and Crowley felt an overwhelming compulsion to support him. Some say that the decision to abort ‘The Abramelin’ was foolish and that the demonic forces summoned by Crowley continue to haunt the area to this day. They also insist that Crowley’s recklessness contributed to many of the tragedies which would befall him – and those who came within his orbit – for the rest of his life.

Like many artists, the legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has cultivated a great interest in Aleister Crowley and his work.

In 1970 Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page acquired Boleskine House. The musician had long cultivated an interest in Crowley’s occult practices. Mysterious tales began to circulate about possible supernatural occurrences during this time. Page’s housekeeper Malcolm Dent became convinced that the property was indeed a centre of paranormal phenomena; despite being an ardent sceptic prior to his arrival! Terrifying sounds and mysterious voices were often heard around the house, and heavy objects would be shifted by spectral hands. Dent also noted the strange effect the building would have on visitors and their mental well-being. Click link for more details: Tales of Boleskine House

Loch Ness is one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in the United Kingdom.

At the time of writing the property is being restored by the Boleskine House Foundation. Find them on Twitter: @Boleskine_House or visit their website: Boleskine House Foundation. Loch Ness is one of the most beautiful and spectacular places to visit in the UK, and you can find out more at: Visit Scotland. The rich folklore, mystery and romance of this region continues to entice and enchant thousands of visitors every year.

Dave Fuller – First Class Photography!

It is always a tremendous privilege and a pleasure to work alongside the immaculate photographer Dave Fuller. Dave is based in Nottingham and is available for weddings, parties, special occasions and corporate shoots across the East Midlands and beyond.

Find out more about Dave and his work at: Dave Fuller Photography

I was delighted and extremely flattered when Dave told me he had decided to include my magic in his latest blog article! Dave has taken time to create a guide for couples planning their weddings and looking for entertainers. Visit ‘Awesome Wedding Entertainment in Nottingham‘ to read his recommendations.

The exceptional images on this blog post are a fitting testament to Dave’s talent, dedication and commitment to his craft. The gifted lens-man captured me in action at Gem Vending’s summer celebrations at Langley Mill United Cricket Ground in 2018.

Contact Dave Fuller now for your next red letter day event!

The Legend of Robin Hood

Robin evaded the Sheriff of Nottingham by hiding in the limestone caverns

Robin Hood is first mentioned in the poem ‘Piers Plowman’

Robin Hood is Nottinghamshire’s most famous and enduring celebrity. An international icon, the mysterious man from Loxley has been honoured in popular culture since the late fourteenth century. From rousing medieval ballads, to multi-million dollar Hollywood movies, the archetypal champion of the underdog continues to capture hearts and minds.

Legend has it that Robin evaded the Sheriff of Nottingham by hiding in the limestone caverns of Creswell Crags. Indeed, to this day, one of the caves still bears the name of the famous outlaw. This area of Sherwood Forest would have been perfect for renegades such as Robin and his men to remain undetected for long periods of time. As well as plentiful supplies of fresh water, master bowmen would have enjoyed a sizeable selection of wild game to hunt. The caves themselves offered welcome sanctuary from the prying eyes of the Sheriff – as well as the harsh winter gales and snows.

The caverns and forest would have been perfect for outlaws like Robin to hide

However, Robin was not the first inhabitant of this magical limestone gorge and was merely following in the footsteps of his ancient ancestors. Creswell Crags boasts the northernmost displays of pre-historic cave paintings and etchings to be found in Europe. Evidence of habitation within the caverns dates back to Neanderthal times during the last Ice Age – well over 40,000 years ago!

Cave 2 — You can book a tour of Robin Hood’s Cave

Fossilised tools and weapons have been discovered in excavations since the Victorian era, and this incredible area of Nottinghamshire continues to yield priceless details about our ancient forefathers. Organised tours can now be taken deep into the caves, and visitors can marvel at Great Britain’s sole exhibition of Ice Age Cave Art! The Museum and Heritage Centre also offer a fascinating array of carefully preserved artefacts from the gorge.

Savour the mysteries, legends and enchantments of Creswell Crags during your next visit to Nottinghamshire. The Museum and Heritage Centre is readily accessible from the M1 (Junction 30) and within a five minute drive of Worksop town centre on the main A60 route.

The Major Oak is very close to Creswell Crags – Robin is said to have slept beneath this tree

Follow in the footsteps of the swashbuckling superstar and learn more about Robin Hood’s county! The gorge is also in close proximity to Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre and National Nature Reserve (the site of the famous Major Oak) and just over 30 miles from Nottingham city centre itself.