A naked Fortean.
I’m breaking my own rule again. I said I would. I have virtually no biographical information on this Fortean beyond his name, his interest in nudism, and his address. But he was very active, and the surviving documents—in addition to what’s mentioned in Doubt, there are mentions in correspondence between Thayer and Russell as well as letters to Russell preserved at the University of Liverpool—sketch out the education of a Fortean.
So, Ed Simpson. Also known as Edward H. Simpson and E. H. Simpson. He lived at 20 St. Thomas Street, Low Fell, Gateshead, across the River Tyne from Newcastle, on the east coast of England. He was there, at least, from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. Nearby lived another Fortean, Tom Elsender. Simpson doe snot seem to have known Elsender at the time, but during some early correspondence Russell apparently suggested that they make contact. As with many others in England, Simpson was drawn to the Fortean Society by Russell’s writing (and advertisements) in the paranormal magazine “Tomorrow,” edited by N. V. Dagg. (From what I have seen, most of those who wrote to Russell after being prompted by what they read in “Tomorrow,” never followed up.) The first connection I have is a telegram from Simpson to Russell dated 4 February 1947. Clearly, though, this was not the first time Simpson had reached out to Russell—though it was very near the beginning of Russell’s involvement with the Society. It read,
“Congratulations [on] your king-pin article great journalistic scoop in January’s ‘Tomorrow’. Stop. When am I to be permitted enrolled [sic] as member of Fortean Society. Your silence is intolerable. Simpson.”
I’m breaking my own rule again. I said I would. I have virtually no biographical information on this Fortean beyond his name, his interest in nudism, and his address. But he was very active, and the surviving documents—in addition to what’s mentioned in Doubt, there are mentions in correspondence between Thayer and Russell as well as letters to Russell preserved at the University of Liverpool—sketch out the education of a Fortean.
So, Ed Simpson. Also known as Edward H. Simpson and E. H. Simpson. He lived at 20 St. Thomas Street, Low Fell, Gateshead, across the River Tyne from Newcastle, on the east coast of England. He was there, at least, from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. Nearby lived another Fortean, Tom Elsender. Simpson doe snot seem to have known Elsender at the time, but during some early correspondence Russell apparently suggested that they make contact. As with many others in England, Simpson was drawn to the Fortean Society by Russell’s writing (and advertisements) in the paranormal magazine “Tomorrow,” edited by N. V. Dagg. (From what I have seen, most of those who wrote to Russell after being prompted by what they read in “Tomorrow,” never followed up.) The first connection I have is a telegram from Simpson to Russell dated 4 February 1947. Clearly, though, this was not the first time Simpson had reached out to Russell—though it was very near the beginning of Russell’s involvement with the Society. It read,
“Congratulations [on] your king-pin article great journalistic scoop in January’s ‘Tomorrow’. Stop. When am I to be permitted enrolled [sic] as member of Fortean Society. Your silence is intolerable. Simpson.”