A brief note on a passing Fortean.
Derek Pickles was born in England in January or February 1928. I do not know anything about his family situation. He was interested in science fiction from a young age, and later told Eric Frank Russell, “After reading ‘SINISTER BARRIER’ when aged about 12 (in ’39) I went about for moths [sic] with a hunted [sic] expression, peering over my shoulder, the sight of a coloured balloon was enough to make me run; I still have a sneaking suspicion that it can be true.” He tried his hand at writing science fiction, but was displeased by the results, and so remained a fan. By accounts, he was a tall man, surprisingly so to those who first met him.
In November 1950, he was associated with the publication of an early British fanzine, “Phantasmagoria.” He was living in Bradford, Yorkshire, in England at the time. The next issue came out the following Spring, and the third that summer. At the same time, he was writing for another ‘zine, Michael Tealby’s “Wonder.” Supposedly—I have not seen any of these—he spent some of his time taking potshots at the London Circle, which had been the center of British science fiction fandom. Encouraged, he and his sister Mavis planned a convention in Bradford for October of 1951. Afterwards, he helped to found the Bradford Science Fiction Association, which had collected 23 members in about six months.
Derek Pickles was born in England in January or February 1928. I do not know anything about his family situation. He was interested in science fiction from a young age, and later told Eric Frank Russell, “After reading ‘SINISTER BARRIER’ when aged about 12 (in ’39) I went about for moths [sic] with a hunted [sic] expression, peering over my shoulder, the sight of a coloured balloon was enough to make me run; I still have a sneaking suspicion that it can be true.” He tried his hand at writing science fiction, but was displeased by the results, and so remained a fan. By accounts, he was a tall man, surprisingly so to those who first met him.
In November 1950, he was associated with the publication of an early British fanzine, “Phantasmagoria.” He was living in Bradford, Yorkshire, in England at the time. The next issue came out the following Spring, and the third that summer. At the same time, he was writing for another ‘zine, Michael Tealby’s “Wonder.” Supposedly—I have not seen any of these—he spent some of his time taking potshots at the London Circle, which had been the center of British science fiction fandom. Encouraged, he and his sister Mavis planned a convention in Bradford for October of 1951. Afterwards, he helped to found the Bradford Science Fiction Association, which had collected 23 members in about six months.
In December 1951, he married Marjorie Harper. They had three children. I do not know what work he did, but he continued putting out Phantasmagoria, even though a final issue had been published. (Marjorie was also involved with science fiction.) The ‘zine ran through 1955. He did do some bookselling, probably through 1968; that may have been a sidelight, or his primary occupation, I’m not sure. In 1956, Derek contracted cancer, and so withdrew from fandom. Without denying how horrible that disease must have been, it is likely true that raising three children, marriage, and the demands of whatever job he held probably also took its toll on his fandom.
Pickles returned to science fiction in the 1990s, attending some conventions and writing in to a new generation of fanzines.
Derek Pickles died 5 January 2008, aged 79.
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I do not know when Pickles first came across Fort, but it was before 1951. By that point, according to him, he had read all four of Fort’s non-fiction works, though he had not yet been able to obtain the omnibus edition—more evidence of how difficult it was getting the book in post-War England. In August of 1951, he wrote to Russell, inviting him to the convention he was planning (Russell declined, but sent along a copy of Dreadful Sanctuary and a drawing by science fiction artist Paul Orban for the auction. In the letter, he noted, “I am very interested in Fortean phenomena, and have written a couple of articles on local inexplicable happenings for Michael Tealby's ‘WONDER,’” and asked for information about the Fortean Society—which suggests, perhaps, that war work had interfered with his settling into the Society earlier.
A few days later, Pickles elaborated on his familiarity with Fort an said he “enjoyed reading Doubt, although the ‘Notes’ were rather baffling with their cryptic references to LT, TP etc.” (He was not the only one to be nonplussed by Thayer’s printing of Fort’s notes.) Pickles sent along the 8 shillings for dues and subscription, and in October Thayer welcomed him into the Society.
I have no idea whether he stayed in the Society or sent in materials. His name never appeared in Doubt, nor in any subsequent correspondence between Thayer and Russell, neither acknowledging his dues nor asking for him to be dunned over missing a bill. Pickles was in a position to note Forteana and send them in. According to one report—again, I have not seen the ‘zines in question—he advertised a fandom service in some ‘zines: news clippings from British papers and publications on subjects of interest to fans.
Beyond his bare interest in Forteana, though, his enjoyment of Fort and willingness to subscribe to Doubt, I do not know anything about the nature of his Forteanism.
Pickles returned to science fiction in the 1990s, attending some conventions and writing in to a new generation of fanzines.
Derek Pickles died 5 January 2008, aged 79.
*********
I do not know when Pickles first came across Fort, but it was before 1951. By that point, according to him, he had read all four of Fort’s non-fiction works, though he had not yet been able to obtain the omnibus edition—more evidence of how difficult it was getting the book in post-War England. In August of 1951, he wrote to Russell, inviting him to the convention he was planning (Russell declined, but sent along a copy of Dreadful Sanctuary and a drawing by science fiction artist Paul Orban for the auction. In the letter, he noted, “I am very interested in Fortean phenomena, and have written a couple of articles on local inexplicable happenings for Michael Tealby's ‘WONDER,’” and asked for information about the Fortean Society—which suggests, perhaps, that war work had interfered with his settling into the Society earlier.
A few days later, Pickles elaborated on his familiarity with Fort an said he “enjoyed reading Doubt, although the ‘Notes’ were rather baffling with their cryptic references to LT, TP etc.” (He was not the only one to be nonplussed by Thayer’s printing of Fort’s notes.) Pickles sent along the 8 shillings for dues and subscription, and in October Thayer welcomed him into the Society.
I have no idea whether he stayed in the Society or sent in materials. His name never appeared in Doubt, nor in any subsequent correspondence between Thayer and Russell, neither acknowledging his dues nor asking for him to be dunned over missing a bill. Pickles was in a position to note Forteana and send them in. According to one report—again, I have not seen the ‘zines in question—he advertised a fandom service in some ‘zines: news clippings from British papers and publications on subjects of interest to fans.
Beyond his bare interest in Forteana, though, his enjoyment of Fort and willingness to subscribe to Doubt, I do not know anything about the nature of his Forteanism.
