talkmagic.co.uk

I have just received a disturbing phone call from England regarding the following story. I will give more details about it in my next post.
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:pNd ... =clnk&cd=1

I have just got off the phone speaking to one of my closest friends who is a pitchman in England. Terry tells me about a recent news item in England about a murder/suicide and he is fairly certain the victim is the daughter of Derek Ward the only svengali grafter left in the UK.

I taught Derek how to work the decks about 35 years ago and he has made a living with it ever since. I haven't seen him for about 20 years but Terry sees him every Summer when he works Yarmouth market with the decks.

His daughter recently joined the police force and was a probationery constable. It seems that she was fatally stabbed by her boyfriend who then killed himself.

We don't 100 percent know that the girl killed in the news reports is Derek's daughter but it certainly sounds like it. Her name is Melissa Ward and the town is Oakham which is only a small place. There can't be too many probationery policewomen with the name of Ward in that small town. We think it must be her.

I have posted a link to the story in the post above. Derek will never see this post of mine but I feel very bad for him.

I heard about this not so long ago on the radio and it made me shudder then, but knowing its the daughter of a fellow magician / performer is quite disturbing to say the least. Very sad

Actually Derek is not a magician and knows very little about the subject.

However he can work the svengali deck better than any magician can. He uses all the moves and routine I taught him 35 years ago. To this day I still use the instructions he wrote for the plastic cup and balls trick and the 3 card trick that I sell.

No doubt he will be working back on Yarmouth Market this Summer with the deck and those of you who live in the area can go see how well he works for yourself. On the same market you will see Terry Walker selling some other demonstration product I know not what. He can work the svengali deck like nobody's business too but no longer does since he does not find it quite as profitable as other products. You can mention my name to either of them.

I am very sad to hear of Derek's tragic loss.