Roy Currie

It is with great sadness that I report that my long time good and loyal friend Roy Currie has passed away, aged 76. He lived on his own in Manchester and was found on the 22nd October (2010) but it was estimated that he died about a week before.

Those of you who have attended past Edinburgh Gatherings will surely remember Roy and I know he has other personal friends who visit this site . He was a very knowledgeable and likeable person who simply loved magic.

In his youth he performed close up magic and mixed/mingled with some of the top names in British magic of  that era. He also attended virtually every British magic convention going (and some overseas too such as FISM's) from his youth onwards. From 1997 he had actively supported every bizarre magic gathering in Britain. He had recently booked to travel to Paris for the French Annual Magic Convention and was really looking forward to this.

Roy had battled against health problems for a number of years and had got much worse this year, especially with fluid retention and circulation in his legs.  He cancelled attending the IBM convention in Eastbourne this year which was not like him BUT he had a new toy to play with at the time, a computer which he was trying to learn how to use with my help. He was a very long time close friend and I will miss his two hour long telephone chats.Many Condolence cards were sent to his sister, Beryl Buchan.

His Funeral Service and committal took place at Blackely Crematorium in Manchester at 2.30 on the 5th November and was attended by about 60 people including his family members. From the magic community, there were a few representatives from the two Manchester clubs which Roy had belonged to as well a magician/inventor Jim Critchlow and myself.

In keeping with Roy's taste in music, Jazz music was played as the cortege entered the small chapel followed by the monotone service without pauses given by the minister. The service ended with the playing of one of Roy's favorite songs which fitted him and the occasion in every way, Frank Sinatra singing 'I Did It My Way'. Shortly after the service, everyone was invited back to a nearby pub where the family had arranged several tables of buffet food which was enjoyed by all in the now relaxed social atmosphere. During that part of the day people shared some of their reminicences of Roy and his Brother In Law, Lionel, described how Roy had taken driving lessons and got his full licence (on the tenth attempt) but had then promptly declared that he was not going to buy a car or drive because "there were too many idiots on the road".

The day marked an end of an era and I know his friendship, presence, kindness, his willingness to share his knowledge and his very dry sense of humor will be
greatly missed by many.

Karl Bartoni.