Did you know that the original title for “A Study in Scarlet” was “A Tangled Skein”?

Did you know that Dr. Watson was originally named Ormond Sacker and Sherlock Holmes was Sherrinford Holmes?

Did you also know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had difficulty getting his story published until it was finally accepted by Ward, Lock & Company in 1886 who told him: “We have read your story and are pleased with it. We could not publish it this year as the market is flooded at present with cheap fiction…”

Conan Doyle sold the rights to “A Study in Scarlet” to Ward Lock & Company for 25 pounds and the adventure finally appeared in print in Beeton’s Christmas Annual one year later.

This story gives us our first glimpse into the world of Holmes and Watson. An introduction to the world’s first consulting detective.

Find out more about the first meeting of the great detective and his biographer at the next regular meeting of the Stormy Petrels on Tuesday, September 6th at 7:00 pm.

The story for discussion is, of course, “Study in Scarlet” and we will begin with part one.

The meeting will take place at the home of our own “Gloria Scott” who has graciously agreed to take on the role of our Priory Schoolmaster, following in the footsteps of Peter Wood, who we unfortunatley lost earlier this month.

For more information, and the whereabouts of the next meeting, please contact your Consulting Detective at our g-mail address.

“The game is afoot!”

The next regular meeting of The Stormy Petrels of BC will take place on Tuesday, May 3rd, at 7:00 pm.

The location: Sherlock’s Cafe – British Sweets & Groceries
659 Columbia Street, New Westminster

The story for discussion will be taken, once again, from the Apocrypha, “The Man With the Watches“

Noted authority, Christopher Morley described this story (along with “The Lost Special“, as “Two suppressed Holmes episodes” and Edgar W. Smith in 1956 wrote “…they are certainly, in my opinion, Canon-fodder.”

Come and find out if the “well-known criminal investigator” was, indeed, Sherlock Holmes.

After another successful “Master’s” Dinner under our belts, it is time again to return to our regular study sessions.

A more detailed report on the dinner, including toasts (and possibly photos) will be found in the next issue of The Petrel Flyer.

In the meantime, I wish to thank all those who contributed to making it a most memorable evening. Len and Elsa for securing the location and the caterer; the Petrel Players who performed the traditional “How They Met” and “How Watson Learned the Trick”; and to Magician Hewson, who amazed us all with his powers of prestidigitation. (I am pleased to announce that no one was sawn in half and no one disappeared!) Thanks to all our members and guests.

The next regular meeting of The Stormy Petrels will be held, once again chez Wood on Tuesday, April 5th at 7:00 pm.

We will be venturing out of the original ‘canon’ and into the apocrypha to have a close look at ACD’s “The Lost Special” first published in 1898, this story concerns the disappearance of a train from Liverpool to London.

“Does a train vanish into think air in England in broad daylight?”

Could the “amateur reasoner of some celebrity” and the “recognized authority upon such matters” refer to Sherlock Holmes?

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact your Consulting Detective.

The game is still afoot!

Petrels please note! Due to circumstanes beyond anyone’s control….the March meeting will take place on WEDNESDAY, March 2. Still at Peter & Audrey’s, still at 7:00 pm, and still looking at “The Retred Colouman”
We apologize for any inconvenience, but hope to still get a good turnout.