Author: Fran Martin

Fran Martin became a member of The Bootmakers of Toronto in 1987 and The Stormy Petrels of B.C. in 1988. She has attended several Sherlockian conferences including: In 1992 "Aspects of Holmes" in Bradford, England (hosted by The Northern Musgraves); In 2006 "ACD at 35" in Toronto (hosted by The Bootmakers of Toronto); 2013 "Sherlock Holmes Through Time & and Place" in Minneapolis (hosted by The Norwegian Explorers); 2014 "Gillette to Brett IV" in Bloomington (hosted by Wessex Press); 2015 SherlockCon in Seattle; 2015 "A Scintillation of Scions VIII" in Baltimore (hosted by Watson's Tin Box); 2016 "The Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes" (hosted by The Norwegian Explorers); in 2018 in Dayton, Ohio for the "Holmes, Doyle & Friends" conference (hosted by the Agra Treasurers). Fran has held several positions with The Stormy Petrels of B.C. including secretary, vice-president, special events coordinator and is currently president and editor of the "Petrel Flyer". She was honoured with being awarded the title of "Master Bootmaker" in 2014. She was very pleased to present a paper to a meeting of Sir Hugo's Companions in Chicago in 2017. Fran has contributed articles to Canadian Holmes magazine, the Watsonian and Chris Redmond's "About Sixty" and "Sherlock Holmes is Like...". In May, 2018 she attended the 78th annual Speckled Band of Boston dinner. She was very honoured to have been one of the first women invited.

SHERLOCK HOLMES IN AMERICA

I am very excited to announce two upcoming Sherlockian conferences. One in Canada and one in USA.

The first, “A Study in Scandal” takes place in Toronto from October 13th to 16th. It is “A symposium on the oftentimes controversial life of Arthur Conan Doyle and the culture of Victorian scandal”

On the program are a variety of distinguished speakers, promising to make this conference very informative and entertaining.

The second, “From Gillette to Brett III” will take place in Indiana on Nover 11th to 13th.

This conference is “devoted to Sherlock Holmes on stage, screen, television and radio.” It will include the 35th anniversary screening of The Seven Percent solution hosted by Nicholas Meyer, who wrote both the book and the screenplay.

Speakers at this event will include:
Nicholas Meyer, Curtis Armstrong, Bert Coules, Tony Earnshaw, David Stuart Davies, Leslie Klinger, Kathryn White and Henry Zecher, who will present his Gillette slide program.

Both events are well worth attending, if possible. Two of our own Stormy Petrels have already registerd for the Toronto event.

If you would like more information on either conference regarding registration, fees, etc, please contact me, the Stormy Petrel Consulting Detective, at our g-mail address.

0

SEPTEMBER 2011 MEETING

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!”

1

GREAT LOSS

It is with much sadness that I report the passing away of one of our most loyal and esteemed members, Mr. Peter Wood, M.Bt, BSI, and our own “Priory Schoolmaster” A great loss to the Sherlockian World. Our sincerest condolences to wife Audrey and their two children. He will be missed by all.

0

AUGUST BBQ

Before returning to the study of Sherlock Holmes and his world, the Petrels will meet for a bbq at 3:00 pm on Saturday, August 13th at the home of “Gloria Scott” in Lynn Valley.

Please bring your entree of choice to toss onto the coals, and please inform Elsa or Fran if you plan to attend.

For more info, please contact your Consulting Detective.

0

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑