A warm, sunny day on the 16th of September brought 26 Petrels and guests together for a celebration. We were very pleased to have eight members of the Sound of the Baskervilles – the Sherlockian group from Seattle, WA join us.
Shannon, Kashena, Margie
Allen Nelson
The event was held at the Billy Bishop Legion in the heart of Kitsalano in Vancouver. Brian Collins, a member of the Billy Bishop told us about the legion and its namesake.
We began with a welcome speech from Fran, who thanked her 30th Anniversary Committee, without whom the event could not have taken place: Elsa and Len Haffenden, Bob Coghill and Brian Collins, with help from wife Lea.
The table was laden with all sorts of wonderful things to win. Put your tickets into the bowl in front of the item you wish to win. The more tickets, the better the odds. Tickets were given to attendees in their swag bags, and were also awarded as prizes.
Several people donated items to our table.
Thank you to:
Christopher Redmond for some “dead rats” (various books, etc.)
Peggy Perdue for various items from her collection
Dr. J.C. Bernthal for his thesis on Agatha Christie
Dr. Robert Katz for the matchbooks from the 1952 BSI dinner
John Hopley Neligan for various DVDs, books and Baker Street Tea
Also donating were Sarah Crauder, Rebecca Bollwitt and Fran Martin
The matchbooks and tea (from Murchie’s) were two of the items everyone received in the swag bags, along with Stormy Petrel mug, pen and notepaper, chocolate magnifying lens with Holmes silhouette (from Charlie’s Chocolate Factory), a puzzle book (created by Fran) and a collection of Stormy Petrel papers printed up in a publication entitled “A string of Pearls” (papers written by various Petrels over a span of 30 years collected by Len and put together with assistance from Bob)
We played the W.H.O said it game, which was also enjoyed previously at the dinner in March.
Given a quote from the canon, hold up the “W” if you believe Watson said it, turn it around to show the “H” if you think Holmes said it, or show none if you believe “O”ther said it.
Margie Deck and Sheila Holtgrieve brought their game all the way from Seattle. A picture game, similar to the game we played at the 2nd International Holmesian Summit.
Sheila, Fran and Margie
Len also handed out a picture game….try to identify the adventure from one coded picture.
We had two speakers. Bob Coghill who presented his paper on Billy and David Haugen from Seattle, who spoke on “Sherlock Holmes – He Unites Us and Divides Us.” (David has agreed to have this paper published in the next edition of the Petrel Flyer)
Bob Coghill, BSI, delivering his paper “Billy Grows Up” which was first published in Canadian Holmes magazine Spring 2017.
Bob Coghill, MBt, BSI
There was a skit performed by the Petrel Players. We performed a skit written in 2005 by one of our beloved members who had passed away several years ago, but left us with “Henry Baker – Your goose is cooked!”
In between all the jollification, there was a lovely lunch and a delightful tea with a celebration cake.
Gordon Roberts, a local thespian and Petrel, who was planning on performing a bit from his play “Holmes and Watson Save the Empire” was unable to attend, but sent us a song entitled “The Science of Deduction” from that play. Sheldon Goldfarb (as Dr. Watson) and Prof. Paul Kingsbury (as Sherlock Holmes) agreed to read it as a poem.
Prof. Paul Kingsbury, Sheldon Goldfarb
Brian read out several “telegrams” which he received, after which the clock struck 4 and the celebrations came to an end.
Brian Collins
Several people did stay behind to enjoy each others company and catch up on things. Drinks and pizzas were ordered.
Brian’s history of Billy Bishop, Bob’s paper on “Billy”, and the telegrams are all printed out in the next edition of The Petrel Flyer, along with more photos.
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Vancouver's Official Sherlock Holmes Society 