Isle of Wight Fortean Society and Forteana
Funny you should mention the Isle of Wight today as I was just going to post something...
I live in London but my girlfriends Mum and Dad have retired to the Island and, because the girlf is on a three-week dig in Northumbria, they've sent me up a letter telling me all about the newly formed Isle of Wight Fortean Society.
Their next meeting is tomorrow, too early for you chaps but I thought you might like to know there at forteans on the Island and other IoW listers would be, I'm sure, keen to hear Mike Jay talk and meet other forteans. Details from their
website below.
I'd say you should check out the
Isle of Wight Waxworks in Brading which has a great little fortean section of furry trout, Fiji mermaids, horned hares and other spooky composite beasts. The building is supposed to be haunted too.
There's also a fantastic Medieval lighthouse called 'The Peppar Pot' at the end of a footpath near Blackgang Chine, though further inland and up-hill. There's a great view from there. I've just had a hunt for the book we found it in but I can't dig it out. It's called 'Isle of Wight Folklore' or 'Folklore of the Isle of Wight'. Something like that. Is should be on one of the orange, OS maps.
Anyway, IW FS (must remeber to let Gordon Rutter know about them when he's back from his hollyhocks:
The Isle of Wight Fortean Society (IWFS) was founded on Robert Anton Wilson Day, 23rd July, 2004 by fortean writer Jack Phoenix and composer James Nye, who also works part time at Isle of Wight branch of Ottakar's. To see a press release, click here.
The Society is dedicated to the non-partisan exploration and discussion of strange phenomena and anomalous experience. Membership of the IWFS is free. You can sign up to receive mailouts of forthcoming events or new books of interest, either through snailmail or email. To do so, either email Jack Phoenix or pop into the Newport, Isle of Wight branch of Ottakar's and leave your details with a member of staff at the counter. Alternatively you may send your details to IWFS, c/o James Nye, Ottakar's, 118 High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1TP. You can also visit the Ottakar's Isle of Wight website
here .
The IWFS takes as its inspiration the writings and philosophy of Charles Fort.
Fort's works also inspired Bob Rickard to set up the Fortean Times (originally just called 'The News') a magazine of newspaper clippings about weird and wonderful phenomena, articles by researchers, book reviews and much more. First published in November 1973, over the course of more than 30 years, Bob's magazine has become a highly polished, critically acclaimed and hugely inspiring publication, with an international readership and a broad range of enthusiastic and devoted admirers and contributors. The IWFS hopes to work in partnership with Ottakar's plc and Fortean Times to bring to the Island some of the finest speakers on strange phenomena and anomalous experience.
STOP PRESS! The IWFS is proud to annouce that its first honarary members are Robert Anton Wilson, Ken Campbell and Bob Rickard.
Our inaugural event is a talk on Thursday 29th July, 2004 at 6:30pm at Ottakar's, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight. The talk is given by Fortean Times contributor, author Mike Jay who will be discussing his book on the extraordinary case of James Tilly Matthews and The Air Loom Gang. Mike first gave a talk on this fascinating subject at the Fortean Times UnConvention 2002 in London, and his research into this intriguing history led to a wonderful, critically acclaimed book which has recently come out in paperback. For more information, telephone Ottakar's on (01983) 527927