In Praise of Pisces (and of course, Ken Pumfrey)

I’d like to take some time to tell you a little about our house magazine, “Pisces”. Way, way back into the dark, dim, distant mists of time, it was suggested by Ken Pumfrey (then a relatively young shaver of a lad in his seventies) that the Aberdeen Magical Society should have a monthly magazine. Ken had previously been secretary and magazine editor for the Mid Essex Magical Society and the members at Aberdeen agreed with him; Ken himself was given the job of getting it started and editing it. By issue 2, Ken had also replaced Alistair Sutherland as Secretary, so found himself with two jobs. Fifteen years later and although he has relinquished the post of Secretary, Ken is still producing an issue of the magazine every month.

And when I say “producing”, I really mean it! He does the layout, editing, collecting of articles, photos, gossip, jokes and cuttings, commissioning of pieces and a large part of the writing. He also hounds to the ends of the earth those from whom he has commissioned a piece and have missed their deadline! The final version is then passed on to Grant Smith who prints them.

The artwork for the cover was done by our former President (and unofficial Society Historian) Ron Gordon. Legend has it that Ron was also responsible for naming the magazine. When no one could come up with a suitable title, Ron suggested that Ken simply use his star sign, as it would then have a slightly magical and mystical air. If a better name materialised later, it could always be changed. So far, apparently, it hasn’t.

Putting together a magazine every month, especially one on such a specialised subject and for a small, local group is unimaginably difficult. I must confess that I find it hard enough to gather material and have the imagination (and memory) to update this site once a month with the equivalent of about two pages of copy. And yet every month, without fail, we get a minimum of sixteen pages of good, magical reading material from "Pisces".

There are those who might suggest that in these days of electronic media (such as you are reading now) a printed magazine is unnecessary, archaic and unwanted. Not a bit of it! At our Annual General Meeting in 2006, a large part of the business was taken up with a discussion as to how those members who missed some meetings were to receive the copies of Pisces that they didn't get. There was even an insistence that as soon as they missed picking up three issues in person, they should have them mailed to their homes! Of course, this is now done. We wouldn’t want a bloody and brutal rebellion on our hands, which could happen if members are deprived of "Pisces"!

So, could we let this milestone of fifteen years of "Pisces" pass unnoticed? Of course we couldn’t! A special, one-off, never to be repeated CD version of the whole of volume 14 (twelve issues) was produced and given to the members as a memento. And to Ken we gave a wand and stand. I know that it wasn’t the most original gift for a Magical Society to present, but Ken accepted it with the good grace and impeccable manners that we have come to take for granted from one of the true gentlemen of both our Society and our art. I, for one, am looking forward to what Ken puts into our centenary edition in December 2026.

Ken Pumfrey (left) receives a wand in recognition of 15 years of producing and editing "Pisces" . Dave Goulding, AMS President, does the honours.