Question # 75: The word fiancée should be fiancé.
Welcome to Six New Accomplished Charter Members
Sheila Holtgrieve, JHWS “Daisy”
Sheila joins us from Seattle where she is a member of The Sound of the Baskervilles. She writes:
“I am the librarian of the Sound of the Baskervilles in Seattle, WA. I received the
“Footprints of the Gigantic Hound” award from the club in 2012 for service to
the club. I subscribe to the Baker Street Journal; I am a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and a member of the Hounds of the Internet. My canonical name is Annie Harrison.”
We are most pleased to have Sheila as a new member and look forward to her participation.
Linnea Dodson, JHWS “Dixie”
Linnea joins us from Maryland where she is a technical writer with a Master of Science in Writing. She is a member of Watson’s Tin Box, The Red Circle, and Sherlock DC. Linnea is also on the Convention Committee of the Scintillion of Scions.
We look forward to Linnea’s participation in the Society and her contributions to The Watsonian.
Denny Dobry, JHWS “Kirby”
Mr Dobry resides in Reading, Pennsylvania. He has a most interesting expertise in The Game: a full-size replica of the sitting room at 221B Baker Street. He writes:
“My Sherlockian background includes Current Gasogene of the White Rose Irregulars of York, PA, which I consider my ‘Home’ Scion. I regularly attend meetings of Watson’s Tin Box in Baltimore; The Denizens of the Bar of Gold in Cambridge, Md; and the Regency Irregulars of Phoenixville, PA. I have most
recently attended meetings of the Six Napoleons of Baltimore and The Epilogues
of Sherlock Holmes in Chatham, NJ.
I contributed a chapter to the BSI’s latest publication of its Manuscript Series-“The Wrong Passage,” and will have an article published next month in the Watson’s Tin Box annual publication, “Irene’s Cabinet”.
I am also a member of the Baker Street Builders, qualifying for membership by constructing a full size re-creation of the 221b Baker Street sitting room in my home in Reading, PA. Some photos are available as a link to the White Rose Irregular webpage: ” [Ed. note: You’ve GOT to see these!]
http://www.whiteroseirregulars.net/holmespagejuly22_012.htm
We look forward to hearing more about Denny’s sitting room recreation and period furnishings in issues of The Watsonian.
Robert Ryan, JHWS “Caesar”
Mr Ryan joins us from North London, England where he is a very successful and eclectic writer. His extensive biography is fascinating for its diversity:
Robert Ryan was born in Liverpool and moved south to attend university. He graduated from Brunel with a M.Sc. in Environmental Pollution Science, intending to go into teaching. Instead, he spent two years as a mechanic for a Hot Rod team, racing highly tuned Fords (“the fag-end of motorsport”, as Bernie
Ecclestone calls it) where he became addicted to the smell of Castrol R. Weaning
himself off that, he became a lecturer in Natural Sciences in Kent, while dabbling in journalism. His articles on comic (or graphic novels as they were just becoming known) gurus Alan Moore and Frank Miller found their way into Nick Logan’s The Face magazine, which led to work for the American edition of GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Telegraph and Arena.
Eventually he took a position on staff at The Sunday Times as Deputy Travel
Editor. It was while on assignment in Seattle that he came across the setting
for his first novel, Underdogs – the ‘lost’ city beneath the sidewalks of downtown – that was called ‘Alice in Wonderland meets Assault on Precinct 13’ by Esquire.
While learning to play the trumpet for his third book, Trans Am, Ryan met Guy
Barker, who, as well as being a great jazz trumpeter, had worked with Anthony
Mingella, notably on “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Guy read Underdogs and wrote a
‘theme’ for the book, which opened his Mercury-nominated album Soundtrack.
‘Underdogs’ eventually became a fifty-minute suite, featuring extracts from the
book read by RSC actor Anthony Higgins (most recently seen in Michael Dibdin’s
‘Zen’ on BBC), and was performed at The Barbican and the Brecon Jazz Festival
and filmed by the BBC.
Ryan’s next book, Early One Morning, broke into The Sunday Times’ top ten
bestsellers’ list, and began a sequence of historical dramas set in the 20th
century.
He collaborated again with Barker on “dZf,” a film noir-ish reworking of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” which had its World Premiere at Wakefield Rugby Club and its final outing, twenty performances later, in Hong Kong. It was narrated by actor Michael Brandon (“Jerry Springer The Opera,” “Dempsey and Makepeace,” and “Captain America”) and is available on Guy’s double CD, “The Amadeus Project.”
Ryan’s previous book, Signal Red, a novel based on “The Great Train Robbery,” has been optioned by World Pictures and the writing-production team behind the TV drama United, starring David Tennant.
His latest novel, Dead Man’s Land (Simon & Schuster) takes Dr John Watson
to the Western Front of WW1, where he has to solve a crime without the benefit
of his old colleague Sherlock Holmes.
He continues to contribute to The Sunday Times and is working on further jazz
projects with Guy Barker. He lives in North London with his wife, three children, a dog and a deaf cat.
The Society looks forward to Robert’s contributions to The Watsonian and to the furtherance of Dr Watson’s place in the literature.
J. Randolph Cox, JHWS “Champ”
We await Mr Cox’s biography and will expand upon it when received.
Bill Mason, JHWS “Billy”
Bill Mason of Green brier, TN, is the author of Pursuing Sherlock Holmes, a collection of essays and sketches collected from among his articles and conference presentations in the U.S. and Canada. He has been an enthusiastic Sherlockian since age 13 when his mother gave him a copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. He is the Founder of The Fresh Rashers of Nashville, and his writing has appeared in The Baker Street Journal, Canadian Holmes, The Serpentine Muse, Beaton’s Christmas Annual, and others.
Mr Mason is retired from government service as an employee of the U.S. Congress and the White House. He is presenting at the 2013 Minneapolis Sherlockian conference.
How delightful to welcome these six accomplished Watsonians and Holmesians/Sherlockians into Charter Membership.
Alexian Gregory’s TV Interview
Our Charter Member, Alexian Gregory, JHWS “Byron,” has appeared on television recently in an extensive and well-done interview regarding the Sherlockian tradition. This is an excellent example of Watosonian/Holmesian publicity. You can watch the segment here: mms://media.edisonnj.org/ClassicMovies4.wmv
(Don’t be concerned about the Microsoft notice you may encounter; the link is safe)
Ask Treasure Hunt Questions Here
Post your questions about the Treasure Hunt here and Buttons will try to answer them whilst navigating a pork pie and a pint.
Mr Dan Andriacco and his Kind Blog Post
One of our Charter Members, Dan Andriacco, “Dutch,” has been most kind to post a note about the Society on his very active and always informative website. You may read it here: http://www.bakerstreetbeat.blogspot.com/
Dan is a prolific author of books on our favourite subject, including:
The Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody Series
The Disappearance of Mr. James Phillimore (MX Publishing, 2013)
“The Adventure of the Vatican Cameos” (MX Publishing, E-Story, 2013)
The 1895 Murder (MX Publishing, 2012)
Holmes Sweet Holmes (MX Publishing, 2012)
No Police Like Holmes (MX Publishing, 2011)
The Enoch Hale Series (with Society fellow member, Kieran McMullen, “Raleigh”)
The Amateur Executioner (MX Publishing, 2013)
Sherlock Holmes
“The Adventure of the Magic Umbrella” (MX Publishing, E-Story, 2013)
“The Peculiar Persecution of John Vincent Harden” (MX Publishing, E-Story, 2112)
Baker Street Beat: An Eclectic Collection of Sherlockian Scribblings (MX Publishing, 2011)
We appreciate “Doctor Dan’s” support for helping us become better known to the Watsonian world.
Less Than 24 Hours to the Treasure Hunt!
Tomorrow at 12 Noon Pacific time the questions for First Annual John H Watson Canonical Treasure Hunt will be posted on the Treasure Hunt page. Simply click on “Download File” and save and print it for your use. Good Luck to All!
International Friendship Day: An Article by JHWS Member Kumar Bhatia of Dubai
Our esteemed member, Kumar Bhatia of Dubai, UAE and India, a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of India, has written a poignant view of the friendship between Dr Watson and Mr Holmes. It is particularly appropriate as this is the time of year the United Nations designates as “International Friendship Day.”
We thank Mr Bhatia for his contribution and look forward to its appearance in The Watsonian.
Please click on the link below for Mr. Bhatia’s article in a PDF form (saved in Word 93-2000 so all can access).
Download file:
a_study_in_friendship_by_kumar_bhatia_w93
New Members’ Comments Page
We have added a Members’ Comments page. This is an old-fashioned “Bulletin Board” where you can ask questions, request information, seek collectibles, post your own quiz questions, discuss the Canon and start a dialogue with other members. It’s just for you. Enjoy!
Welcome to James McArthur, JHWS “Max”
We are delighted to welcome into Charter Membership, Mr James McArthur of New Orleans.
James writes:
“I don’t presently belong to any other Sherlockian societies. I was formerly a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. I recently became busy with another interest of Dr. Watson’s literary agent: that of Spiritualism.
I don’t believe there are any Sherlockian societies in the New Orleans area. I understand there was a group called Le Cercle de Sherlock Holmes, but they became inactive about the time (2007 or so) I started to become interested in the Canon.
I am also interested in the Nero Wolfe stories and am a member of The Wolfe Pack: the only member in Louisiana or Mississippi, I’ve been informed.”
We extend a warm welcome and look forward to James’s participation in our Quizzes and activities, and we invite his articles for the journal. Please join in the Society greeting to James:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Welcome to Cade Deverell, JHWS “IVY”
The Society extends a warm welcome to long-time Napa Valley Napoleon of S.H. and The Scowerers and Mollie Maguires of San Francisco member Cade Deverell who resides in San Francisco.
Cade’s memberships include:
» The Napa Valley Napoleons of S.H.
» The Scowrers and Molly Maguires of San Francisco (Reilly)
» The Noble West Enders
» The Knights of the Gnomon
She is an accomplished Quiz Master and devoted Sherlockian with an equally high regard for Dr Watson. We look forward to her participation.
Please extend our traditional greeting to Cade as a new Charter Member:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Only 12 More Days Until the Treasure Hunt!
Buttons is working away at the final questions for the Treasure Hunt. Just to give you an idea of the difficulty, Buttons had to discard 30 questions in the string because he could not remember the answers!! He is now writing them down! He’s up over 60 questions, all inter-related, and is in high hopes of having the other 40 finished by the end of the weekend.
Don’t miss this if you like quizzes and puzzles! Great prizes, too! Tell students!
Welcome to Pamela R. Bodziock, JHWS “Charlie”
Please join in a warm welcome to Pamela R. Bodziock of Monroeville, Pennsylvania who joins us as our 54th Charter Member. Pamela writes:
My name is Pamela R. Bodziock, and I am writing because I am very much interested in joining the John H. Watson Society. I am a relatively new Sherlockian (my personal obsession dates back only to 2009) — but it is worth noting that, when I finished my first Canon excursions with A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, it was Watson, not Holmes, who was my favorite character.
I am a Teen Services librarian who also — like the good Doctor — fancies myself as something of a writer. I am pleased to say that my Holmes pastiche, The Adventure of the Broken Book, was included in the MX Publishing anthology Sherlock’s Home: The Empty House. (You can also find some articles written by me if you poke around such websites as Women Write About Comics and DC Women Kicking Ass.) Favorite on-screen Watsons include Nigel Bruce, Jude Law, and Lucy Liu.
I am a member of the S.H.S.L., and of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers.
Please extend welcome to Pamela with our member greeting:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Welcome to Steven and Vickie Savino as Charter Members, JHWS “Buddy” and “Molly”
The Society welcomes Steven G. Savino and Vickie A. Savino to Charter Membership. Former members of the San Francisco Scowerers and Mollie Maguires, they now reside in Guerneville, California along the beautiful Russian River and its famous vineyards where they are oenophiles of distinction. We hope to see them soon at the Napa Valley Napoleons of S.H. and extend a warm welcome to the Society. Please join in welcoming both of our new members with our member greeting:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Welcome to Susan Z. Swan, PhD, JHWS “Cygnus” from Okinawa
The Society is pleased to welcome our first Charter Member living and teaching at a university in Okinawa. Dr Susan Z. Swan writes:
“What a treat to run across the webpage for the John H. Watson Society! It always felt a trifle unfair that Holmes got most of the credit when Watson did so much of the work — and was so often smeared for the sins of that “literary agent/editor.” A few years ago, I rebuilt the Writing 101 course that I teach to be based on reading, research, and writing on the Canon (when I made the astonishing discovery that many of my university level students actually did NOT know who Watson and Holmes were). This has reintroduced me to works that were favorites of mine as a child — and has so enchanted many of my students that sometimes it is hard to get them to move back outside the Game long enough to write their research papers. I’m looking forward to connection with colleagues and perhaps even a chance to write for the Watsonian.”
Please welcome Dr Swan and extend to her the Society’s traditional greeting:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Treasure Hunt: It’s Coming!
ONLY 15 DAYS UNTIL THE TREASURE HUNT!
With so many new members, we remind all members of the Society of the upcoming Treasure Hunt.
The First Annual John H Watson Canonical Treasure Hunt will involve a lengthy search through the Canon and scholarly material requiring Watsonian Seekers of Truth to sort through a large body of data in order to arrive at the point where the Canonical Treasure is to be found and identified.
Our treasure hunt will involve encryption, obscure references, geographic and biologic inferences, people, objects, dates, and all manner of Watsonian and Holmesian/Sherlockian knowledge.
Be cautioned! It will not be simple. The First Annual John H Watson Canonical Treasure Hunt may well take you weeks to sort out the answer . . . perhaps months. This will make the Musgrave Ritual look like child’s play. You will be required to hunt through the literature, both the Sacred Canon and the related scholarship of the past seventy years.
And there will be prizes! The first Society Charter member to email the correct answer will receive a fine first British edition of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes donated to the Society by an anonymous member. Other categories of winners will also receive handsome donated prizes.
And now for the Rules:
- The Annual John H Watson Canonical Treasure Hunt will be posted on the Society’s website at the Quiz Page at exactly 12:00 Noon (Pacific) on Thursday, 1 August 2013. All participants will have an equal opportunity relative to time and access. The Canonical Treasure Hunt will end upon submission of the first correct answer or on Monday, September 2, 2013 at 12 Noon (Pacific).
- The Annual John H Watson Canonical Treasure Hunt shall have four categories: Charter Members, Non-Members, Founding Members and Students. One winner from the Charter Members shall be determined and one winner from Non-Members shall also be determined. A winning Founding Member will be determined, as well. Founding Members may not compete in the Charter Member category. The Student winner may be a member or non-member, but must be enrolled in a high school, college or university of higher learning. The Charter Member winner will receive a first British edition of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes ( a $1,000 value). The Non-Member winner will receive a six-year membership to the Society (a $120 value). The Student winner will receive an Honorarium of $250. The Founding Member (Directors) winner shall have the satisfaction of knowing the answer submitted was correct.
- The winners will be determined by two criteria: 1) Correctness of the final answer; and 2) Time of receipt of the correct answer by the Society via email at info@johnhwatsonsociety.com . Winners in all categories will be posted on the Society website. NOTE: The final answer will consist of identifying the ultimate Treasure, but will also require answering correctly in writing all questions leading up to the final answer.
- All matters concerning the Canonical Treasure Hunt, the contest, the answers, and the determination of the winning answer will be the sole decision of the John H Watson Society Directors. The only purpose of the Annual John H Watson Society Canonical Treasure Hunt is to encourage scholarship and a deeper understanding of the writings of John H Watson, M.D. All prizes have been donated to the Society by anonymous members.
The Society encourages its members to inform as many people of this First Annual John H Watson Society Canonical Treasure Hunt as possible. We also encourage other scion clubs and organisations to let their members know of this unique and exciting event. And, we would hope the Sherlockian, Holmesian and Watsonian media worldwide find it a worthy effort for featuring prominently in their reportage.
And so, we anticipate the First Annual John H Watson Society Canonical Treasure Hunt and ask you to spread the word and return promptly at noon (Pacific) on Thursday 1 August 2013 for the revealing of the mystery! The game IS afoot!
And Yet More Distinguished New Members!
The past week has brought the Society six new Charter Members. We now have sixty members total in less than ninety days since our founding. Clearly, the devotion to Dr Watson is far deeper than we ever imagined. We are most fortunate to have had such an outpouring of support and interest from our ever-growing membership. Thank you one and all!
Please welcome the following fellow Watsonians and extend to them our traditional greeting: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
BRUCE HARRIS “Scottie”
Mr Harris joins us from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He writes:
“I’ve been a Sherlockian for many years. The time has come to add Watsonian. I am the author of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson: ABout Type, published by The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box.”
Bruce has already submitted a most interesting paper for The Watsonian and we welcome more of his scholarly writings on the Canon, Dr Watson and Mr Holmes.
GEORGE GRUMBLES “Arthur”
Mr. Grumbles joins us from Huntsville, Alabama. He writes:
I became a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London about 30 years ago and have enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes Journal, through the years. I visited the Reichenbach Falls many years ago and shall always recall the steep climb and the frightening fall that could occur. I like many others have scoured Baker Street and many of paths he traveled in his adventures. It has been my belief that John Hamish Watson, MD was the Masters guiding light, without whom he would never have been known.
Like so many aficionados I have tried my hand at a pastiche or two, such as The Giant Maiwandian Cat. I would consider it a privilege to be associated with the John H. Watson Society.
HERBERT LINDER “Casey”
Mr. Linder comes to the Society from his home in Dallas where he is a member of the scion group, The Barque Lone Star. We hope to learn more of Herbert’s Canonical interests through his active participation in the Society activities.
We welcome Herbert and look forward to his contributions to the Quiz Page, the Treasure Hunt and with submissions to The Watsonian. We are beginning to develop quite a following in Texas.
BILL BERG, MD, JHWS “Lucky”
Dr Berg joins us from Salinas, California where he is a diagnostic radiologist and a long time Sherlockian (interesting: both are detectives). His telephone call to Buttons was most enjoyable and later he sent along the following:
“My wife, Lynda, and I have a horse ranch of Tennessee Walker and Peruvian Horses. I belong to the Diogenes Club of Carmel-by-the-Sea. I am past-Persian Slipper, past-Tantalus, and past-Gasogene, as well as Quiz Master.
My day job is with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, where I am a diagnostic radiologist.
I am very excited to become a member of the Watson Society!”
And we are most grateful to have your support and interest in the Society. We hope you will become a regular contributor to our Quiz Page, perhaps creating questions to stump our insightful members. And we also appreciate your interest in oenology.
GEORGE HARLEM, JHWS “Beau,” SHSL
Mr Harlem lives in Acton, Massachusetts and is a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and The John H Watson Society. We are most proud he chose us as his first interest after which he joined SHSL. He writes:
“The John H. Watson Society is my first Sherlock Holmes society membership, although I have been an avid Sherlockian for over sixty years, albeit in quite a casual way. From my first volume, the Morley-prefaced Doubleday, I have assembled a modest collection of Holmes books, including a couple of original illustrated Strand facsimiles, plus works by Adrian Conan Doyle, William Baring-Gould, several Doyle biographies, many pastiches of widely-ranging quality, the complete Jeremy Brett Granada TV series on DVD, and a number of framed Strand cover reproductions that I found at a little shop in Charing Cross Road.
A two-time retirement flunkout, I made a segue from 35 years in high-tech to my present career in real estate. I am very much looking forward to this new adventure as part of the John H. Watson Society!”
A we look forward to your journey on the adventure with us! Welcome, “Beau”!
CHRISTOPHER MUSIC, JHWS “Russell,”
Mr Music joins us from Clarkston, Michigan where he is a long time, distinguished Sherlockian. He writes:
A Detroit native, I am currently the Commissionaire of the Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit (established 1946), where I also serve as the archivist, head of the planning committee, contributor to our newsletter The Beggar’s Cup, and webmaster for our site www.amateurmendicant.blogspot.com.
I am also an active member of the Ribston-Pippins scion in Michigan, a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, and a member of the Clients of Adrian Mulliner (Sherlock Holmes/PG Wodehouse scion).
I enjoy travelling the Sherlockian circuit and frequently attend gatherings of the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic) in Chicago, the ACD/SH Newberry Library Symposium, the Dayton Symposium, the BSI’s Silver Blaze, and the annual BSI weekend festivities in New York, among others.
In addition to my enjoyment studying the Canon and playing “The Game”, I take a particular interest in studying and researching the history of the BSI, the Amateur Mendicant Society, and our early founders.
Don Yates, our Founding Chair, has conferred upon Christopher the moniker “Russell” in honour of the great Russell McLauchlin (“Naval Treaty”, BSI 1949) who founded the Amateur Mendicant Society in 1946.
We look forward to Christopher’s scholarly and historic contributions to The Watsonian in future.
BRENDA ROSSINI, JD, JHWS “Ginger”
Ms Rossini joins us from Winnetka, Illinois where she pursues her legal career and her deep interests in all things Watsonian and Holmesian.
She is a member of the Devon Street Beggars, the Criterion Bar, the Scotland Yarders, and the Torists. And, now we welcome her to the Society of Watsonians.
Welcome to Brenda. We look forward to your active participation in our activities and scholarship.
The New Member Festival Continues!
Buttons is working hard to keep up with the new Charter Members of the Society. Over the past two days, we have six new members and will do our best to assemble their biographies as they are received. Here are four:
Kieran McMullen
Mr. McMullen joins the Society from his home in Georgia. He writes:
“I am a triple retiree: Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired sheriff and retired volunteer fireman. I have had five books published by MX Publishing: Watson’s Afghan Adventure, Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Boer Wagon, Sherlock Holmes and the Irish Rebels, and The Many Watsons (a compilation of my blogs with all money going to the Undershaw Preservation Trust). The first three books have been republished as Holmes and Watson: The War Years. I also have cooperated with Dan Andriacco on The Amateur Executioner and we will be having another Enoch Hale mystery coming out this fall. In addition there will be a new mystery about Watson before Christmas.
The Society welcomes another prolific and interesting writer and looks forward to Kieran’s future contributions to our journal. Please join in extending our Societal welcome to new members:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Stuart Nelan
Mr Nelan joins the Society from Texas, and writes:
“I’ve been involved with Sherlock Holmes for over forty years now, primarily collecting books. I’ve gone to the last five BSI Weekends in NYC, and my wife and I are planning to go to The Norwegian Explorer’s Conference in Minnesota later this
month.
I belong to the two Dallas-area Sherlock Holmes societies — The Crew of the Barque Lone Star, and The Diogenes Club of Dallas (although after our recent civil war, the former has now absorbed the latter).
I am also a member of The Sound of the Baskervilles (for which I am the volunteer webmaster — http://www.soundofthebaskervilles.com/), The Norwegian Explorers, and The Sherlock Holmes Society of London. I also subscribe to
several Sherlockian publications.
I’m looking forward to being involved with the John H. Watson Society!”
And the Society very much looks forward to the pleasure of your active involvement, Stu. Please join in welcoming Stu Nelan to membership with our member greeting:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Don Hobbs
The Society is pleased to have the well-known Sherlockian, Mr Don Hobbs, join as a Charter Member. Don has been a devotee of the Watsonian and Sherlockian worlds for many years and is quite active in various clubs and organisations. He is an invested Baker Street Irregular, “Inspector Lestrade,” and can, doubtless, advise us all as to the proper pronunciation of the Inspector’s name.
He writes:
“I have been a Sherlockian for more than thirty years. Most of that time I have
concentrated on collecting foreign language translations of the Canon. Currently,
there are 98 languages with at least one Canonical translation. I was co-founder of Sherlock Peoria and write a blog “Inspector Lestrade’s Blotter Page.” I am the editor of The Galactic Sherlock Holmes, the complete Electronic Bibliography of the Foreign Language Translations of the Canon. I am an Applications Specialist for Radiology software company. My job allows me to travel extensively, which in turn allows me to meet up with other Sherlockians around the world.”
Mr. Hobbs’s other memberships include:
» The Diogenes Club of Dallas
» The Maniac Collectors
» The Crew of the Barque Lone Star
» The Fortescue Scholarship Program (B.S.S., A.M.S. & Sh.D.)
» The STUD Sherlockian Society
» The Beacon Society
» The Torists International, S.S.
» The Curious Collectors of Baker Street
» The Hansom Cab Clock Club
» Le peloton des cyclistes solitaires
Please extend a warm welcome to Don Hobbs and join in our traditional greeting:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Steven Rothman
We are honoured to welcome Mr. Steven Rothman, BSI “The Valley of Fear,” as a Charter Member of the Society. Mr. Rothman is known to Sherlockians, Holmesians and Watsonians worldwide as the long-time Editor of the Baker Street Journal and a devoted scholar and pre-eminent Sherlockian.
His memberships include:
» The Baker Street Irregulars (The Valley of Fear)
» The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
» Le Cercle de Sherlock Holmes
The Society very much looks forward to and welcomes Mr. Rothman’s contributions to our scholarship, our journal and our mission. Please welcome him with our special greeting:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Our First Member from India, living in Dubai, UAE
The Society warmly welcomes Mr. Kumar Bhatia to Charter Membership. Kumar lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He writes:
“I am from Bombay, India , but live and work in Dubai U.A.E. I am a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of India and have been a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson since the age of 13, when my very own Stamford, my late uncle, introduced me to the Canon, with a birthday present of the ” Memoirs.”
We look forward to Mr Bhatia’s contributions to the Society, the journal and to the international views of the world’s Watsonians.
Please join in welcoming him and extending the Society’s traditional welcome:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive,” and perhaps literally in Kumar’s experience.
Progress!
On this day on which our separation from England is commemorated, it is
appropriate to note that, thanks to your interest, untiring efforts and kind referrals, fifty Watsonians now number themselves as members of The John H Watson Society . . . and that is fifty in only eighty-four days.
It is a Veritable Festival of Watsonia and Anglophilia!
Best regards
Buttons (who is having a hot dog instead of a meat pie)
A Marathon of New Charter Members
The Society is honoured to welcome five new Charter Members this Fourth of July, 2013. Please join in extending a warm welcome, en mass, to these new members:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
CHARLES PRESS
Charles Press, PhD, JHWS, “Rofer.” Dr Press a is Pofessor Emeritus in the journalism department at Michigan State University and a long-time (50-year) member of the Greek Interpreters of East Lansing. He lives in Grand Rapids and has published a number of books on the subject of Holmes.
HUGH ASHTON
Hugh Ashton, M.A., JHWS “Clancy” is a prolific professional writer and author of Sherlock Holmes adventures.
Hugh Ashton was born in the UK in 1956. After graduating from the University
of Cambridge, he worked in a variety of jobs, including security guard, publisher’s assistant, and running an independent record label, before coming to rest in the field of information technology, where he assisted perplexed users of computers and wrote explanations to guide them through the problems they encountered.
A long-standing interest in Japan led him to emigrate to that country in 1988, where he has remained ever since; writing instruction manuals for a variety of consumer products, assisting with IT-related projects at banks and financial institutions, and researching and writing industry reports on the Japanese and Asian financial industries. Some of the knowledge he has gained in these fields forms the background for At the Sharpe End, his second novel.
Hugh currently lives with his wife Yoshiko in the old town of Kamakura to the
south of Tokyo, where he is working on future novels and stories.
Publications
He has recently published five volumes of Sherlock Holmes mysteries with
Inknbeans Press of Los Angeles: Tales from the Deed Box of John H. Watson
MD, More from the Deed Box of John H. Watson MD, Secrets from the Deed Box of John H Watson MD, The Darlington Substitution, and Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The three “Deed Box” collections have been collected and printed together in a handsome hardback edition–The Deed Box of John H.Watson MD.
Inknbeans Press has also published his collection of short stories set in Japan, Tales of Old Japanese, featuring the culture and habits of the older generation of Japanese.
His first published novel, Beneath Gray Skies, is an alternative history set in a “past that never happened”, where the Civil War was never fought.
His second novel, At the Sharpe End, features an expatriate consultant living in Tokyo, Kenneth Sharpe, who finds himself thrust into a world of violence and high finance that takes him by surprise.
The third novel, Red Wheels Turning, takes some of the characters of Beneath Gray Skies, and sets them in the background of Tsarist Russia, where a battle of wits takes place to control the secret Russian wonder weapons that could win the war for the Allies.
MARGIE DECK
Margie Deck, JHWS “Gwen” joins us from Spanaway, Washington where she is a long-time member of The Sound of the Baskervilles. Margie is an enthusiastic Sherlockian cross-word puzzle maker known as “The Pawky Puzzler” and she is a devotee of our beloved Dr Watson. We hope to see Margie’s cross-word creations in The Watsonian.
RON LIES
Ron Lies, JHWS “Chips” joins the Society from Denver, Colorado where he has been an active member of Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients since 1972.
Ron writes:
“I am at present Transcriber of Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients. I have been a past Staff Surgeon, past Chief Surgeon and member since 1972. I am a member of: The Sherlock Holmes Society of India; a member of The Sydney Passengers, The Sherlock Homes Society of Australia; and co- founder of The Sons of Shaw, a society honoring the memory of John Bennett Shaw.
I have had a overwhelming interest in Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson since seventh grade when I read “The Speckled Band” in my class’s Catholic Weekly Reader. I have always identified with Dr John Watson and now feel I am where I belong with The John H. Watson Society.”
So do we, Ron. Welcome!
DAN ANDRIACCO
Dan Andriacco, D.Min., JHWS “Dutch” is a well-known author of Sherlockian works who discovered Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories at about the age of nine. Not long after, he became acquainted with such greats of the Golden Age of detective fiction as Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Rex Stout, John Dickson Carr, Earle Stanley Gardner, and many more.
His earliest career goal was to become a mystery writer. He eventually did, while holding down day jobs at The Cincinnati Post as a reporter and editor (1973-1997) and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as communications director (1997-present). From 1977 to 1982, he wrote a monthly mystery review column for
The Post. He also taught non-credit classes in mystery fiction and mystery writing.
He has been a member of the Tankerville Club, a Cincinnati-based scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars, since 1981. He is the author of Baker Street Beat: An Eclectic Collection of Sherlockian Scribblings and five published mystery novels with Sherlockian overtones. The most recent is The Disappearance of Mr.
James Phillimore, the latest in his Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody series. He has also been a mystery reviewer and taught non-credit classes in mystery fiction. He once won a bet with a colleague that he could write a novella in less time than it took her to read one of his novels
Mr Andriacco’s Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody mystery series, set in a small town in Ohio, is very much in the tradition of his Golden Age favorites. “McCabe is a great detective in the classic mode,” Andriacco said. “By that I mean he is a polymath amateur sleuth. He’s a college professor at a small Catholic college, but he’s also a mystery writer, a magician, and a linguist. I would love to meet the man, but I’m not sure I’d want to be his best friend. His ‘Watson,’ Jeff Cody is not only his best friend, but also his brother-in-law and the public relations director for the college where Mac teachers. These multiple relationships carry multiple tensions, which I hope is a source of humor. These books are supposed to be fun and funny. Judging by reviewers, they seem to hit that mark for most readers.”
Dan Andriacco, known to friends as “Doctor Dan,” holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia. He was born in 1952 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Ann. They have three adult children and four grandchildren.