News

Our May meeting falls right in the center of Memorial Day weekend, so we decided to just have some fun. The year is 1889. The Watsons have just had their first, very non-Canonical baby. You’ve only heard the baby is called “V,” so you don’t know its gender, but you’ve been invited to a baby shower that Mrs. Cecil Forrester is holding for them. What do you bring as an appropriate 1889 gift for the Baby V?

Think hard about it or make one up that afternoon, but we’ll be asking everyone to describe what they’ve brought to our imaginary Watson baby shower, and, if necessary, why?

It’ll be at the usual time on Sunday, May28. (Noon Central time. Six hours later, Southsea time. You figure out the rest.) Here’s the registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpdOisqj8sGtNV8UcpSZHzPQn38hvbbqX2

Was John Watson born in April? Was Sherlock Holmes born in April? This month’s meeting of the John H. Watson Society meeting will be about April birthdays and 221B Con. Bring your thoughts on either for a Sunday funday! (Noon CST, 1:00 EST, and whatever else it is wherever else!)

Here’s the registration link, if you haven’t signed up already:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYudOCqrD0pGtGtYFBFhaFx7g4VAQRH_th5

We are unable to process memberships at the moment. Selena is working on it and hopes to have everything back up and running soon. We apologize for the inconvenience!

After years of missing a core member of the John H. Watson Society, we are finally moving the meeting so she can come. It’s now fourth Sundays instead of fourth Saturdays, and as we’re also dodging too big events in the next two months, those will also be our opening theme for each of the next two meetings. And just to make sure we have our act together, we’ve already got registration links for both meetings!

Opening topic: “What did we learn in Dayton?”
When: Mar 26, 2023 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 
Register in advance for the March meeting with this link!

Opening topic: “What did we learn at 221B Con?”
When: Apr 23, 2023 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for the April meeting with this link!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining each meeting.

It’s that time again, and on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) the John H. Watson Society will Zoom gather. What’s going to happen this month? You just never know!

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtc-6tpj8sGddjJ-0CNAHTDhfI5ZMtfR_u

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In the meantime, listen to this week’s Watsonian Weekly, if you’ve got twelve minutes to devote to our favorite John! Here’s one way to get there:

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/february-20-2023-cmon-give-us-more-watson

First, thank you all very much for your patience as some behind the scenes chaos went on. The site is back up and running. Some of our media files are still being restored, but members can find downloadable digital Watsonian issues on the Member Resources page.

Also! We will be meeting on Zoom this Saturday, January 28. Here are the details:

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Saturday, Jan 28, 2023 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpceioqjkuGNzgu_jsjZGEt1FJmwAlnTGH

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We have received word that our dear “Chips” passed away yesterday, January 16, in Denver, Colorado.

When Ron joined the Society in 2013, he wrote:

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 an 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.

He contributed to the Society blog many, many times over the years, including his long-running irregular feature, “Tid Bits“. He always brought a spirit of joy and friendship to the world of Sherlockiana. In 2014, he shared some thoughts in an observation I will reprint here.

Recently, there have been exchanges online about who is a Sherlockian. We have always had a healthy exchange of different ideas. This discussion question has brought out responses that have caused hard feelings among some Sherlockians. This concerns me and I would like to share some thoughts I have about the Grand Game we play.

I was fortunate to meet and know John Bennett Shaw, who had the largest individual Sherlockian collection in the United States and was one of the kindest, most decent human beings I ever had the pleasure to know. In my too few visits by letter and in person, we discussed all things Sherlockian. The following points are concepts I took away from my conversations with John Bennett Shaw. I try to base my Sherlockian actions on these points:

1. If you have one of a Sherlockian collectible, you gloat. If you have two, you share.
2. A Sherlockian is anyone who has read a Sherlock Holmes story (preferably a story from the Canon) and tries to find more.
3. A Sherlockian is someone who has watched a Sherlock Holmes movie, television program or play and who tries to find more.
4. A Sherlockian is one who has listened to a Sherlockian radio show, tape or cassette and tries to find more.
5. We should treat a Sherlockian’s opinion with respect even if that opinion is wrong or disagrees with yours.
6. The most important rule is: if you are having fun, do it; if you are not having fun,

I wish you all could have met John Bennett Shaw. He was a Sherlockian and human being of the finest kind.

These then are my thoughts: I am afraid we are losing some of the fun in and respect for each other’s point of view that John mentioned we should have. We each have our own favourite Sherlock Holmes and his world. I am a traditionalist. My Sherlock Holmes is that of the Canon and of the world of 1887. The actor who portrayed my quintessential Holmes is Peter Cushing in his portrayal of Holmes in the 1968 BBC television series.

I am sure there are others who will disagree with me. I look forward to discussing my beliefs with you whether you are Brett supporters or the new wave of Cumberbatch supporters from the BBC Series “Sherlock” which updates Holmes to modern times. All I ask is that you treat my beliefs with the same respect and courtesy I will treat yours.

Greetings to all my Sherlockian friends and those friends I have not yet met.

I never had the privilege of meeting Ron in person, but he was a wonderful correspondent. I hope that we will continue to honor his spirit in all we do.

Please share your reminiscences and condolences in the comments. A memorial will be included in the Spring issue of the Watsonian.

This coming Saturday is the December meeting of the John H. Watson Society at noon Central time (adjust accordingly to your location) and here’s the meeting registration link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qf-qurTkoE9zRiMaCBxh2tOP6S6-D2pZe

As usual, our opening presentation/discussion starter will be a last-minute bit of something Watson-ish, but this time we really need your help! This Saturday will be the first ever John H. Watson Society Blue Carbuncle All-Carolling Musical, and we can’t do it without a cast! (Or, to put it more plainly, you don’t want to see who is willing to perform it without a cast.)

Can you sing Christmas carols, and not necessarily well? Can you stand to sing one or two verses a capella karaoke by yourself? (It’s Zoom, so all solos!) Are you full of that blythe Christmas spirit that overcomes Zoom stage fright? Well, come join in the fun! We’ll be rehearsing an hour before the meeting at 11 AM Central time, and here’s the link to that, but be forewarned — if you come to rehearsal, you’d best be prepared to sing — no lookey-loos allowed at rehearsal, of course!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdOuhqj0jGd05FzVTryfalkHhtlUpYrgs

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting, and you will later be emailed some lyrics to practice on if you sign up before Saturday for the rehearsal. (If you sign up on Saturday, you can still sing, but the lyrics will come at 11.)

The John H. Watson Society gathered on Zoom this past Saturday, after a bit of a late notice. You can hear some of what went on here:

https://watsonianweekly.libsyn.com/november-28-2022-watson-gets-stinky

And if you want to get ready for next month’s meeting, which is coming on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada), you can register in advance at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qf-qurTkoE9zRiMaCBxh2tOP6S6-D2pZe

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Think we forgot you? Nope! Join the John H. Watson Society and friends on Saturday for some laconic messages to Watson from a certain friend that may require your services to interpret.

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Saturday, Nov 26, 2022 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpd-ysrTIpE93kKPMIwgCzYQ0aLKNxbtsE

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.