SOMETIMES it seems as if the years vanish in a puff of smoke. And this very trick has been played on the York Society of Magicians, which suddenly finds itself celebrating its diamond anniversary.

An awful lot of cards have been pulled from the pack since the inaugural meeting 60 years ago. But the society is still going strong, and celebrated its milestone with a banquet and cabaret at the Parsonage Country House Hotel at Escrick, near York, last Friday night.

For such a dignified occasion, it was only right that the Lord Mayor, Coun Janet Looker, was there. Her attendance was particularly appropriate because the society can trace its origins to the enthusiasm of a previous Mansion House resident.

Coun Harold C de Burgh was a keen amateur magician. But he noted that there wasn't a York club for illusionists.

Elsewhere in Britain such clubs flourished, particularly in the early part of the 20th century. One was established in Leeds in 1919. But the Second World War halted this boom.

Once peace was declared Lord Mayor Coun de Burgh's thoughts turned to trickery once more. On March 8, 1945, he convened a meeting of magicians at the Mansion House.

"At the commencement, the Lord Mayor, Mr H C de Burgh, welcomed those present and gave a resum as to why the meeting had been called," the official minutes record.

"Individual opinions were then invited on the subject, which resulted in a unanimous decision that a society should be formed and should be known as the York Society of Magicians...

"As there was no further business that could be finally settled, the remainder of the evening was taken up by those present giving demonstrations of magic."

The society soon flourished, becoming one of the most important in the north of England. Conjurors of all kinds would turn out for its one day conventions.

In 1951 the society produced the first Night Of Magic at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. It proved to be an instant hit, and the event was staged annually until 1987 - a run of 36 years.

More recently the society has held Magical Awareness Days in the De Grey Rooms and at Guildhall to promote its existence and inform local people of its role.

"The society has gone from strength to strength," notes the programme for last Friday's official celebration.

"From the handful of amateur magicians 60 years ago, the membership now comprises around 40 magicians - collectors, dealers, professional, semi-professional as well as the keen hobbyists."

The society exists "to promote the art of magic," says the present president, Derek Forbes, of Woodthorpe, York.

"There's more interest in it now - television's helped with that.

"We're not a teaching society as such. We did have a junior section and we hope to start that up again shortly."

He was entranced by magic when he saw the great Dante perform his lavish stage show at the Middlesbrough Empire in 1947.

"I was only a young boy at that time and his show impressed me so much it started my interest in magic which has stayed with me ever since," says Mr Forbes.

Later he bought, and mastered, his first illusion - the three rope trick - and he was hooked.

"Magicians are a breed apart," he says. "They like to puzzle people with their skill and knowledge.

"It does take a lot of practice. You can't just buy a trick and do it the next day.

"To do it well, you have to rehearse. A basic trick is the disappearing coin, where you have it in your hands and make the coin disappear. Depending how agile you are, it may take you weeks, or even months to master it."

One of the society's honorary vice presidents is Paul Daniels. His association with the society goes back 40 years, when he performed tricks on the Joseph Rowntree Theatre stage under the name El Danis.

Veteran member Ron Spencer was also made an honorary vice president as a surprise at the Friday celebration.

With his wife Nancy, Ron has performed his mind-reading act all over Europe and America.

Another long-serving member is Maurice Deighton. He started learning tricks when he was nine to overcome shyness. He went on to tour the world showing fellow magicians tricks he has invented or improved upon.

No doubt there were as many sleights of hand as memories at last week's magical celebration dinner.

More VE Day memories

THANK you to the readers who have already responded to my appeal for VE Day memories. I should still love some more to go into the supplement we plan to produce to mark the 60th anniversary of that particularly magical moment.

If you remember the day well, or have photographs or other souvenirs, please drop me a line on email at chris.titley@ycp.co.uk, or the traditional way, to Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.

Updated: 09:12 Monday, March 21, 2005