Magic Circle looks for female member it made disappear
The Guardian|November 12, 2024
The council meeting of the Magic Circle on 9 October 1991 was a historic occasion, marking the moment when the first cohort of women, including Debbie McGee and Fay Presto, were admitted to its previously male-only ranks of magicians.
Jessica Murray
Magic Circle looks for female member it made disappear

But the meeting was also notable for another reason. The council voted to expel a member named Raymond Lloyd, who was in fact a woman - real name Sophie Lloyd - who had been "masquerading as a male" in order to gain access to the society.

She had been admitted 18 months earlier after wearing a disguise, and decided to reveal herself when the organisation voted to admit women in 1991. Despite the new policy, Lloyd was rapidly expelled by members angry at her "deliberate deception," the meeting notes state.

Now the Magic Circle is trying to track Lloyd down to apologise for what happened to her and admit her back into the society. Perhaps characteristically, after tricking the world's most famous society of magicians, she now appears to have disappeared.

"It's almost as if they just made her vanish from thin air, tried to brush it under the carpet, but obviously now the story has come out and we're so desperate to right this wrong," said Laura London, the first female chair of the Magic Circle.

Esta historia es de la edición November 12, 2024 de The Guardian.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición November 12, 2024 de The Guardian.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE GUARDIANVer todo
Debt, IT woes and no chief executive What returning Asda boss has in store
The Guardian

Debt, IT woes and no chief executive What returning Asda boss has in store

Allan Leighton faces a back-to-thefuture challenge as he once again takes charge at struggling Asda.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 26, 2024
Sweeney's RFU salary rises to £1.1m amid job cuts and losses
The Guardian

Sweeney's RFU salary rises to £1.1m amid job cuts and losses

The Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, was paid £1.1m for the 2023-24 financial year despite record losses and swingeing job cuts at the governing body.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
'Probably more out than in' Salah leans towards exit with Liverpool yet to offer new deal
The Guardian

'Probably more out than in' Salah leans towards exit with Liverpool yet to offer new deal

Mohamed Salah says he is disappointed Liverpool have not offered him a new contract and feels \"probably more out than in\" in terms of staying beyond the end of the season.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
Reds' contract dance with Salah was always likely to be complex
The Guardian

Reds' contract dance with Salah was always likely to be complex

Revamp after Jürgen Klopp's exit did not help and time is short for Liverpool to make their talisman feel wanted

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 26, 2024
Guardiola insists ageing squad is not behind City's alarming drop in form
The Guardian

Guardiola insists ageing squad is not behind City's alarming drop in form

Pep Guardiola has denied that a key factor in Manchester City's run of five consecutive defeats is that nine of his squad are aged 30 or older, with the manager pointing to how the same players were Premier League champions last season.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 26, 2024
Wan-Bissaka seals West Ham win to take heat off Lopetegui
The Guardian

Wan-Bissaka seals West Ham win to take heat off Lopetegui

On a bitterly cold Tyneside night, West Ham finally remembered how to fight back.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 26, 2024
Arteta seeks ruthless edge to fix away-day woes in Europe
The Guardian

Arteta seeks ruthless edge to fix away-day woes in Europe

Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal team to fix their patchy European away form against a vibrant Sporting tonight, admitting they need to improve a record of one win in their past eight continental trips.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
I've got my mojo back ... I actually felt unwell at the end at Chelsea'
The Guardian

I've got my mojo back ... I actually felt unwell at the end at Chelsea'

After recharging her batteries in the US, Emma Hayes reflects on the grind of club coaching and fresh ambitions

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 26, 2024
Spurs blow as Vicario faces long spell out after surgery
The Guardian

Spurs blow as Vicario faces long spell out after surgery

Guglielmo Vicario has had surgery to repair an ankle fracture sustained in Tottenham's 4-0 Premier League win at Manchester City on Saturday.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
The Guardian

Verstappen in 'that club' with Senna and Hamilton

Red Bull chief Horner claims his driver's fourth, and most challenging, world title puts him in same class as the greats

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 26, 2024