SECRECY surrounds the Magic Circle like ... well, a circle.

Jul 27 2005 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Members have to agree never to reveal the tricks up their sleeves nor filch any other member's ideas without their consent ... just like that!

"The penalties for breaking these rules can be severe," is the ominous warning of the Circle big wigs.

So it's no surprise that when a Huddersfield publishing company got the job of producing the lavish 190-plus page coffee table book marking the Magic Circle's 2005 centenary - secured against stiff opposition - that the 18 month project was masterminded through lengthy meetings held behind closed doors in the Inner Santum of the organisation's London headquarters.

Nor that only four people had seen the finished book before it's launch at the Centenery Conferance in London attended by 1,000 magicians from over 40 countries.

"Yes, it was presented like a rabbit out of a hat", said Jeremy Mills, whose specialist publishing company operates from offices in Occupation Road, Lindley.

The book, Circle Without End The Magic Circle 1905-2005, is the biggest title the company has secured in its four year history.

Its design was taken on by freelance graphic designer Anna Christensen, of Meltham, who moved to this area 14 years ago after studying at Lincolnshire College of Art and Design. Her first jobs after graduating were with Huddersfield companies Attik and Neil Foster Design before she became freelance.

Jeremy and Anna - along with the book's co-authors Edwin A Dawes and Michael Bailey - were the only four people to see the book prior to the launch at the Circle's headquarters in Euston.

The HQ - whose spiral staircase appears on the book cover - became familiar territory to Jeremy Mills during the project. His meetings with the co-authors were always conducted in the tiny Inner Sanctum, behind locked doors - and could last as long as five hours.

"Secrecy did surround the book's publication. They did not want any other member to see the book until it came out," said Jeremy.

And for an organisation whose members can spend years perfecting a trick - the attention to detail was meticulous.

The centenary of the Circle was brought to national attention back in March with the production of a special set of "magical" interactive stamps. The First Class stamp used a technique never before seen on a UK stamp - rubbed with a coin it revealed either heads or tails. Two other stamps perform their own magic and "change" when heat from the hand is applied, and the final two are optical illusions.

These stamps - and a first day cover for March 15 2005 - figure in the book, the latest in dozens of publications producedby the Huddersfield company, whose next major project is for The Royal Mint and called The Collector Coins. This again will be a collaboration with designer Anna Christensen and is due out in December.

The company is also producing The Official History of The London Fire Brigade, due to be launched at the Guild Hall, London on September 14.

* Circle Without End The Magic Circle 1905-2005, Compiled and Edited by Edwin A Dawes and Michael Bailey, published by Jeremy Mills Publishing Ltd is available direct from the company at The Red House, 22 Occupation Road, Lindley, Huddersfield HD3 3BD and can be ordered by telephone on 01484 421674 or via the website www.jeremymillspublishing.co.uk at £35 plus postage and packing.

* Huddersfield Circle of Magicians was formed in 1949.

* It meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 8pm in The Latvian Club, Belmont Street, Huddersfield.

* The 24 members range in age from 15 to 82.

Admission to the Circle is via an audition before a club committee. The would-be member has to perform a 10-minute act.

* Secretary and president Barry Senior, of Woolley says, "We don't expect people who want to join to be accomplished magicians. But we can tell whether they're really interested in magic, or whether they've just got a bit of of an idea from a Christmas cracker and want to join to see how the effects are done."

* Secrets of the various tricks are closely guarded. "The whole point of the Circle and being a member is the secrecy," says Barry.

* Contact: Barry Senior tel 01226 385912

* The Magic Circle was formed 100 years ago by three enterprising magicians who wanted to start a society "to discuss their secrets in private."

* They wanted to "form the nucleus of a vast congress of magicians of all creeds and nationalities, striving to elevate and purify the art, and raise it to one of the first professions."

* Today the Magic Circle has 1,500 members from 40 countries