On Wednesday morning, the l8th, I bid adieu to Mike's family and to Ron Hennett,
the latter of whom was off to teach the remnants of his Asiatic-Flu-infested grammar
schoolers. It would have been nice to stay another day at Mike's but, as I had made
arrangements to meet Peter Hamilton in London that evening, it was the better part of
valor to get a good early start in that direction.

     Mike drove me to the station and we arrived just in time for me to make the train.
It was difficult to say goodby to Mike after having aeen him for auch a short time and
realizing that it waa improbable that we would meet again. But, in retrospect - the
world is continuously getting smaller and I may get another chance to visit London.
If I do, Leeds will certainly be on my visiting list.

     I spent the several hours train ride deep in nostalgic memories. Mike had given
me a conplete file of THE NEW FUTURIAN and I derived a great deal of pleasure from
reading them. I was particularly fond of the serialized "The Clamorous Dreamers", by
Walter H. Gillings, Like THE IMMORTAL STORM has been criticized as being the life
history of Sam Moskowitz, so has "The Clamorous Dreamers" been derided as being
English fandom only as Gillings would have it. Perhaps so, but it makes excellent
reading and for the Pan historian it is invaluable. I have come to the conclusion
that Walt Gillings may have not only been England's first fan - he may have been the
world's first fan. His activities started as far back as 1927 and he fought valiantly
for years to bring a science fiction magazine to England. He was on the verge of
success several times, but it wasn't until 1937 that his dreams were realized with the
advent of TALES OF WONDER. It lasted sixteen issues (until mid-1942) and was eseenti-
ally a reprint magazine, drawing almost exclusively from the old WONDER and AMAZING.
Walt was also active in the fan field. His SCIENTIFICTION was one of the most preten-
tious fanzines ever published and, in reality, could be termed a "professional fanzine".
It was pure sercon and featured excellent bibliographica1 and historical material.

     Arriving in London, I took the tubes and finally wended my way (100-pound suit-
case and a1l) back to the Bulmer residence. Ken, having written a short story and a
novelette that morning, was relaxing by grinding out a "Kenneth Johns" science
article. This series of science articles (published in NEBULA for many issues) was a
collaboration between John Newman and prolific old Ken, the former supplying the idea
and basic information, and the latter doing the final writing.

     Ken poured me a cup of tea and I related my hedonistic Liverpool weekend and my
nostalgic several days in heeds to him. Upon the termination of my fantastic revela-
tions, Ken handed me a wire fran Peter Hamilton which said he would meet me in the
lobby of a downtown hotel at seven. (The name of the hotel escapes me, but it wasn't
the King's Court.) Ken also reminded me that the weekly black mass would be held the
following evening at the Globe, "Gee!" I said, all imbued with nostalgia end like that,
"Do you think Walter H. Gillings will be there?"

     "Very unlikely," said Ken, "as he hasn't been around in many a moon. But why
don't you call him? After all as one relic of antediluvian fandom to another - who
knows?"

     And so it came to pass that the Grand Patriarch of British Fandom was contacted
by electric means. Walt IM4HUGO was at his office (he is a newspaper editor) and said
he'd like to be at the meeting the next evening for aure. In reality, I must make a