Peter is one of our leading fanzine publishers -- of the over 100 pages of the first two issues of ANDROMEDA. He belongs to at least two fan clubs and is originator of one of them. He corresponds widely and is well known to many American fans. He attends British Conventions. He works hard for fandom -- all fans who have joined OPERATION FANTAST since he took charge of the Greetings Group and Contact Bureau know the results of his efforts. Finally, he is capable of representing us without disgracing us. He is quiet spoken, well mannered, personable, and can turn a slick phrase when necessary. (K.F.Slater)
Vin¢ is both the obvious choice and the best one we could make. A leading fan for over 12 years, he has in fact been our representative whenever we needed one most -- as when he organised our phenomenally successful campaign against ASTOUNDING's exorbitant subscription rate increase. Less well known are the generous help and encouragement he has quietly given to countless new fans. He is also admittedly England's best fan writer, well known in America too through QUANDRY, an authority on everything to do with sf and fandom, a witty and interesting conversationalist and, incidentally, a very likeable person. He is a representative we could be proud of, who could give a good account of himself in America and a good account of it to us afterwards. (G.Charters)
Few words are necessary in support of nominating both Walter Gillings and Mike Rosenblum as possibles for the 1953 [sic] San Francisco Convention. Both have top claim (in different ways), to being Founder Members of today's British fandom, for without either it would undoubtedly have taken quite a different turn, or perhaps never flourished. Both were ardent and active fans as long ago 1937 when the first British Convention was held. Both have recently returned to activity after a few years absence whilst their business lives were soundly or q ganised. To Walter goes the honour of striving long to put British Sf on a sound basis professionally and in producing what is still the most outstanding fanmag of all time -- FANTASY REVIEW. To Michael goes the honour of having held the nucleus of British fandom together during the war under almost impossible conditions, from which the post-war seeds sprouted rapidly and flourished. Both have prior claims, with knowledge and experience of events in this country over the past 20 years, to be the logical choice to represent this country at a World Convention. Either will make a worthy ambassador and raise our prestige even higher than it already is in America. (E.J.Carnell)
Pickles, as editor of late lamented PHANTASMAGORIA, showed himself as a fan without malice; willing to work for fandom without any desire to use his magazine to indulge in harsh criticism of other fans. His efforts were so typical of the average fan that he would probably make a very wide circle of friends in America among the normal fans. Friendships that would endure long after the conventional fireworks were forgotten. The future of fandom depends on the interest of thousands of fans like Derek, who can never aspire to challenge Gold or Carnell, so let these fans be represented by one who never once wrote an unkind word in the mistaken belief that it was clever. (A.V.Clarke)*
* A correction was issued for this version of the ballot: "The ballot form published by Space Diversions contained a misprint. Derek Pickles was not nominated by rival candidate A. Vincent Clarke, but by A. Clarke of Mablethorpe."(Hyphen 6)
Tony is a fan, an active one; he gets things done. He has personality. He can speak in public. He's well known on both sides of the Atlantic. He runs a fanzine and he knows how to write for it. Also he runs a fanclub. All of this adds up to an impressive total. To add a little weight, he's had his picture in ILLUSTRATED and is possibly therefore Britain's most widely-known fan. Tony, I think, has the best combination of talents and would be our best choice. The Medcon will demonstrate everything I've said about Tony to be no over-statement. Let Thorne go to Frisco! (F.Robinson)
As Ken Slater cannot make it, James is the best candidate we have. He's a likeable, friendly person, without any of the traditional British hauteur. He's no stuffed shirt, Giant Intellect or Organisation Genius -- he's just an ordinary fan, representative of us all. He's been an active fan since 1948 and is widely known both here and in the States. The recent 'Beacon' Report showed not only how well he could get on with the Americans, but how well he could write it all up for us afterwards. Let's send James: we couldn't do better -- they'll all like him as much as we do. (C.Harris)
If you're not a known fan please give here the name of one to whom reference may be made.