Brian Wright 1969 - 2020

Biography

 Back in 1969, when Ring 202 was launched, two of the members were English.  Coincidentally, they were residing in Malta and they were both working at the Bighi Naval Hospital, in Kalkara.  One of these was Brian Wright who was stationed in Malta for two years at Bighi & Mtarfa and was a Chief Medical Technician (State Registered Nurse) with the Royal Navy.

Brian attended the meetings regularly and participated actively in the meetings that, at that time, were held at the Workers’ Memorial Building, Valletta.  He also took part in the Ring’s first public shows, one at the De Porres Hall, Sliema, another at the Astra Theatre, Gozo and still another, in 1970, at the Manoel Theatre.

Brian Wright was born on 5th February 1938 and he started life in the Navy as a boy sailor at Shotley, where he had to undergo gruelling training that transformed him into a tough and well-trained sailor.  Being in the Navy, nevertheless, brought with it the advantage of travelling round the world and thus meeting magicians and attending magicians’ society meetings in different parts of foreign lands.

Concurrent with this profession he had a strong urge to perform magic which was sparked after seeing George Wroe performing the classic effects ‘Mr & Mrs Green’ and ‘Run Rabbit Run’. Although he couldn’t afford to buy expensive props from magic dealers, he thanked his lucky stars that he had a skilful uncle, with some time on his hands, who could make some decent equipment for him.

After being drafted to the Royal Naval Hospital at Chaltham in 1956, he became a member of the Medway Magical Society.  Then he also met Rosemary whom he married and with whom he had two daughters.  While serving on the Aircraft Carrier, HMS Centaur, he had several opportunities of performing for the crew.  He became President of the Portsmouth and District Magic Society and later a Life Vice-President. After this, his life became a sequence of work and shows mostly for children, performing over three hundred shows a year.  H e refined his charm and magical ability through experience and this begot him more shows, even though he had not given up his naval career.

In fact, it was through his professional engagement as SRN, in charge of the department of gastroenterology at Haslar, that in 1968, he met Earl Mountbatten.  Earl Mountbatten of Burma was fond of magic an invited him to the Broadlands where Dai Vernon, Lewis Ganson and David Berglas were performing.

After being involved in rescue operations on a Greek Liner that caught fire off Gibraltar, the QE II offered him a contract as the full-time performer ‘on board’.  However, he preferred to stick to his naval job.  His first marriage broke up in 1993 and five years later, he discovered a female companion who brought happiness to the families involved.  Brian retired from Navy but did not retire completely from Magic.  He performed a substantial number of shows per year, and, as part of the ‘Magic Circle Memorial Initiative’, discovered, and cultivated the grave of the magician Captain Kettle who died in an air raid in Portsmouth.  On a more personal basis, he collected memorabilia associated with magic including paintings of famous magicians.

Brian passed away in 2020 at the age of 82 after having served as President of the Portsmouth Magic Circle.