Derek Lever

Infobox Person


image_size = 150px
name = Derek Lever


birth_date = Birth date|1937|08|30
birth_place = Kearsley, Bolton, UK
occupation = Magician and convention organiser

Derek Lever (born 30 August 1937 in Kearsley, near Bolton, Lancashire) is an English comedy magician and the founder and managing director of the Taurus Magic Supply Company. He has held prominent posts in professional magic organisations and is known as the organiser of a major annual convention. He is also a professional hypnotist and fire eater.

Derek has been performing magic and the allied arts for over 50 years and at the age of 11 he claimed to be the world’s youngest fire eater. After serving 2 years in the Royal Air Force on National Service he turned full-time professional and entertained in night clubs and theatres all over the world. Later he opened a successful theatrical agency handling stars and speciality acts for some 10 years. Derek owns a large collection of magic tricks both rare and ingenious and frequently displays these in his lectures all over the world under the titles "The World’s Most Ingenious Magical Apparatus" or the "Magical World of Jack Hughes". He has lectured at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. He has also practiced as a medical hypnotist and an auctioneer. He organises several magic auctions in various parts of England. He is married to Anne Lever who has been in magic virtually as long as Derek and was his magician's assistant for many years. She is currently editor of the "Magigals Magazine", which is circulated to female magicians in England and abroad and she is an honorary life member of the Manchester Circle of Magicians. In 2004 she received an award from the Guild of Magicians which was inscribed "In ongoing recognition of her commitment to the world of magic". She now assists Derek in his business.

In 1984 Derek joined Blackpool Magicians’ Club where he is currently organiser of the annual Blackpool Magic Convention. The event, billed as the largest of its kind in the world, takes place every February, when thousands of magicians from all over the world are entertained for three days by international stars in the Winter Gardens Complex, Blackpool, England. A Past president of the club he has originated and organises the British Magical Championships which take place in the 3,000-capacity Opera House at Blackpool. He is a recipient of the 'David Berglas Award' and the Murray Award and is an Honorary Life Member of the Club. Derek is an honorary life president of Manchester Circle of Magicians and also the current secretary. His wife Anne Lever is an honorary life member and is current President of the club.

In May 2007, Derek and Anne travelled to Beijing, China to tutor the China Acrobats Association on how to organise the FISM World Championships of Magic which will take place in July 2009.

Achievements and Awards

*Past president of the British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Order of the Magi.
*Honorary vice president of the British Magical Society.
*Awarded a presidential testimonial by the Society of American Magicians.
*Awarded a presidential testimonial by the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
*Awarded, the David Berglas Trophy for Services to Magic by the British Magical Society and the Murray Award at the Blackpool Convention in 2002.
*In 2004 he was awarded an Order of Merit from the Magic Castle, Hollywood.
*Honorary life member of the Guild of Magicians.
*Honorary life member and a past president of Blackpool Magicians Club
*Honorary life president of Manchester Circle of Magicians
*Honorary life member of Nottingham Guild of Magicians
*Winner of ITV's New Faces talent show.

Bibliography

#Derek Lever "Stranger Than Fiction" [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]
#Derek Lever "Jack Hughes World of Magic" [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]
#Derek Lever "Ken Brooke and Friends" [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]
#Derek Lever "Encyclopedia of Crocodile Magic" [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]
#Derek Lever "Blackpool Bafflers" [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]
#Derek Lever "Sensational Secrets" [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]
#written numerous articles for magic magazines. [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]

External links

* [http://www.taurusmagic.net Taurus Magic Supply]
* [http://www.taurusmagic.net/manchester.html Manchester Circle of Magicians]
* [http://www.blackpoolmagic.com/brochure.html THE BLACKPOOL MAGIC CONVENTION]
* [http://www.blackpoolmagic.com/ Blackpool Magician's Club]
* [http://www.fism2009.org/ FISM 2009 World Championships of Magic]