“Jeepers Creepers" was only seven when retired professional magician Edwin Halstead ("Mr E"!) came to live next door to his family’s home in the Yorkshire Dales, in the north of England. Soon young "Jeepers" became an enthusiastic member of The Boy Magicians Club. At 11 he won their competition for the most original trick of the year. At 17 he was a member of a concert party which toured the Yorkshire Dales. At 20 he was in cabaret at various hotels in the north of England and he was also presenting magic shows at countless children’s parties.
Then- the big break- a winter season at the fabulous Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados, which led to a weekly cabaret show there for seven years. Regular shows for the Marriott and Hilton Hotel chains followed, as well as the "Magic Moments" series for CBC-TV and meanwhile the shows at private venues, and magic for children’s parties as well as the more sophisticated after-dinner shows, continued. A show for the late HRH Princess Margaret and her party became one of the top memories.
But "Jeepers" very best magical memories are of the days of his lessons from the late Ken Brooke, at Ken’s studio in the West End of London, and of the sessions with Ken and his pal, the late Tommy Cooper, in a pub called the "Intrepid Fox" on Wardour Street, London with a packed audience of the traders from the Berwick Street market just round the corner, who had flocked in once they knew that Ken and Tommy were there.
In his own small way, in many parts of the world, for many years, "Jeepers" has continued the tradition so well established by those great stars of yesterday, by performing simply to entertain and amuse - and if there is some puzzlement, even amazement! - along the way - well that’s fine too.
Here are a few extracts from letters, which may be viewed here
"From four to twelve year olds-you managed to delight them all! I shan't hesitate to recommend you to friends who are having a children's party in the future" Mr Alan Bottomley - host for a private lunch in September '07
"The children thoroughly enjoyed your show last year, and are eagerly awaiting the return of the magic man" Skelton Newby Hall Church of England School. '06/07
"Just a note to say thank you very much for providing a brilliant magic show" Northallerton & District Centre for the Deaf '05/06
Latest credits include walk about magic for "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" at Ripley Castle, table magic at "The Horoscope Restaurant" Harrogate and cabaret magic for the British Legion's Annual Poppy Day Launch evening: with children's magic shows at The Majestic Hotel Harrogate, at Aldwark Manor Hotel, Nr York, at Calcutt Hall, Knaresborough, at "The Academy" Harrogate, … and at many private homes.
