Tag: new members

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John H Watson,  JHWS “Teddy” Welcomed into Charter Membership

As Mr Ripley was wont to say . . . “Believe it or not . . .” we extend a warm welcome to the Society to John H Watson of Columbus, Georgia. He writes:

“My name is actually John H. Watson. I am often referred to as Johnny
Watson, due to my uncle, who is still living, is also named John H. Watson. I am
a semi-retired photographer, doing almost exclusively art shows. My website is
www.jwatsonphoto.com.”

Can it be possible that we will–after all these years–have a direct source to the font of revealed truth for answers to such questions as  . . . “Wounded in the arm or leg?” . . . . “Why Jack?” . . . and “How many times have you been married?”

We will offer more on John H Watson’s Sherlockian history and biography when he sends it along to the Society. Until then (and this seems really strange) we welcome you with the immortal words you have heard once before:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

 

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Welcome to Carla Coupe, JHWS “Lily”

The Society welcomes new Charter Member, Carla Coupe “Lily” and extends our traditional greeting: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

Carla writes:

I’ve been a Sherlockian from age ten. Currently, I am a member of Watson’s Tin Box and the Red Circle, and have three published pastiches. One of my stories, “The Book of Tobit,” was included as a notable story in Otto Penzler’s Best American Mystery Stories. I also appeared on NPR’s the Diane Rehm show with Peter Blau and Dan Stashower. And now I’m thrilled to be a charter member of The John H. Watson Society!

Carla lives in Silver Spring, Maryland. We are delighted to have her join us!

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Welcome to Thomas J. Walker, Author  of “Fort Apache–New York’s Most Violent Precinct,” and Sherlockian

The Society welcomes Thomas J. Walker to Charter Membership. Captain Walker, formerly of the New York Police Department, was the Executive officer of the 41st Precinct known as Fort Apache in the 1970s. He wrote the book of the same name, later made into a movie. He traces his roots in the NYC Police Department back to the Civil War.His background includes assignments as a physicist in the police laboratory, teaching criminal law at the Police Academy, command of Precinct Detective Squads, Executive Officer of three precincts, and Operations Officer of the Bronx where he coordinated police and detective functions at major disasters and riots.

He appeared on the TV show, “The $128,000 Question,” as an expert on Sherlock Holmes and won $32,000. He is a member of the Society of Professional Investigators, and he is a director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Mr Walker is married to Mary Faherty. They have five children and reside in the Bronx.

Please join in extending the Society’s welcome to this most Detective of all of our members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Six New Accomplished Charter Members

Sheila Holtgrieve, JHWS “Daisy”

Sheila joins us from Seattle where she is a member of The Sound of the Baskervilles. She writes:

“I am the librarian of the Sound of the Baskervilles in Seattle, WA. I received the
“Footprints of the Gigantic Hound” award from the club in 2012 for service to
the club. I subscribe to the Baker Street Journal; I am a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and a member of the Hounds of the Internet. My canonical name is Annie Harrison.”

We are most pleased to have Sheila as a new member and look forward to her participation.

Linnea Dodson, JHWS “Dixie”

Linnea joins us from Maryland where she is a technical writer with a  Master of Science in Writing. She is a member of Watson’s Tin Box, The Red Circle, and Sherlock DC. Linnea is also on the Convention Committee of the Scintillion of Scions.

We look forward to Linnea’s participation in the Society and her contributions to The Watsonian.

Denny Dobry, JHWS “Kirby”

Mr Dobry resides in Reading, Pennsylvania. He has a most interesting expertise in The Game: a full-size replica of the sitting room at 221B Baker Street. He writes:

“My Sherlockian background includes Current Gasogene of the White Rose  Irregulars of York, PA, which I consider my ‘Home’ Scion. I regularly attend meetings of Watson’s Tin Box in Baltimore; The Denizens of the Bar of Gold in Cambridge, Md; and the Regency Irregulars of Phoenixville, PA.  I have most
recently attended meetings of the Six Napoleons of Baltimore and The Epilogues
of Sherlock Holmes in Chatham, NJ.

I contributed a chapter to the BSI’s latest publication of its Manuscript Series-“The Wrong Passage,” and will have an article published next month in the Watson’s Tin Box annual publication, “Irene’s Cabinet”.

I am also a member of the Baker Street Builders, qualifying for membership by constructing a full size re-creation of the 221b Baker Street sitting room in my home in Reading, PA.  Some photos are available as a link to the White Rose Irregular webpage: ”  [Ed. note: You’ve GOT to see these!]

http://www.whiteroseirregulars.net/holmespagejuly22_012.htm

We look forward to hearing more about Denny’s sitting room recreation and period furnishings in issues of The Watsonian.

Robert Ryan, JHWS “Caesar”

Mr Ryan joins us from North London, England where he is a very successful and eclectic writer. His extensive biography is fascinating for its diversity:

Robert Ryan was born in Liverpool and moved south to attend university. He graduated from Brunel with a M.Sc. in Environmental Pollution Science, intending to go into teaching. Instead, he spent two years as a mechanic for a Hot Rod team, racing highly tuned Fords (“the fag-end of motorsport”, as Bernie
Ecclestone calls it) where he became addicted to the smell of Castrol R. Weaning
himself off that, he became a lecturer in Natural Sciences in Kent, while dabbling in journalism. His articles on comic (or graphic novels as they were just becoming known) gurus Alan Moore and Frank Miller found their way into Nick Logan’s The Face magazine, which led to work for the American edition of GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Telegraph and Arena.

Eventually he took a position on staff at The Sunday Times as Deputy Travel
Editor. It was while on assignment in Seattle that he came across the setting
for his first novel, Underdogs – the ‘lost’ city beneath the sidewalks of downtown – that was called ‘Alice in Wonderland meets Assault on Precinct 13’ by Esquire.

While learning to play the trumpet for his third book, Trans Am, Ryan met Guy
Barker, who, as well as being a great jazz trumpeter, had worked with Anthony
Mingella, notably on “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Guy read Underdogs and wrote a
‘theme’ for the book, which opened his Mercury-nominated album Soundtrack.
‘Underdogs’ eventually became a fifty-minute suite, featuring extracts from the
book read by RSC actor Anthony Higgins (most recently seen in Michael Dibdin’s
‘Zen’ on BBC), and was performed at The Barbican and the Brecon Jazz Festival
and filmed by the BBC.

Ryan’s next book, Early One Morning, broke into The Sunday Times’ top ten
bestsellers’ list, and began a sequence of historical dramas set in the 20th
century.

He collaborated again with Barker on “dZf,” a film noir-ish reworking of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” which had its World Premiere at Wakefield Rugby Club and its final outing, twenty performances later, in Hong Kong. It was narrated by actor Michael Brandon (“Jerry Springer The Opera,” “Dempsey and Makepeace,” and “Captain America”) and is available on Guy’s double CD, “The Amadeus Project.”

Ryan’s previous book, Signal Red, a novel based on “The Great Train Robbery,” has been optioned by World Pictures and the writing-production team behind the TV drama United, starring David Tennant.

His latest novel, Dead Man’s Land (Simon & Schuster) takes Dr John Watson
to the Western Front of WW1, where he has to solve a crime without the benefit
of his old colleague Sherlock Holmes.

He continues to contribute to The Sunday Times and is working on further jazz
projects with Guy Barker. He lives in North London with his wife, three children, a dog and a deaf cat.

The Society looks forward to Robert’s contributions to The Watsonian and to the furtherance of Dr Watson’s place in the literature.

J. Randolph Cox, JHWS “Champ”

We await Mr Cox’s biography and will expand upon it when received.

Bill Mason, JHWS “Billy”

Bill Mason of Green brier, TN, is the author of Pursuing Sherlock Holmes, a collection of essays and sketches collected from among his articles and conference presentations in the U.S. and Canada. He has been an enthusiastic Sherlockian since age 13 when his mother gave him a copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. He is the Founder of The Fresh Rashers of Nashville, and his writing has appeared in The Baker Street Journal, Canadian Holmes, The Serpentine Muse, Beaton’s Christmas Annual, and others.

Mr Mason is retired from government service as an employee of the U.S. Congress and the White House. He is presenting at the 2013 Minneapolis Sherlockian conference.

How delightful to welcome these six accomplished Watsonians and Holmesians/Sherlockians into Charter Membership.

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 Welcome to James McArthur, JHWS “Max”

We are delighted to welcome into Charter Membership, Mr James McArthur of New Orleans.

James writes:

“I don’t presently belong to any other Sherlockian societies. I was formerly a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. I recently became busy with another interest of Dr. Watson’s literary agent: that of Spiritualism.

I don’t believe there are any Sherlockian societies in the New Orleans area. I understand there was a group called Le Cercle de Sherlock Holmes, but they became inactive about the time (2007 or so) I started to become interested in the Canon.

I am also interested in the Nero Wolfe stories and am a member of The Wolfe Pack: the only member in Louisiana or Mississippi, I’ve been informed.”

We extend a warm welcome and look forward to James’s participation in our Quizzes and activities, and we invite his articles for the journal. Please join in the Society greeting to James:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Cade Deverell, JHWS “IVY”

The Society extends a warm welcome to long-time Napa Valley Napoleon of S.H. and The Scowerers and Mollie Maguires of San Francisco member Cade Deverell who resides in San Francisco.

Cade’s memberships include:

» The Napa Valley Napoleons of S.H.
» The Scowrers and Molly Maguires of San Francisco (Reilly)
» The Noble West Enders
» The Knights of the Gnomon

She is an accomplished Quiz Master and devoted Sherlockian with an equally high regard for Dr Watson. We look forward to her participation.

Please extend our traditional greeting to Cade as a new Charter Member:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Pamela R. Bodziock, JHWS “Charlie”

Please join in a warm welcome to Pamela R. Bodziock of Monroeville, Pennsylvania who joins us as our 54th Charter Member. Pamela writes:

My name is Pamela R. Bodziock, and I am writing because I am very much interested in joining the John H. Watson Society. I am a relatively new Sherlockian (my personal obsession dates back only to 2009) — but it is worth noting that, when I finished my first Canon excursions with A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, it was Watson, not Holmes, who was my favorite character.

I am a Teen Services librarian who also — like the good Doctor — fancies myself as something of a writer. I am pleased to say that my Holmes pastiche, The Adventure of the Broken Book, was included in the MX Publishing anthology Sherlock’s Home: The Empty House. (You can also find some articles written by me if you poke around such websites as Women Write About Comics and DC Women Kicking Ass.) Favorite on-screen Watsons include Nigel Bruce, Jude Law, and Lucy Liu.

I am a member of the S.H.S.L., and of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers.

Please extend welcome to Pamela with our member greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Steven and Vickie Savino as Charter Members, JHWS “Buddy” and “Molly”

The Society welcomes Steven G. Savino and Vickie A. Savino to Charter Membership. Former members of the San Francisco Scowerers and Mollie Maguires, they now reside in Guerneville, California along the beautiful Russian River and its famous vineyards where they are oenophiles of distinction. We hope to see them soon at the Napa Valley Napoleons of S.H. and extend a warm welcome to the Society. Please join in welcoming both of our new members with our member greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Susan Z. Swan, PhD, JHWS “Cygnus” from Okinawa

The Society is pleased to welcome our first Charter Member living and teaching at a university in Okinawa. Dr Susan Z. Swan writes:

“What a treat to run across the webpage for the John H. Watson Society! It always felt a trifle unfair that Holmes got most of the credit when Watson did so much of the work — and was so often smeared for the sins of that “literary agent/editor.” A few years ago, I rebuilt the Writing 101 course that I teach to be based on reading, research, and writing on the Canon (when I made the astonishing discovery that many of my university level students actually did NOT know who Watson and Holmes were). This has reintroduced me to works that were favorites of mine as a child — and has so enchanted many of my students that sometimes it is hard to get them to move back outside the Game long enough to write their research papers. I’m looking forward to connection with colleagues and perhaps even a chance to write for the Watsonian.”

Please welcome Dr Swan and extend to her the Society’s traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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And Yet More Distinguished New Members!

The past week has brought the Society six new Charter Members. We now have sixty members total in less than ninety days since our founding. Clearly, the devotion to Dr Watson is far deeper than we ever imagined. We are most fortunate to have had such an outpouring of support and interest from our ever-growing membership. Thank you one and all!

Please welcome the following fellow Watsonians and extend to them our traditional greeting: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

BRUCE HARRIS “Scottie”

Mr Harris joins us from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He writes:

“I’ve been a Sherlockian for many years. The time has come to add Watsonian. I am the author of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson: ABout Type, published by The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box.”

Bruce has already submitted a most interesting paper for The Watsonian and we welcome more of his scholarly writings on the Canon, Dr Watson and Mr Holmes.

GEORGE GRUMBLES “Arthur”

Mr. Grumbles joins us from Huntsville, Alabama. He writes:

I became a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London about 30 years ago and have enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes Journal, through the years. I visited the Reichenbach Falls many years ago and shall always recall the steep climb and the frightening fall that could occur. I like many others have scoured Baker Street and many of paths he traveled in his adventures. It has been my belief that John Hamish Watson, MD was the Masters guiding light, without whom he would never have been known.

Like so many aficionados I have tried my hand at a pastiche or two, such as The Giant Maiwandian Cat. I would consider it a privilege to be associated with the John H. Watson Society.

HERBERT LINDER “Casey”

Mr. Linder comes to the Society from his home in Dallas where he is a member of the scion group, The Barque Lone Star. We hope to learn more of Herbert’s Canonical interests through his active participation in the Society activities.

We welcome Herbert and look forward to his contributions to the Quiz Page, the Treasure Hunt and with submissions to The Watsonian. We are beginning to develop quite a following in Texas.

BILL BERG, MD, JHWS “Lucky”

Dr Berg joins us from Salinas, California where he is a diagnostic radiologist and a long time Sherlockian (interesting: both are detectives). His telephone call to Buttons was most enjoyable and later he sent along the following:

“My wife, Lynda, and I have a horse ranch of Tennessee Walker and Peruvian Horses. I belong to the Diogenes Club of Carmel-by-the-Sea. I am past-Persian Slipper, past-Tantalus, and past-Gasogene, as well as Quiz Master.

My day job is with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, where I am a diagnostic radiologist.

I am very excited to become a member of the Watson Society!”

And we are most grateful to have your support and interest in the Society. We hope you will become a regular contributor to our Quiz Page, perhaps creating questions to stump our insightful members. And we also appreciate your interest in oenology.

GEORGE HARLEM, JHWS “Beau,” SHSL

Mr Harlem lives in Acton, Massachusetts and is a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and The John H Watson Society. We are most proud he chose us as his first interest after which he joined SHSL. He writes:

“The John H. Watson Society is my first Sherlock Holmes society membership, although I have been an avid Sherlockian for over sixty years, albeit in quite a casual way. From my first volume, the Morley-prefaced Doubleday, I have assembled a modest collection of Holmes books, including a couple of original illustrated Strand facsimiles, plus works by Adrian Conan Doyle, William Baring-Gould, several Doyle biographies, many pastiches of widely-ranging quality, the complete Jeremy Brett Granada TV series on DVD, and a number of framed Strand cover reproductions that I found at a little shop in Charing Cross Road.

A two-time retirement flunkout, I made a segue from 35 years in high-tech to my present career in real estate. I am very much looking forward to this new adventure as part of the John H. Watson Society!”

A we look forward to your journey on the adventure with us! Welcome, “Beau”!

CHRISTOPHER MUSIC, JHWS “Russell,”

Mr Music joins us from Clarkston, Michigan where he is a long time, distinguished Sherlockian. He writes:

A Detroit native, I am currently the Commissionaire of the Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit (established 1946), where I also serve as the archivist, head of the planning committee, contributor to our newsletter The Beggar’s Cup, and webmaster for our site www.amateurmendicant.blogspot.com.

I am also an active member of the Ribston-Pippins scion in Michigan, a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, and a member of the Clients of Adrian Mulliner (Sherlock Holmes/PG Wodehouse scion).

I enjoy travelling the Sherlockian circuit and frequently attend gatherings of the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic) in Chicago, the ACD/SH Newberry Library Symposium, the Dayton Symposium, the BSI’s Silver Blaze, and the annual BSI weekend festivities in New York, among others.

In addition to my enjoyment studying the Canon and playing “The Game”, I take a particular interest in studying and researching the history of the BSI, the Amateur Mendicant Society, and our early founders.

Don Yates, our Founding Chair, has conferred upon Christopher the moniker “Russell” in honour of the great Russell McLauchlin (“Naval Treaty”, BSI 1949) who founded the Amateur Mendicant Society in 1946.

We look forward to Christopher’s scholarly and historic contributions to The Watsonian in future.

BRENDA ROSSINI, JD, JHWS “Ginger”

Ms Rossini joins us from Winnetka, Illinois where she pursues her legal career and her deep interests in all things Watsonian and Holmesian.

She is a member of the Devon Street Beggars, the Criterion Bar, the Scotland Yarders, and the Torists. And, now we welcome her to the Society of Watsonians.

Welcome to Brenda. We look forward to your active participation in our activities and scholarship.

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The New Member Festival Continues!

Buttons is working hard to keep up with the new Charter Members of the Society. Over the past two days, we have six new members and will do our best to assemble their biographies as they are received. Here are four:

Kieran McMullen

Mr. McMullen joins the Society from his home in Georgia. He writes:

“I am a triple retiree: Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired sheriff and retired volunteer fireman. I have had five books published by MX Publishing: Watson’s Afghan Adventure, Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Boer Wagon, Sherlock Holmes and the Irish Rebels, and The Many Watsons (a compilation of my blogs with all money going to the Undershaw Preservation Trust). The first three books have been republished as Holmes and Watson: The War Years. I also have cooperated with Dan Andriacco on The Amateur Executioner and we will be having another Enoch Hale mystery coming out this fall. In addition there will be a new mystery about Watson before Christmas.

The Society welcomes another prolific and interesting writer and looks forward to Kieran’s future contributions to our journal. Please join in extending our Societal welcome to new members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”


Stuart Nelan

Mr Nelan joins the Society from Texas, and writes:

“I’ve been involved with Sherlock Holmes for over forty years now, primarily collecting books.  I’ve gone to the last five BSI Weekends in NYC, and my wife and I are planning to go to The Norwegian Explorer’s Conference in Minnesota later this
month.

I belong to the two Dallas-area Sherlock Holmes societies — The Crew of the Barque Lone Star, and The Diogenes Club of Dallas (although after our recent civil war, the former has now absorbed the latter).

I am also a member of The Sound of the Baskervilles (for which I am the volunteer webmaster — http://www.soundofthebaskervilles.com/), The Norwegian Explorers, and The Sherlock Holmes Society of London.  I also subscribe to
several Sherlockian publications.

I’m looking forward to being involved with the John H. Watson Society!”

And the Society very much looks forward to the pleasure of your active involvement, Stu. Please join in welcoming Stu Nelan to membership with our member greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

Don Hobbs

The Society is pleased to have the well-known Sherlockian, Mr Don Hobbs, join as a Charter Member. Don has been a devotee of the Watsonian and Sherlockian worlds for many years and is quite active in various clubs and organisations. He is an invested Baker Street Irregular, “Inspector Lestrade,” and can, doubtless, advise us all as to the proper pronunciation of the Inspector’s name.

He writes:

“I have been a Sherlockian for more than thirty years. Most of that time I have
concentrated on collecting foreign language translations of the Canon. Currently,
there are 98 languages with at least one Canonical translation. I was co-founder of Sherlock Peoria and write a blog “Inspector Lestrade’s Blotter Page.” I am the editor of The Galactic Sherlock Holmes, the complete Electronic Bibliography of the Foreign Language Translations of the Canon. I am an Applications Specialist for Radiology software company. My job allows me to travel extensively, which in turn allows me to meet up with other Sherlockians around the world.”

Mr. Hobbs’s other memberships include:

» The Diogenes Club of Dallas
»  The Maniac Collectors
» The Crew of the Barque Lone Star
» The Fortescue Scholarship Program  (B.S.S., A.M.S. & Sh.D.)
» The STUD Sherlockian Society
»  The Beacon Society
» The Torists International, S.S.
» The Curious Collectors of Baker Street
» The Hansom Cab Clock Club
» Le peloton des cyclistes solitaires

Please extend a warm welcome to Don Hobbs and join in our traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

Steven Rothman

We are honoured to welcome Mr. Steven Rothman, BSI “The Valley of Fear,” as a Charter Member of the Society. Mr. Rothman is known to Sherlockians, Holmesians and Watsonians worldwide as the long-time Editor of the Baker Street Journal and a devoted scholar and pre-eminent Sherlockian.

His memberships include:

» The Baker Street Irregulars (The Valley of Fear)
» The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
» Le Cercle de Sherlock Holmes

The Society very much looks forward to and welcomes Mr. Rothman’s contributions to our scholarship, our journal and our mission. Please welcome him with our special greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Our First Member from India, living in Dubai, UAE

The Society warmly welcomes Mr. Kumar Bhatia to Charter Membership. Kumar lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He writes:

“I am from Bombay, India , but live and work in Dubai U.A.E. I am a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of India and have been a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson since the age of 13, when my very own Stamford, my late uncle, introduced me to the Canon, with a birthday present of the ” Memoirs.”

We look forward to Mr Bhatia’s contributions to the Society, the journal and to the international views of the world’s Watsonians.

Please join in welcoming him and extending the Society’s traditional welcome:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive,” and perhaps literally in Kumar’s experience.

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A Marathon of New Charter Members

The Society is honoured to welcome five new Charter Members this Fourth of July, 2013. Please join in extending a warm welcome, en mass, to these new members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

CHARLES PRESS

Charles Press, PhD, JHWS, “Rofer.” Dr Press a is Pofessor Emeritus in the journalism department at Michigan State University and a long-time (50-year) member of the Greek Interpreters of East Lansing. He lives in Grand Rapids and has published a number of books on the subject of Holmes.

HUGH ASHTON

Hugh Ashton, M.A., JHWS “Clancy” is a prolific professional writer and author of Sherlock Holmes adventures.

Hugh Ashton was born in the UK in 1956. After graduating from the University
of Cambridge, he worked in a variety of jobs, including security guard, publisher’s assistant, and running an independent record label, before coming to rest in the field of information technology, where he assisted perplexed users of computers and wrote explanations to guide them through the problems they encountered.
A long-standing interest in Japan led him to emigrate to that country in 1988, where he has remained ever since; writing instruction manuals for a variety of consumer products, assisting with IT-related projects at banks and financial institutions, and researching and writing industry reports on the Japanese and Asian financial industries. Some of the knowledge he has gained in these fields forms the background for At the Sharpe End, his second novel.
Hugh currently lives with his wife Yoshiko in the old town of Kamakura to the
south of Tokyo, where he is working on future novels and stories.

Publications
He has recently published five volumes of Sherlock Holmes mysteries with
Inknbeans Press of Los Angeles: Tales from the Deed Box of John H. Watson
MD, More from the Deed Box of John H. Watson MD, Secrets from the Deed Box of John H Watson MD, The Darlington Substitution, and Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The three “Deed Box” collections have been collected and printed together in a handsome hardback edition–The Deed Box of John H.Watson MD.
Inknbeans Press has also published his collection of short stories set in Japan, Tales of Old Japanese, featuring the culture and habits of the older generation of Japanese.
His first published novel, Beneath Gray Skies, is an alternative history set in a “past that never happened”, where the Civil War was never fought.
His second novel, At the Sharpe End, features an expatriate consultant living in Tokyo, Kenneth Sharpe, who finds himself thrust into a world of violence and high finance that takes him by surprise.
The third novel, Red Wheels Turning, takes some of the characters of Beneath Gray Skies, and sets them in the background of Tsarist Russia, where a battle of wits takes place to control the secret Russian wonder weapons that could win the war for the Allies.

MARGIE DECK

Margie Deck, JHWS “Gwen” joins us from Spanaway, Washington where she is a long-time member of The Sound of the Baskervilles. Margie is an enthusiastic Sherlockian cross-word puzzle maker known as “The Pawky Puzzler” and she is a devotee of our beloved Dr Watson. We hope to see Margie’s cross-word creations in The Watsonian.

RON LIES

Ron Lies, JHWS “Chips” joins the Society from Denver, Colorado where he has been an active member of Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients since 1972.

Ron writes:

“I am at present Transcriber of Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients. I have been a past Staff Surgeon, past Chief Surgeon and member since 1972. I am a member of: The Sherlock Holmes Society of India; a member of The Sydney Passengers, The Sherlock Homes Society of Australia; and co- founder of The Sons of Shaw, a society honoring the memory of John Bennett Shaw.

I have had a overwhelming interest in Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson since seventh grade when I read “The Speckled Band” in my class’s Catholic Weekly Reader. I have always identified with Dr John Watson and now feel I am where I belong with The John H. Watson Society.”

So do we, Ron. Welcome!

DAN ANDRIACCO

Dan Andriacco, D.Min., JHWS “Dutch” is a well-known author of Sherlockian works who discovered Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories at about the age of nine. Not long after, he became acquainted with such greats of the Golden Age of detective fiction as Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Rex Stout, John Dickson Carr, Earle Stanley Gardner, and many more.
His earliest career goal was to become a mystery writer. He eventually did, while holding down day jobs at The Cincinnati Post as a reporter and editor (1973-1997) and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as communications director (1997-present). From 1977 to 1982, he wrote a monthly mystery review column for
The Post. He also taught non-credit classes in mystery fiction and mystery writing.
He has been a member of the Tankerville Club, a Cincinnati-based scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars, since 1981. He is the author of Baker Street Beat: An Eclectic Collection of Sherlockian Scribblings and five published mystery novels with Sherlockian overtones. The most recent is The Disappearance of Mr.
James Phillimore, the latest in his Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody series. He has also been a mystery reviewer and taught non-credit classes in mystery fiction. He once won a bet with a colleague that he could write a novella in less time than it took her to read one of his novels
Mr Andriacco’s Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody mystery series, set in a small town in Ohio, is very much in the tradition of his Golden Age favorites. “McCabe is a great detective in the classic mode,” Andriacco said. “By that I mean he is a polymath amateur sleuth. He’s a college professor at a small Catholic college, but he’s also a mystery writer, a magician, and a linguist. I would love to meet the man, but I’m not sure I’d want to be his best friend. His ‘Watson,’ Jeff Cody is not only his best friend, but also his brother-in-law and the public relations director for the college where Mac teachers. These multiple relationships carry multiple tensions, which I hope is a source of humor. These books are supposed to be fun and funny. Judging by reviewers, they seem to hit that mark for most readers.”
Dan Andriacco, known to friends as “Doctor Dan,” holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia. He was born in 1952 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Ann. They have three adult children and four grandchildren.

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Welcome to the Society’s First Student Member: Alena Mueller

In the Watsonian and Sherlockian worlds, today is an historic day. The Society has welcomed into Charter Membership our first student member: Alena Mueller.

Alena writes:

“I live in Iowa City, IA and attend West High School. I first got interested in Sherlock when a friend forced me to watch BBC Sherlock. I have now become obsessed with all things Sherlockian and Watsonian.”

The Society is very honoured to have our first student member. Alena represents the future of Watsonian and Sherlockian scholarship and enthusiasm. Her explorations will be different from many of ours and will extend The Game into new pathways.

We welcome Alena with the warmest of our traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.” And, of course, this is the first observation of Sherlock Holmes ever made and spoken to our beloved Dr Watson at their first meeting in A Study In Scarlet.

This historic moment allows us to muse and ponder a bit on our purpose. Imagine, if you will, Scion branches of The John H Watson Society in high schools across the country. Each branch “Consultation Room” having, say, three or more students and a faculty advisor studying and researching the Sacred Canon and producing articles, papers, films, and a great variety of work furthering the Watsonian and Sherlockian corpus. Imagine, if you will, a vibrant parent Society supporting those branch “Consulting Rooms” and encouraging, along the way, good scholarship by bright students.

We could do that.

Interesting, is it not?

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Welcome to Andrew Fusco, JD, JHWS “Topper,” BSI to Charter Membership

The Society is delighted to welcome the long-time Sherlockian, Andy Fusco, to Charter Membership. Andy is a lawyer residing in Morgantown, West Virginia. He is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, “Pondicherry Lodge,” and a number of other clubs.

We look forward to Mr. Fusco’s contributions to the Society and to The Watsonian.

Please join in extending our greeting to Andy:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Andree and Chuck Youngson as Charter Members: “Belle” and “Jeeves”

The Society is delighted to welcome long time, loyal members of the Napa Valley Napoleons of S.H., Andree and Chuck Youngson, as Charter Members.

Andree, JHWS “Belle,” was born in the Panama Canal Zone and is a resident of Napa, CA. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Mary’s College of Moraga, and M.S. in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco. Andree is a retired chemist and an Anglophile. Buttons has it on good authority that Andree is an expert in Canonical (and perhaps other) poisons. Her interests include playing the bodhran in the Pickle Creek String Band and in the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers. Andree really likes ravens and crows and, of course, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.

We will post Chuck’s, JHWS, “Jeeves,” biography when received. Until then, please extend a warm welcome to the Youngsons with our traditional greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Nuno Robles, JHWS “Oakley,” our first Charter Member from Portugal

Please join in welcoming Mr Nuno Robles, JHWS “Oakley,” SHSL to Charter Membership. Nuno is the first member of the Society from Portugal. He writes:”I worked at Sony for 20 years but I left the company in late 2010 and now I’m a Wine Producer, with my own family company “Quinta do Falcao”. Our Wines are prestigious and we’ve won several national and international awards. The latest has been the International Wine Challenge with our Paço dos Falcoes Red Wine. I’m a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and also subscribe to the Baker Street Journal.”

We would draw Nuno’s attention to By-Law #5 and assure him that he is joining a Society with members having a particularly deep and discerning appreciation for the grape and, generally, Spiritus Fermenti in most forms.

Please join in a very warm welcome and out traditional greeting to a Fellow Watsonian and follower of Bacchus:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive. . . . and your tongue appears to be purple.”

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Welcome to Matt Laffey, JHWS “Baron,” Priory Scholars of NY and “Always 1895” to Charter Membership

The Society is pleased to welcome Mr Matt Laffey as a Charter Member. Matt publishes the always interesting and informative “Always 1895” website at:
http://always1895.net/.

He writes:

I was born and raised in Chicago. I moved to NYC in 2006 where I kindled an interest/obsession with all things Sherlockian by starting www.always1895.net and co-restarting The Priory Scholars of NYC. You can find me on Twitter as @always1895 .

Matt recently mentioned The John H Watson Society as follows:

The John H. Watson  Society is a (very) recently founded society which “seeks a level of equality in scholarship and enthusiasm for the life and work of John H. Watson, M. D. The Founding Members are committed to recognition of Dr. Watson’s contributions, albeit often masked and misunderstood, to the cases, adventures and memoirs he wrote as the first biographer of Sherlock Holmes. The Society believes that Watson has an equality of stature with Holmes and that his accomplishments and talents deserve further scholarship and research.” You can read more about the purposes and goals of the John H. Watson Society here. For updated information and society news as well as fascinating and informative biographies of those Sherlockians…or should we say Watsonians, who have most recently become members, make sure to check out The Watsonian Blog. It should come as no surprise that the Society’s  motto is derived from one of Holmes’ final reflections on his stalwart friend  and biographer, found at the very end of “His Last Bow”:  “Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age.” It strikes me that even though the society is a new one, the seeds of the group were planted long ago in the minds of those involved giving The John H. Watson society an air of established, long standing permanence. I also look forward to subscribing to and reading The Watsonian, journal of the society.

Please join in extending to Matt the warm welcome of the Society: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Melissa Anderson JHWS, “Faith” to Charter Membership

The Society extends a very warm welcome to Melissa Anderson of Peoria, Illinois to Charter Membership.

A Sherlockian since age 13, Melissa is a former Instructor of English Literature and Writing Composition at Bradley, University. She has most recently written and produced a play featuring Sherlock Holmes and is completing a novel of Watson and Holmes titled The Mystery of That Woman.”

Melissa also has the distinction of being the winner of the 221B Cellars essay contest on the topic “Beeswing.” Her entry is an absolute gem of concision and insight packed into 400 words. She won the prize and her essay will be published in the forthcoming inaugural issue of The Watsonian in October. She has also received an offer from another scion group for its later publication.

When not writing about Dr Watson and Mr Holmes, Melissa is a Ministry Assistant at a Peoria church. She is a member of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London and The Hansoms of John Clayton.

Please welcome Melissa with our traditional warmth and Canonical greeting:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Welcome to Joseph Kruth, JHWS “Marlowe”

The Society is pleased to welcome Mr Joseph Kruth as a Charter Member. Joe has been corresponding regularly and has sent along his delightful biography:It was quiet. No radio or TV allowed on the ward floor.  As I was drifting in and out of a swirling yellow fog, a smartly turned-out young women in a crisp Red Cross uniform was approaching – book cart in tow.  Maybe a book would clear my head.  The book cart had many well-thumbed books including one Sherlock Holmes book. Sadly, I neither remember the book title nor the stories. This was in my adventurous year of 1969.  Three years later, in a library, I came across William S. Baring-Gould’s two volume Sherlock Holmes Annotated and spent several hours paging through this weighty tome.  Yes, I was hooked. Within a few days I purchased my own Baring-Gould set for about $50 – no small amount of money at the time. However, money well spent.

Through the years, I have endeavored to keep-up on all things Sherlockian:

Seven 3-ring binders containing 526 newspaper clippings, advertisements, book excerpts, etc. Please note: my collection is hard copy-print media. No internet searches.

Also, my main Sherlock Holmes index appropriately sub-titled “Behold the Fruits of Laborious Days and Pensive Nights,” contains 324 entries ranging from books, tapes, DVDs and miscellany.

And, in August 1996, Classic Specialties was gracious enough to publish my small unworthy monograph “I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.”

In August 1998, I corresponded with the Franco-Midland Hardware Company based in England. After a little time, I passed the 200 question exam and received my Certificate in Holmesian Studies (CHS).  I am no longer in contact.

Lastly, it was the Peter Blau newsletter of April 2013 that alerted me to your august John H. Watson Society.

It is time to end with a non-canonical, but appropriate, exit:

“Holmes Again? Always Holmes…Until the End.”  Recognize the line?

Thank you.
Joe.

And, Joe, we all warmly welcome you to the Society with our also most appropriate greeting:  “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”