I am a nephew (by marriage) of Professor Harry Woodley (William Henry Woodley born 12 Oct 1886). He got married during 1911? and had three children, Maurice, who went to live in South Africa, Audrey and Raymond. Following the death of his first wife, he married my dad’s sister Lilian Bunday in October 1937.
He was a shipwright by trade but the 1939 census already lists him as an entertainer, conjurer, Punch and Judy. My father Eric Bunday (“Mister E Bunday”), was also a keen magician and was, I think, secretary of The AWS in the late 1940s. As a family, we regularly attended the annual show put on by the AWS. I guess my uncle Harry was a star of the show but other notable performers remain in my memory. Stan Simpson, who did a silent act with marvellous displays of fans and shuffles with packs of cards, my dad with the Rising Cards, Ronnie Hansford, Teddy Beale, and of course, Geoff Atkins, who did spectacular illusions.
But Uncle Harry who also did the Punch and Judy show on Bournemouth beach, was fantastic to watch. His patter was superb. He often had assistance from a member of the audience (no way were they a plant or a stooge). Having helped him, he often asked them for the time, and when they turned to their wrist watch it was gone, only for them to be presented with it as a gift for their help. Alternatively, following profuse thanks, he would give them their own wallet as a thank-you present. He often borrowed from them a £1 note or a 10 shilling note (they existed at the time), folded it, placed it in an envelope (them having marked the note in some way), held the envelope by a corner, set light to it, and discarded the incinerated ashes (much to their dismay) on a metal dish. Then, and in full view of everyone he would partially cut in half a pristine newly baked bread roll and the helper, on breaking the roll apart, would discover his own previously marked note in the middle of that roll. His skill at sleight of hand was second to none, and to see him at close quarters push a golf ball or a table tennis ball through a solid table top was an unforgettable experience.
He also made a name for himself as an escapologist. He knew Harry Houdini, who was an honorary AWS member. What happened was a member of the audience (again, not a plant) would tie his thumbs together (tightly) with a piece of strong twine. His helper was asked to carefully examine and test for strength some wooden hoops about 7” in diameter to check that they were free from gaps or flaws. That same person would then gently throw across the stage these solid hoops. From time to time, he mis-caught one and it bounced on the floor, just to show that it did not break apart on impact. He would catch a hoop in both hands. There followed a little jiggle lasting 1 or 2 seconds and the next thing that solid hoop was over his wrist and halfway up one of his forearms. An immediate examination confirmed that his thumbs were still tightly tied together and again that the hoops were unbreakable. You just could not believe it, but you had just seen it happen in front of you, and quite close too!!
My two children, for whom he performed when they visited him, still recall his phenomenal magic tricks. Once seen, never to be forgotten, I stayed with him and my aunt when I was a boy. He lived on a small holding on which he himself had built a wooden bungalow, Magic Cabin. This was later replaced with a brick bungalow. He was very keen on fishing and hunting as befits a country gentleman. He had Golden Retriever dogs, all called Peter. He lived in the village of West Wellow, which is between Southampton and Salisbury. The road was Windwhistle Lane. I can say that Florence Nightingale is buried in West Wellow Churchyard. His daughter Audrey Benton lived just opposite him and tragedy struck in the 1970’s? In a severe storm, an electric cable was blown down, and his son-in-law incautiously picked it up and was fatally electrocuted.
I also enclose a family photo taken about 1964(?) of Harry, (middle), his wife Lilian, my aunt (second from right) my dad, Eric (back right) my Mum Rosina (second left) and my dad’s sisters. Cecily, Dorothy, Lilian (as above) and Cynthia. They are all my aunts and uncles on my dad’s side. My uncle Harry died in 1979 and here is an image of his gravestone.
