London in '56
London in '56 was a bid to host the 1956 Worldcon in London. In the Hyphen News Supplement (November 1955), Walt Willis reported that Ken Bulmer, the TAFF delegate to Clevention, 'registered a bid for a London Worldcon in 1956 but withdrew it in the face of overwhelming odds in favour of New York'. See 1956 Worldcon Site Selection.
At the 1953 convention H. J. Campbell had made a likely impulsive and perhaps not entirely serious bid for the 1954 Worldcon to be held in London. This nevertheless attracted 61 votes. Some commentators, for instance 'Old Woodchuck' in Canadian Fandom #16 (December 1953), felt 'London could possibly swing the deal by 1956 or 57.'
In Hyphen #13 (March 1955), Walt Willis wrote that, 'Plans are being made to have the 1956 World Convention in London' with the winner of the 1955 TAFF Race making the bid at Clevention. Ted Carnell addressed a meeting at Cytricon, the 1955 UK Eastercon, about a London Worldcon bid and Don Allen reported in Satellite #6 (Summer 1955) that 'When it came to a show of hands everyone present wanted London to be the site for the '56 World Convention so now it only remains to be seen how the Statesiders take to it!'
However, in Science Fantasy News #13 (August 1955) Vin¢ Clarke reported that 'a possible London bid is held up by lack of volunteers for a Committee so far in the future'. He also suggested that if the London bid were to fail 1956 might see another 'International Convention' in the style of 1951's Festivention instead although nothing came of this idea.
Ken Bulmer won the 1955 TAFF Race and duly entered the bid but then withdrew it as the New York in 1956 bid seemed unstoppable. However, as Willis continued in the Hyphen News Supplement, 'There is now however a very good chance for London in 1957.' He added that, less momentously, Bulmer had grown a beard.
| 1956 Site Selection | 1956 |
| This is a page about a convention bid. Please extend it by adding information about who was bidding, officers, committee list, what they were bidding for, who their opponents were, and who won. |
