John Ashcroft

(1938 –)

John Ashcroft was a UK fan and writer from Southport near Liverpool active in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a member of the Liverpool Group and was one of the trio of fans who published the single issue fanzine Arcturus in 1955. He also published 10 short stories in Authentic Science Fiction, Nebula, New Worlds, Science Fantasy and Science Fiction Adventures between 1954 and 1963. He was profiled in New Worlds, March 1961, saying his first sale to E. J. Carnell was made when he was 16, implying he was born around 1938.

He attended the Supermancon in 1954 and Cytricon I in 1955. In a letter to Relapse #12 Tony Glynn recalled meeting him at the latter and described him as 'a youthful chap, little more than a schoolboy'. Glynn was surprised that Ashcroft recognised his name from an appearance in Futuristic Science Stories. Correspondence in Relapse suggests Ashcroft didn't attend conventions after that but Rob Hansen has a photo of him at Ronvention in 1962. In Burp #22 (March 1964), Ron Bennett said that Ashcroft 'works for the local paper but doesn't attend [Liverpool Group meetings.'

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Person

1938—

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