The History of Novacon

 

     The first Novacon was organised in 1971 as a one-off event by the Aston University Science Fiction Group, but its success led to the convention being adopted by the neighbouring Birmingham SF Group from 1972 onwards. For the first seven years, the choice of guest of honour alternated between pro authors and leading fans,

     In the list below, the figure in brackets relates to membership numbers at the time each programme book went to press, rather than the final attendance (in addition, problems with the printing of Novacon 14’s programme book meant an entire month’s new members were effectively excluded). Committee details appear beneath the guest(s) of honour.   Note: the Excelsior changed its name to the Forte Post House.

   

 

Novacon, 1971

Imperial Centre

James White

(144)

Birmingham

Chairman: Vernon Brown 

Committee: Ray Bradbury, Alan Denham, Alan Donnelly, Pauline Dungate.

Novacon 2, 1972

Imperial Centre

Doreen Rogers

(144)

Birmingham

Chairman: Pauline Dungate

Committee: Stan Eling, Jeffrey Hacker, Richard Newnham, Meg Palmer, Hazel Reynolds. 

Novacon 3, 1973

Imperial Centre

Ken Bulmer

(146)

Birmingham

Chairman: Hazel Reynolds

Committee: Stan Eling, Gillon Field, Meg Palmer, Geoff Winterman.

Novacon 4, 1974

Imperial Centre

Ken Slater

(211)

Birmingham

Chairman: Dr Jack Cohen

Committee: Pauline Dungate, Stan Eling, Gillon Field, Robert Hoffman, Arline Peyton, Rog Peyton, Hazel Reynolds. 

Novacon 5, 1975

Royal Angus

Dan Morgan

(272)

Birmingham

Chairman: Rog Peyton

Committee: Ray Bradbury, Pauline Dungate, Robert Hoffman, Laurence Miller, Arline Peyton.

Novacon 6, 1976

Royal Angus

David Kyle

(317)

Birmingham

Chairman: Stan Eling

Committee: Helen Eling, Laurence Miller, Arline Peyton, Rog Peyton.

Novacon 7, 1977

Royal Angus

John Brunner

(278)

Birmingham

Chairman: Stan Eling

Committee: Liese Hoare, Martin Hoare, Ian Maule, Janice Maule, Dave Langford.

Novacon 8, 1978

Holiday Inn

Anne McCaffrey

(309)

Birmingham

Chairman: Laurence Miller

Committee: Dave Holmes, Kathy Holmes, Chris Walton, Jackie Wright.

Novacon 9, 1979

Royal Angus

Christopher Priest

(290)

Birmingham

Chairman: Rog Peyton

Committee: Helen Eling, Stan Eling, Chris Morgan, Pauline Morgan, Paul Oldroyd. 

Novacon 10, 1980

Royal Angus

Brian W Aldiss

(495)

Birmingham

Chairman: Rog Peyton

ommittee: Joseph Nicholas, Keith Oborn, Krystyna  Oborn, Paul Oldroyd, Chris Walton. 

Novacon 11, 1981

Royal Angus

Bob Shaw

(362)

Birmingham

Chairman :  Paul Oldroyd

Committee: Helen Eling, Stan Eling, Joseph Nicholas, Phil Probert. 

Novacon 12, 1982

Royal Angus

Harry Harrison

(373)

Birmingham

Chairman: Rog Peyton

Committee: Chris Baker, Dave Hardy, Eunice Pearson, ) Phil Probert. 

Novacon 13, 1983

Royal Angus

Lisa Tuttle

(339)

Birmingham

Chairman: Phil Probert

Committee: Chris Donaldson, Eunice Pearson, Steve Green, Dave  Haden, Jan Huxley, Paul Oldroyd, Paul Vincent, John Wilkes. 

Novacon 14, 1984

Grand

Robert Holdstock

(333)

Birmingham

Chairman: Steve Green

Committee: Kevin Clarke, Ann Green, Dave Haden, Eunice  Pearson, Phil Probert, Martin Tudor, Paul Vincent. 

Novacon 15, 1985

De Vere

James White

(340)

Coventry

Dave Langford

Chairman: Phil Probert

Committee: Tony Berry, Carol Pearson, Eunice Pearson, Graham Poole, Martin Tudor.

Novacon 16, 1986

De Vere

E C Tubb

(257)

Coventry

Chris Evans

Chairman: Tony Berry

Committee: Nick Mills, Darroll Pardoe, Rosemary Pardoe, Graham Poole, Maureen Porter. 

Novacon 17, 1987

Royal Angus

Iain M Banks

(315)

Birmingham

Chairman: Bernie Evans

Committee: Mick Evans, Dave Hardy, Graham Poole,  Stephen Rogers, Geoff Williams. 

Novacon 18, 1988

Royal Angus

Garry Kilworth

(336)

Birmingham

Chairman: Tony Berry

Committee: Bernie Evans, Rog Peyton, Greg Pickersgill,  Linda Pickersgill, Martin Tudor. 

Novacon 19, 1989

Excelsior

Geoff Ryman

(426)

Solihull

Chairman: Martin Tudor

Committee: Tony Berry, Helena Bowles, Bernie Evans,  Nick Mills, Pam Wells.

Novacon 20, 1990

Excelsior

Dr Jack Cohen

(330)

Solihull

Chairman: Bernie Evans

Committee: Al Johnston, Alice Lawson, Steve Lawson, Nick Mills, Richard Standage. 

Novacon 21, 1991

Forte Post House

Colin Greenland

(200)

Ex. Excelsior

Chairman: Nick Mills

Solihull

Committee: David T Cooper, Bernie Evans, Al Johnston, Alice Lawson, Steve Lawson, Chris Murphy. 

Novacon 22, 1992

Royal Angus

Storm Constantine

(300)

Birmingham

Chairman: Helena Bowles 

Committee: Tony Berry, Bernie Evans, Jenny Glover, Steve Glover, Carol Morton, Richard Standage. 

Novacon 23, 1993

Royal Angus

Stephen Baxter

(350)

Birmingham

Chairman: Carol Morton

Committee: Helena Bowles, Bernie Evans, Tony Morton,  Richard Standage.

Novacon 24, 1994

Royal Angus

Graham Joyce

(214)

Birmingham

Chairman: Richard 
Standage

Committee: Helena Bowles, Sarah Freakley, Carol Morton, Tony Morton, Chris Murphy, Martin Tudor. 

Novacon 25, 1995

Chamberlain

Brian W Aldiss

(338)

Birmingham

Harry Harrison

Bob Shaw

Special guest:

Iain M Banks

Chairman; Tony Morton

Committee: Tony Berry, Carol Morton, Chris Murphy, Richard Standage, Martin Tudor.

Novacon 26, 1996

Ibis

David Gemmell

(281)

Birmingham

Chairman: Carol Morton

Committee: Sarah Freakley, Tony Morton, Chris Murphy,  Richard Standage, Martin Tudor.

Novacon 27, 1997

Abbey

Peter F Hamilton

(277)

Great Malvern

Chairman: Martin Tudor

Committee: Carol & Tony Morton, Chris Murphy, Mike Siddall.

Novacon 28, 1998

Britannia

Paul J McAuley

(265)

Birmingham

Chairman: Martin Tudor

Committee: Steve Lawson, Pat McMurray, Carol & Tony  Morton, Chris Murphy.

Novacon 29, 1999

Britannia

Ian Stewart

(239)

Birmingham

Chairman: Carol Morton

Committee: Maureen Kincaid Speller, Steve Lawson, Pat  McMurray, Tony Morton, Chris Murphy, Martin Tudor.

Novacon 30, 2000

Britannia

Christopher Priest

(224)

Birmingham

Special guest:

Rog Peyton

Guest artist:

David A Hardy

Chairman: Tony Berry

Committee: Maureen Kincaid Speller, Steve Lawson, Pat  McMurray, David Cooper, Chris Murphy, Martin Tudor.

Novacon 31, 2001

Quality

Gwyneth Jones

(219)

Walsall

Chairman: Tony Berry

Committee: Cat Coast, David Cooper, Dave Hicks, Alice & Steve  Lawson, Martin Tudor.

Novacon 32, 2002

Quality

Ian McDonald

(252)

Walsall

Chairman: Martin Tudor

Committee: Cat Coast, David Cooper, Steve Green, Dave Hicks,  Alice & Steve Lawson.

Novacon 33, 2003

Quality

Jon Courtenay Grimwood

(203)

Walsall

Chairman: Martin Tudor

Committee: Cat Coast, Steve Green, Dave Hicks, Alice & Steve  Lawson.

Novacon 34, 2004

Quality

Ian Watson

(227)

Walsall

Chairman: Martin Tudor

Committee: Cat Coast, Vicky Cook, Steve & Ann Green, Dave Hicks, Alice & Steve Lawson, Yvonne Rowse.

Novacon 35, 2005

Quality

Alastair Reynolds

(216)

Walsall

Chairman: Tony Berry

Committee:  Vicky Cook, Alice Lawson, Steve Lawson, Yvonne Rowse, Helena Bowles and Cat Coast.