The Isle of Wight Fortean Society (IWFS) was founded on Robert Anton Wilson Day, 23rd July, 2004 by fortean writer Jack Phoenix and composer James Nye, who also works part time at Isle of Wight branch of Ottakar's. To see a press release, click here.
The Society is dedicated to the non-partisan exploration and discussion of strange phenomena and anomalous experience. Membership of the IWFS is free. You can sign up to receive mailouts of forthcoming events or new books of interest, either through snailmail or email. To do so, either email Jack Phoenix, or pop into the Newport, Isle of Wight branch of Ottakar's and leave your details with a member of staff at the counter. Alternatively you may send your details to IWFS, c/o James Nye, Ottakar's, 118 High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1TP. You can also visit the Ottakar's Isle of Wight website here.
The IWFS takes as its inspiration the writings and philosophy of Charles Fort (pictured, right). You can read more about the work of Charles Fort by clicking here.
Fort's works also inspired Bob Rickard (pictured, left) to set up the Fortean Times (originally just called 'The News') a magazine of newspaper clippings about weird and wonderful phenomena, articles by researchers, book reviews and much more. First published in November 1973, over the course of more than 30 years, Bob's magazine has become a highly polished, critically acclaimed and hugely inspiring publication, with an international readership and a broad range of enthusiastic and devoted admirers and contributors. To visit the Fortean Times website, click here. The IWFS hopes to work in partnership with Ottakar's plc and Fortean Times to bring to the Island some of the finest speakers on strange phenomena and anomalous experience.
STOP PRESS! The IWFS is proud to annouce that its first honarary members are Robert Anton Wilson, Ken Campbell and Bob Rickard.
Our inaugural event was a talk on Thursday 29th July, 2004 at 6:30pm at Ottakar's, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight. The talk was given by Fortean Times contributor, author Mike Jay who discussed his book on the extraordinary case of James Tilly Matthews and The Air Loom Gang. Mike first gave a talk on this fascinating subject at the Fortean Times UnConvention 2002 in London, and his research into this intriguing history led to a wonderful, critically acclaimed book which has recently come out in paperback. For a report on the event, click here.
For more on Mike Jay's books, click here. To see the poster for his talk on The Air Loom Gang, click here .
For more information on the IWFS, telephone James Nye at Ottakar's on (01983) 527927 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday only).
Click here to go to the IWFS bookshop
Visit the website of Robert Anton Wilson
Click here to go back to Frogweb homepage
Copyright © 2004 James Nye, Jack Phoenix, Rabbi Burns. For permission to quote, email Jack.