From Mullock's Specialist Auctioneers and Valuers catalog:Historical Document - Lot Number 71 - Auction Date 25/06/09. Witchcraft - the Manchester/Farrant duel an original poster issued in 1978 advertising what was to become the clash of the wizards in Highgate Wood London. The event was to be the final showdown between two occultists Sean Manchester billed in the poster as 'Grand Master of the Occult' and Farrant billed as 'High Priest of Witchcraft'. '...Locked in murderous absurdity Britain's most infamous magicians intend to resolve their feud to the death at Queen's Wood Highgate 18th August 1978' This particular copy was retrieved by a Police officer with his original report on the back : '...I saw Farrant on Sunday 6/8/78 at about 10am putting up one of the posters advertising the event on the notice board outside Jackson Lane Community Centre Archway Road. I was unable to retrieve it as he had glued it on.' Together with a copy of the Highgate Wood bye laws (rare) and various press cuttings relating to the incident. This incident which seems like coming straight out of a 'Harry Potter' movie arose out of the belief in the late 1960s among a group of young people that there was something sinister in Highgate Woods cemetery in North London - at that time a rambling eerie overgrown Victorian cemetery evoking all the necessary images which were prevalent in the popular 'Hammer Horror' movies of the time. Both Manchester and Farrant claimed that there was a real Vampire existing in the cemetery but their varying approaches to the claims led them to become rivals. Manchester even claimed that he had sought it out and disposed of it by the time honoured Bram Stoker method of driving a wooden stake through its heart. This led to the decision between the two of them to have some sort of showdown in Highgate Woods. Unfortunately for them the Police were wise to the whole thing - not really difficult to see how as these posters were being put up everywhere - and they staked out the woods. Before the two major parties could get going however the undercover policemen were rumbled and the whole thing was called off. Price £70 to £100.Nice calligraphy. Bottom line (cut off) reads, "Irreconcilable differences and a fatal obsession with honour bring the two occultists together". Would both our distinguished guests (who happen to be in attendance) care to comment?
22 comments:
Strange how that poster is in Bonky's own hand-writing, isn't it!?
David Farrant
It reminds me of the "Manchester Meorial Fund" poster where he asked for funds to restore Robin Hoods Grave and also announced his fatal wound in the french duel--but he was saved and nursed back to health by a beautiful nun in a French convent
barbara
Strange how that poster is in the Hunchback's second wife's handwriting, isn't it?
I would like to know who Farrant resents and despises most?
The Eggman or the Bishop?
I have asked this question twice before on this blog. On both occasions it was ignored by Farrant. I ask it because Farrant hardly ever mentions the Eggman and certainly hasn't waged a vendetta against him for the past forty years like he has against the Bishop. Yet the Eggman ran off with Farrant's wife for six months. Soon after she returned, Farrant was made bankrupt and was evicted from the flat he shared with his wife. The person he rightly or wrongly blamed at the time for all these ills was the Eggman whose cellar the destitute Farrant occupied for an entire year which fact alone makes the mind boggle.
What in heaven's name did the Bishop ever do to warrant Farrant's forty year vendetta?
I ask this with the Eggman's apparent impunity in mind.
Each of you claim it's the other's work, then you want to quickly change the subject? Come on boys, there's plenty of "meat" in that auction description. Let's get on to it.
Like the "Memorial Fund" poster, referred to already by someone else, the "Duel" poster is the handiwork of Farrant's second wife who, incidentally, was a graphic artist. It bears all the signs of her work and she was doing quite a lot of this kind of thing at the time at the behest and on the behalf of Farrant who was in the business of forging, or having forged by his second wife, all manner of documents. He even had a letter faked from the Eggman to the News of the World which the latter's lawyers took a very dim view about. He also faked a curse which he attributed to the Bishop and sent to the Bore's partner (a photograph of the curse is reproduced in From Satan To Christ). That time it was Farrant, not his second wife, whose handiwork was responsible. It was such a pathetic forgery and so obviously in his hand that he left it to others in future to forge his items. None were as proficient as his second wife who proved to be almost as devious as Farrant himself.
BONKIER AND BONKIER - PART 1
"Each of you claim it's the other's work, then you want to quickly change the subject? Come on boys, there's plenty of "meat" in that auction description. Let's get on to it."
What you say is so true Cat, whenever you get a little too close to the truth for his liking, Bonky quickly tries to divert the issue or change the subject. I don’t do that, but stick to a particular allegation being made. But he does. All the time!
He is doing it now with allegations about my 1st wife, Mary and his (Bonky’s) old school chum the “Eggmanne” – as Bonky then nicknamed him
I agree. Lets stick to the ‘duel poster’ Cat, which you seem to have found somewhere. I would love to answer that on this appropriate day of Friday 13th!
But first, let me get this current ‘diversion’ out of the way to prevent further Bonky repetition of it (though just watch, he’ll try to introduce the issue again!).
Bonky asks why I hate himself so much, and not the Eggmanne who ‘ran off’ with my first wife.
Firstly Cat (and I’m addressing yourself as it is your Blog), I do not ‘hate’ anybody, including Bonky himself or the ‘Eggmanne’. Hatred is the most dangerous thing (as least spiritually) and only inevitably destroys the person harbouring it.
So, it is true that in 1968 the ‘Eggmanne’ (Bonky’s personal friend let us clearly remember), ‘ran off’ with my first wife for 6 months. He (the Eggmanne) left his wife and small daughter behind,
while Mary also took my first son (then only a baby s well) with her. Reason? They fell in love at the time and my affair with another woman did little to help.
The ‘other girl’ moved into my flat and remained there for some six months, until Mary turned up unexpectedly one day and asked me to take her back. I did and told the other person she’d have to leave.
Its really as simple as that. I ‘forgave’ her, but realized I was as much to blame in the whole sordid mess. They had fallen in love (at least temporarily) what’s so wrong with that?
I bore ‘Eggmanne’ no malice; indeed we still continued to meet for a drink together. I realized that these things sometimes just happen, and this was just one of them
Bonky is now trying to introduce this matter (yet again) as a means to try and avoiding the ‘duel posters’ – posters which, incidentally, were drawn up and distributed by himself.
The local Press got hold of this story (which is not surprising as Bonky had plastered them all around their office in Crouch End) and I inadvertently ‘went along’ with the story.i.e. that I intended to ‘slay’ Bonky in a sword fight! For this purpose the newspaper (the Hornsey Journal) photographed myself and Bonky holding swords and they published the two photographs side by side in the newspaper (this was in the summer of 1978). . .
David Farrant
BONKIER AND BONKIER – PART 2
That was really the last I heard of the matter until one day the Sunday Mirror newspaper turned up at my flat and produced a picture of Bonky lying on the ground with blood apparently running from a wound in his head.
I decided to make no comment (aside from confirming it was Bonky) realizing the whole thing was getting out of hand.
At this time another poster was also being circulated (in exactly the same style and handwriting as the poster you published here Cat) in the form of a “Memorial Fund” saying that this “Brave knight” had been killed during a duel in Northern France (‘slain’ by myself who else?!?) asking for donations to ship his body back to England so that he could be buried at his ‘beloved Glastonbury’. (These ‘donation requests’ were sent to all and sundry, including Barbara who also received one).
Next, I received a visit from the Highgate CID asking me to tell them what I had ‘done with his body’. I refused to comment except to say if this had supposedly happened in France it was out of their jurisdiction and they would have to get Interpol onto it. They were not amused!
That is all really, except shortly after this the Hornsey Journal reported that a ‘very much alive’ Bonky had just given an interview on LBC Radio!
As usual, Bonky had tried to make myself the ‘fall guy’!
I spoke to Bonky at the time while he was supposedly ‘dead’(which I have on tape) and told him the whole thing was getting serious, and asked how he was going to explain ‘coming back to life’.
He told me not to worry because a story was being put out that – although everyone had assumed him to be dead at first – Bonky had been ‘nursed back to health’ in a French Convent!
I hope this answers your question, Cat.
David Farrant
None of which explains the Hunchback's forty year vendetta against the Bishop.
His tale about his first wife wanting him to take her back does not hold water in view of the fact that she was soon off again in a matter of a few weeks, never to be seen by the Hunchback save for across the court floor at the Old Bailey when he appeared in the dock and called her as a defence witness.
As for the absurd allegation that the Bishop had plastered the offices of a local newspaper with "Duel" posters, it was the Hunchback police caught putting them up, not the Bishop!
The remainder of this saga has been documented and explained many times previously in the past by others more competant than I.
ANOTHER LIE - THEY'RE GETTING BETTER!
"As for the absurd allegation that the Bishop had plastered the offices of a local newspaper with "Duel" posters, it was the Hunchback police caught putting them up, not the Bishop!"
I told you all he'd be back onto the split with my first wife, didn't I!?
Anybody with any iota of intelligence will realise that Bonky couldn't have known what happened because he wasn't even there!
So you'll have to do better than that, Bonky!
As to me being 'caught by the police' putting up posters, that is just another outright lie (some would say a desperate lie!).
Give us the date and the name of the police force, so it can be checked, Bonky!?
Now watch closely folks, he won't be able to!
David Farrant
I wasn't present when his first wife took off again, but others were on the scene who have the ability to recount what happened.
As for the Hunchback saying him putting up posters and getting caught is a lie, he really should read topics before posting comments on them. This is what was revealed about the poster being sold for a phenomenal amount:
"This particular copy was retrieved by a Police officer with his original report on the back : '...I saw Farrant on Sunday 6/8/78 at about 10am putting up one of the posters advertising the event on the notice board outside Jackson Lane Community Centre Archway Road. I was unable to retrieve it as he had glued it on.'"
I find it incredible that anyone would pay the sum put on this dog-eared item when all they need do is turn up at the Hunchback's bedsit and ask him to open the box where he still has hundreds more posters in mint condition.
In 'From Satan To Christ' the curse sent to Jean-Paul Bourre's partner Natalie Sarazin is reproduced opposite to a letter from David Farrant, from which anyone can see that they are not by the same person, as, to take the most obvious point, Farrant's writing invariably slopes up the page, whereas the curse author's do not. Having just compared the writing of the curse with that of the duel poster with a magnifying glass, however, I am quite sure that they are by the same person, several letters, particularly the capitals, being very distinctive. Bourre and Sarazin had no doubt that the curse had been sent to her by Bonky, and no-one except Arminius Vambery has ever doubted that Bonky was responsible for the duel posters.
As to this letter sent to the News of the World, purporting to come from Eggman, I do not see how this could have been a legal issue, as no letter, no matter how insulting or untrue, can be libellous if it is merely sent to its subject, rather than being independently published. I am not even sure how one could libel the News of the World. Arminius Vambery, please explain.
Gareth J. Medway
dont forget bonky wasnt bonky then his was incarnarnated as his lordship, the Byronic descendent bar sinister---he didnt start his bonky incarnation until around 1990.barbara
Graphologists have confirmed that the curse and examples of Farrant's handwritiing originate from the same person.
The duel poster was also cobbled together on Farrant's behalf.
It is now known that Farrant's second wife helped with his forgeries during the same period when the curse and the duel poster appeared. She is a graphic artist.
Sarazin will confirm if contacted that she does not believe for a minute that Seán Manchester sent the curse. Farrant claims he is still in contact with Bourre who remains tight-lipped. Someone recently contacted Bourre who denies he is contact with Farrant.
I have seen archived correspondence from the News of the World's own solicitor which shows that an article was sent for publication (in the form of a letter) bearing the style and signature of Tony. There are also recorded telephone conversations between the same solicitor and Seán Manchester. All of which confirms that Farrant sent a completely fraudulent article to the News of the World to make it appear as it had been sent to them by Tony. It will come as no surprise to discover that the article misrepresented and defamed Seán Manchester.
The only person not convinced appears to be Gareth Medway who took the trouble to photograph the outside of Seán Manchester's private residence in the south of England so that Farrant could reproduce it in his hate-filled pamphlets and have someone put it on the internet along with incitements of hatred.
"Graphologists have confirmed that the curse and examples of Farrant's handwritiing originate from the same person".
Who exactly are these 'graphologists',, Sean?
Can you perhaps reference them or produce their reports?
No, I didn't think so!
David Farrant
The person to put that question to is Seán Manchester and I am not him.
Anyone reading this is invited to have their own graphologist independently take a look.
The curse and a sample of Farrant's handwriting (I am sure more examples could be found) can be viewed in images published in From Satan To Christ (1988). I am sure Seán Manchester would be only too delighted to send a pro gratis copy to any genuine graphologist whose standing and reputation would be acceptable to all concerned.
"I am sure Seán Manchester would be only too delighted to send a pro gratis copy to any genuine graphologist whose standing and reputation would be acceptable to all concerned"
You're slipping again "Demonologist"!
You clearly stated that 'graphologists" had already concluded that this alleged handwriting was my own.
So all I asked for were references to these alleged people for checking. You now admit that no 'graphologists' were consulted. Just as I firured, Sean!
What would be interesting into what conclusions genuine graphologists would reach over Sean's prison correspondence.
Now there's a thought!
David Farrant
Farrant is unable to grasp the basics of the English language.
Twenty years ago graphologists who inspected the curse sent to Sarazin were absolutely convinced it was created by the same hand as that revealed on other samples of Farrant's writing.
That is simply the fact of the matter. They did not publish a report about the examination. Farrant isn't a celebrity or someone of any importance. It was merely confirmed. That's all. The author of From Satan To Christ has stated this on various occasions.
Thus anyone would presumably be at liberty to produce their own graphologist to carry out the same examination. Why don't they?
"Thus anyone would presumably be at liberty to produce their own graphologist to carry out the same examination. Why don't they?"
That is not what you were being asked, "Demonologist".
You were asked to identify these so- claaed 'graphologists', but you have still not done so. Why? Because they don't exist, that's why!
David Farrant
I am obviously the wrong person to ask.
Even if I were able, I would be prevented from identifying individuals by their full name on this blog because of the stricture placed on doing so by "Baldry's Cat."
What is important is the fact that any graphologist anywhere is at liberty to examine the evidence.
What is everyone waiting for?
The evidence is in the public domain. It's there to be examined. Come on. Examine it !
"What is important is the fact that any graphologist anywhere is at liberty to examine the evidence"
Yes, "Demonologist". But what 'evidence' are we talking about here? Unless you mean your own concocted 'evidence'. And who in their right mind would want to examine that!??
David Farrant
Nothing has been "concocted" and Farrant knows it.
For starters, any graphologist can view the facsimile images in From Satan To Christ (1988) which have the curse Farrant sent to Sarazin filling one page and facing it is a full page sample of Farrant's handwriting in a challenge to a duel he wrote and sent to Seán Manchester on 21 December 1986.
How time flies!
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