British Obituary Page For Magic

TIM "MAGIC" HUGHES
(an appreciation)
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Tim "Magic" Hughes
who died in Bangkok, Thailand after having suffered a major cerebral
Hemorrhage on Thursday 15th January. He underwent two major operations
in hospital and later was pronounced dead on Friday 23rd January.

Timothy John Patrick Hughes was born at Little Aston Park,
Staffordshire, England in 1944. As a small young lad he wore corrective
leg irons and had a horrible stutter. The irons worked and he eventually
outgrew the stammering.

Until his recent death Tim ran daily with hash clubs in Bangkok, and
throughout the world and was often heard yelling "On-On", without any
difficulty at the various hashing events.

Tim was not the slightest bit interested in sciences, and preferred
studying art and languages. His keen interest in the guitar and pop
music eventually led him to become involved with three pop groups in
various locations in Kent, The Klan, Bern Elliot and Bern Elliot and the
Fenmen. The band had a hit with a song called Money, which was
originally written by the Beatles.

Bern Elliot & the Fenmen where the only group to have a U.K. hit single
with this song and their version entered the British Top Twenty near the
end of 1963. It wasn't a patch on the Beatles' rendition (which had been
released at about the same time on their second LP), but it was actually
a pretty decent, soulful interpretation Tim's group played in a sort of
tough Merseybeat style (although they weren't from the Mersey region).
Tim and the group made several appearances on Ready Steady Go, Five
O'clock Club, Easy Beat and Saturday Club shows during the '60's. He
toured regularly with the well known Merseyside groups of the day as
well as big names like Roy Orbison, the Supremes, the Hollies, Manfred
Mann, The Animals, The Who, Spencer Davis (Keep On Running), and many
others.

Latterly in the 1960's he did a few gigs with Michael Cox and Marty
Wilde before finally moving to Spain.

Tim worked in promotions for Carreras Rothmans and Castrol, before
leaving and moving to Bangkok  in 1969. He joined the Anglo-Thai
Corporation, the British trading conglomerate, later becoming Managing
Director of The Ford Motor Company's automotive operations in Thailand
until 1982, when he decided to become an independent consultant.

An accomplished big-game fisherman, he successfully competed in the
prestigious Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in the seventies
and served on the International Game Fish Association, headquartered in
Fort Lauderdale in Florida. He has represented Thailand on the committee
since 1975.

However Tim MAGIC Hughes will always be remembered around the world for
his association with the Hash House Harriers, an organisation that was
originally founded in 1938 in a moment of post-prandial inspiration at
the Selangor Club Chambers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by a group of
ex-patriots.

Hashing, as it is fondly known has taken Tim on almost 600 runs
throughout the world and to Interhash in Kuala Lumpur in 1980, Jakarta
in 1982, Sydney in 1984, and Bali in 1988. He was the organiser of
Interhash 86 in Pattaya, and around this time he was dubbed with the
name of MAGIC, because apparently everything he did in his life was
magic.

He created the now legendary World Hash Handbook and the global database
for the world-wide clubs to gather, collate and disseminate information
on hashing.  He also researched, wrote and published many books on the
history of hashing including the famous Golden Jubilee book 'On On Hash
House Harriers 1938 - 1988'. His business connections brought him into
contact with many of the leading companies in Thailand, from whom he
often was given sponsorship and assistance to help him promote hashing.
His commitment to hashing goes beyond and above the call of duty, and
Tim became a legend throughout the hashing world. He will be fondly
missed by hashers both old and new everywhere when those immortal words
are heard, "On-On!"

When Tim found time to relax from his hashing, his other interests
included trekking in the Himalayas as well as in Peru, and of course he
loved his music. He often used to be invited to the Royal Palace in
Bangkok where he would organise 'jam' sessions with the children of the
King and Queen. Tim leading them with vocals and of course his guitar.
Tim leaves behind a mother and married sister in the United Kingdom, who
have stated through the World Wide Web and Internet that Tim will always
be "Magic" to them.

On a personal note I would like to add that I never had the opportunity
of meeting MAGIC, but I feel that I know him so well through the kind
words and messages that I am receiving on the Internet.

It is so ironic to think that I would have played the records Tim and
his band made, when during the 60's I was also in the music industry, as
a disc jockey on the pirate radio ship, Radio Caroline.

May God bless you Tim.

Tim's funeral will be held in Bangkok on Monday 2 February 1988.

Compiled by Miles Robert Wilson Tim's brother in law.  28 January 1998