PSYCRETS Honorary Awards & Lifetime Members

[+]   The  Committee

Psycrets are proud to have hosted lectures and performances by many highly regarded and influential mystery entertainers  at our main Tabula Mentis and ad-hoc sponsored events. Many of these wonderful people are also members - or have become members through enjoying the positive experience of our events (where respected professionals and amateur performers alike mix within a non-elitist environment.) 

Psycrets are also proud to count honorary and special lifetime members  amongst the Society. These have been awarded to those contributors who are considered to have made a most exceptional, extensive and influential contribution to mystery performance and entertainment,  and truly associated as ambassadors to their craft . 

These members are listed below          

David Berglas Image Courtesy Zakary Belamy Photografik Grand Master of Mystery  / Honorary Lifetime Member Psycrets proudly presented its highest level honorary award - The Griffin Award to David Berglas at Tabula Mentis IV  in November 2008. This being in recognition of his lifetime of achievement in the world of magic, mentalism and mystery entertainment. David Berglas has become known as the International Man of Mystery through the spoan of his career. He was one of the first magicians to appear on British television with his own show (Meet David Berglas in 1954) also . Numerous other television series followed and were highly acclaimed in Holland, Sweden, Norway and Germany. He caused a further sensation on UK television in 1985/86 with his show The Mind of David Berglas which included a never seen format of interviewing and entertaining celebrities. Celebrities he has entertained include Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onassis, Paul Getty, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Michael Jackson, the Sultan of Brunei and most of the British Royal Family Further notable achievements include : President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (British Ring 25) 1976-1977. Voted "King Rat" of the Grand Order of Water Rats, (the world's leading show business charity organisation) in 1979. President of The Magic Circle (1989–1998)· The Magic Circle also presented him with the coveted "Gold Medal" in the year 2000, which was only the sixth ever to be awarded since 1905. He has been honoured internationally by receiving top magic awards, including in 1980 the "Gold Plaque" in Sweden, in 1995 The Magic Circle's "Maskelyne Award", in 2005 the "Masters Fellowship" from the Academy of Magical Arts, [Hollywood] and in 2008 the prestigious "Grolla" in Italy. In 1999 he established a non-profit organisation called, the Foundation for Promoting the Art of Magic (FP-AM). This has benfitted the magical fraternity and has donated substantial funding for educational establishments like The College of Magic in Cape Town, South Africa. The Foundation presents the prestigious 'Berglas Award' annually at the International Magic Convention held in London. Docc Hilford  Honorary Lifetime Member Psycrets were proud to induct Docc Hilford as an honorary lifetime member at Tabula Mentis V in April 2009 Docc Hilford started his magic career as an under-water escapologist at age 16. He's performed fire eating and other side show stunts, also been a working cowboy and lived with the tribal medicine man on the Navajo reservation !. In the 1980s he was stage manager for Alice Cooper. Later, Docc’s Film Noir Magic Show opened for bands such as Aerosmith and Black Sabbath. After a couple years of life on the road, Docc settled down in Phoenix, and ran a private palmistry office specializing in exotic dancers. In 1990 he took editorship of The New Invocation; the flagship magazine for bizarrists In 1997 Docc reduced public performing and headed a small psychic church in Florida until 2001. From 1992  - 2000 Docc hosted an international convention, The Weerd! Weekend with attendees from 18 different countries. Through the years he has been a guest of honor at magic conventions, was a featured speaker performer at The Smithsonian Institution. He's made magic/mentalism videos in the 1990's and further DVD releases in 2000's. He’s written 30 books  Over a 35 year career, Docc’s been a pick pocket, hypnotist, mind reader, illusionist and kid show performer. Somehow along the way he also earned a Doctorate of Divinity from the University of New Mexico. Docc remains a much sought after performer and consultant  Banachek Honorary Lifetime Member Psycrets were proud to induct Banachek (Steven Shaw)  as an honorary lifetime member at Tabula Mentis VII in April 2010 Banachek is renowned for fooling scientists at Washington University into believing that his supposed psychic abilities as a test subject were genuine during the heavily funded ‘Project Alpha’ in the early 1980s. He also took part in an investigation with James Randi exploring Peter Popoff, which ultimately exposed Popoff's false claims. As well as an author of many influential books (including The Psychological Subtleties series) Banachek has appeared on several television programs including CNN Live, Mindfreak and Unscrewed with Martin Sargent - and is often sought globally as a consultant for both TV productions and performances by  entertainers (including Penn & Teller, David Blaine, Lance Burton, James Randi and Criss Angel.) The Psychic Entertainers Association have also notably recognised Banachek with coveted awards  including : Dave Lederman Memorial Award (Awarded for Creativity in Mentalism) 1997 Dan Blackwood Memorial Award (Awarded for Outstanding Contribution to the Art of Mentalism) 2006 Dunninger Memorial Award (Awarded for Distinguished Professionalism in the Performance of Mentalism) 2007 Banachek remains a much sought after performer and consultant Barrie Richardson Honorary Lifetime Member Psycrets were proud to induct Barrie Richardson as an honorary lifetime member at Tabula Mentis IX in April 2011