The world of magic is mourning the death of one of its local leading lights - Ron Gilbert or Mr Magic' - entertainer, creator of magic and founder of The Bournemouth Society of Magicians.

The popular and highly respected entertainer had been working right up until January 10 - the day before he was rushed into hospital to be diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Despite, say his family, coping with the disease with the fortitude of Superman he passed away on March 28 aged 76.

The funeral is tomorrow at 11am at Bournemouth Crematorium.

It is highly appropriate that the family has asked that no mourning clothes be worn, for magic and laughter was a way of life for the entire family.

Even Ron and wife Frances's (Carol) courtship was spent watching Tom and Jerry at the cinema and the birth of their daughter Sue in 1960 saw Ron doing his first children's magic show, thousands of shows were to follow in the years after.

In 1963, tired of London life they moved to Bournemouth where Ron worked in advertising.

He put an advert in the Bournemouth Evening Echo asking for people who were interested in forming a magic society to contact him. The society was born with founding members Joan & Alan Wright, Steven Lickman & John Williams to name a few. The first magic meeting of the Bournemouth Society of Magicians took place on January 14, 1964, at 23 Northbourne Avenue. Sadly John Williams died on December 21, 2007.

In 1965 second child Craig was born.

Then in 1970 Ron had a serious car accident and during his recovery they found out he had a spinal disease, ankylosing spondilitis, prompting his decision to give up the advertising job.

He became a full-time profes- sional children's entertainer, including summer seasons at the Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

He was proud to have his young son performing magic effects with him on stage and later backing the show on keyboards.

Throughout the '70s and early '80s Ron also played keyboards in a duo The RV (Ron and Vernon) and from 1980-85 Ron and Frances ran a Boscombe guest house, The Larkins where they would run magic weekends with prominent guest speakers.

Ron threw himself wholeheartedly into inventing and manufacturing magic, and called himself Ron Gilbert Magical Exclusives, sending his work all over the world. Magic became his and Carol's life, they attended conventions all over the country, lecturing and selling magic.

Frances then decided to become a children's entertainer, calling herself Carol's Magical Funshow and later Carol's Box of Delights.

In 1989 their daughter Sue, on dad's advice, gave up the office job to become a magician, Susie Sparkle so she could spend more time with her children.

Among Ron's many great achievements was coping with his physical disability and its side effects, winning The Originality Trophy at the IBM Convention, Southport and being awarded the Gold Star Membership, the highest award given by the Magic Circle.