Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The imposing - yet welcoming - entrance to the Society's regular meeting place, the National Liberal Club. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
A change from the usual arrangements: dinner was served in a different room and on a different floor from the meeting proper. It was a chance to see more of this splendid building. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Among those attending their first meeting were Brian & Derek Belanger, proprietors of Belanger Books. Derrick reported on the meeting for the Sherlock Holmes Journal. (photo courtesy of Brian Belanger)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Dinner by candlelight in the Club's Lower Ground Floor Meeting Room. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The scarlet robes of Cardinal Tosca offer a hint of things to come. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Cardinal Tosca is not alone in gracing this ecclesiastically inspired meeting. Here too is the self-proclaimed Revd Dr Henry Shlessinger. (photo by Derrick Belanger)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
In the David Lloyd George Room, our Chairman, Catherine Cooke, welcomes members and guests, before handing over to the compère for the evening, Calvert Markham. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Calvert Markham introduces the first of the evening's five speakers, a personal representative of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The first speaker is His Eminence Cardinal Tosca, represented as usual by the Society's President, Jonathan McCafferty. (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The good Cardinal is followed by another benign cleric - this one only apparently so: the Revd Dr Shlessinger, represented as usual by Peter Horrocks. (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Dr Shlessinger may be the alias of an unscrupulous Australian rascal named Holy Peters, but he too detests the despicable unfrocked priest Williamson. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Heather Owen focuses on weird weddings - and there are plenty to choose from. So many ended unhappily - no wonder Holmes preferred his bachelor life! (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Following Catherine Cooke's survey of the period's ecclesiastical directories, Rakshita Patel pointed out that Sherlock Holmes disguised himself as a priest on more than one occasion. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Rakshita Patel shows us portraits of three canonical clerics - but which of them is not Sherlock Holmes in disguise? (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Holy Peters finds it amusing to foment religious discord - though it probably makes a change from beguiling lonely ladies by playing upon their religious feelings. (photo by Derrick Belanger)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Cardinal Tosca takes understandable exception to the bogus clergyman's insults. (photo by Paul Gillings)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Holy Peters' expression shows his chagrin at being exposed as a fraud by the sagacious Cardinal Tosca. (photo by Paul Gillings)