A YOUNG south Warwickshire magician and autism advocate is celebrating his latest accolade.
Angus Baskerville has been voted Best Wedding Magician in The Cotswolds Awards, acknowledging his skilful mix of mind-bending illusions and trickery.
And it also recognises his inspirational story of how magic ‘saved his life,’ and his ongoing mission to advocate for autism and mental health.
It follows the launch of Angus’s first book, ‘Naughty or Neurodiverse: An Aspie’s Road To Magic’ following his journey from misunderstood child to professional magician, thanks to a new passion he discovered while holidaying with family as a teenager.
Bullied, excluded, expelled from three schools, Angus grew up feeling like he didn’t belong. Diagnosed with Asperger’s and ADHD at 15, he finally had a name for the chaos he had always felt.
Now he is enjoying national success with a magic career that includes a return to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, on the back of a sell-out summer one-man show, Hidden Powers, and series of big ticket event performances.
He is also the proud recipient of a clutch of national awards, including The Prestige Award, Ladies First Inspirational Awards and The Derek Award for standout acts at The Fringe.
Of his latest award, the 29-year-old from Binton, said: “I truly believe that hidden powers such as those I’ve found in me, exist in all of us. To be recognised for what I do in adding magic to weddings, the most special day in a couple’s life, is both humbling and hugely appreciated.”
As a Christmas gift in 2014, Angus’ parents enrolled him on a magic course in London, bolstered by which he went on to compete in, and win, his sixth form talent contest. He earned money through his talent for the first time, performing tricks for tips in his local pub.
At 19, Angus joined Leamington and Warwick Magic Society and, in 2020 he was accepted as a member of the prestigious Magic Circle. Today, he is in high demand among the magic and public speaking circuits, performing to a who’s who list of rich and famous at prestigious venues across the country, including Windsor Castle, The Grosvenor Hotel Park Lane and Greenwich Theatre in London.
Despite a packed schedule these days, Angus is still finding time to stay true to his pledge to ‘pay it forward’ by helping others overcome the challenges of neurodiversity through workshops, holiday camps, mentoring and public speaking.
He is also a regular keynote speaker at autism conferences, conventions and workshops around the country, and a proud neurodiversity ambassador for numerous charities and bodies.
He added: “Life on the spectrum can be tough but with support, self-awareness and the right environment, it can also be joyful, meaningful and full of magic. I think if I had been diagnosed earlier things would have been different. I just felt like I was a bad person and the whole world was against me. I just didn’t want to be here.
“But I’ve learned so much about mental health and other people and about autism and how you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. There’s always hope.”
