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DOCTOR WHO DAY
Saturday, 15th May 2004
DWACC CON – FROM THE ORGANISERS POINT OF VIEW!
As I write this, it is now a week since the event and now that the dust
has settled what are my thoughts?
Well … it was rather a good day wasn’t it? I feared the worst with only 22
tickets pre-sold but around 75-80 turned out which was pleasing in the end.
David J Howe told me he had organised events were no one had turned up whilst
Terry Molloy said he went to an event where only 2 people turned up!
Not everything went to plan
of course, you can’t plan everything precisely can you? It started around 15
minutes late as the Hyde Fundraisers arrived later than I had expected and were
still putting Daleks on the stage at
10.00am
! However, around
10.15am
David Howe took to the stage and, after introductions and a few words about the
late Anthony Ainley, Terry Molloy bounded onto the stage to much applause and we
were off! I had to dash home to fetch my video player for Mike Tucker’s
special affects talk (the theatre staff assured me they would have everything he
would need for his talk!!) and the writers seminar was moved from the Green Room
to the stage as we did not wish to split a small audience into two even smaller
audiences, which proceedings back by around 30 minutes.
All the guests really enjoyed
themselves, as did all the fans, and I have received nothing but positive
feedback which has been very nice. It was lovely to meet my friend Caroline
Munro again – hi Caroline! – and nice to meet Mike Tucker, Mark Morris,
David Howe, Gary Russell, Steve Gallagher and the DWACC’s very own patron
India Fisher once again. It was the first time I had met Peter Miles, Terry
Molloy, Hugh Futcher and Johnny Dennis but all were a joy to talk to. Having
never been to a Doctor Who event before, Johnny had a wail of a time, and all
the guests enjoyed the relaxed, friendly, laid back informal atmosphere I had
deliberately tried to create. At the big events they never get the chance to
mingle and chat with the fans, something they all enjoyed doing – as well as
signing those all important autographs! I also spent the weekend chauffeuring
Peter Miles around! David Howe was a superb host for the days events and was a
huge help with ideas and suggestions. Thanks David.
It was nice to see so many DWACC members turn up for the event and it was great
to meet you all and put a few faces to the names I’ve become accustomed to!
Andy Kitching, John Ashworth, Dave Mullen and Jonathan Mallinson I already knew
and they acted as stewards for the day (Andy also interviewed Johnny and Peter)
whilst Chris Armstrong I had met before at the Caroline Munro signing last
September. But it was also great to meet Chris Winwood and the two Caroline’s
– Callaghan and Sinclair. New members Paul Hughes and Chris Leather also
attended but I never got the chance to say hello. Sorry lads but I was just
rushed off my feet all day! I knew I’d be busy but phew!, not that busy! The
end of the day was a really nice touch when I was presented with a birthday cake
and card signed by all the guests (I was 40 three days earlier!) and all the
guests and audience sang “happy birthday” to me! Embarrassing or what?!! But
it was nice!
So yes, it was a great day.
Financially it wasn’t a success – the theatre could have done far more to
help (publicity etc) – but everyone really enjoyed themselves so that’s what
counts isn’t it? I thought the Hyde Fundraisers, with the Daleks and Cybermen
etc, really helped to create the right atmosphere and I hope they raised lots of
money for charity.
Thanks once again to everyone
who supported this great day and for your contributions to this issue. I hope
you enjoy reading it!
Graham
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