Shirt & Zygon Curry...

...Get Holli for Christmas

It was the last Seventh Galaxy event before Christmas, so Shirt decided to attend. Promised were a mixture of classic and Nu-Who guests – including a Doctor (Peter Davison) and one of the original companions (William Russell), as well as Colin Baker guest-star, Patrick Ryecart; Russ Abbott cohort and Series 2 cameo, Bella Emberg; Ian Cullen from “The Aztecs”; and Holli Dempsey, “Closing Time” co-star of James Corden and Lynda Barron.

For once transport problems did not conspire to make Shirt’s journey to Barking difficult, and by 10.15am, he was at the Learning Centre, and paying for four autographs (and getting one free). There were two long queues for Peter and William, but Shirt decided to get Holli’s signature on his Series Six Poster first.

Holli was pleased that someone had decided to see her, rather than Peter or William, and seemed overly pleased that Shirt wanted her to sign using the silver pen that she hadn’t used yet.

Shirt pondered about asking for a photo, but due to the all the guests being behind one long table, realised that it probably wouldn’t come out well, as she would have to lean over quite a wide table.

There was no sign of Patrick Ryecart, so Shirt joined the second longest queue, for Peter.

This queue moved quite slowly, and Shirt found himself being chatted to by a scoutmaster in front of him (who looked a bit like Chalky’s Dad [and was therefore presumably the Moriarty to his Holmes, or (Scout)Master to his Doctor]). The scoutmaster spoke at length about severing a vein (‘Thank goodness, Chalky’s not here’ thought Shirt) and having to travel to Croydon to buy a new pair of uniform shorts (Shirt didn’t remember asking about this). Finally Shirt reached the front of the queue, and having waited for the scoutmaster to make three attempts to take a photo of Peter, placed his copy of “The Four Doctors” booklet open to the Fifth Doctor section, in front of Peter, along with his “Planet of Fire” DVD sleeve. Peter was in an average mood, and signed the covers with limited conversation.

There was still no sign of Patrick, so Shirt broke the habit of a lifetime, and joined the queue to meet a black-and-white companion, which snaked out of the signing room. This queue moved even slower, but there was some entertainment when someone approached one of the stewards with a photoshopped photo that he had downloaded from the internet, showing a Special Weapons Dalek with WW1 soliders, and demanded to be allowed to speak to one of the guests about it to get an explanation. The steward attempted to explain that it must be fan-produced, and after some argument, the man went off to bother a woman doing some photocopying.

Finally Shirt re-entered the signing room, and saw a familiar face on the other side of the room – Zygon Curry. Have been waved at, Zygon Curry, came over and joined Shirt in the queue. Whilst they were waiting Shirt and Zygon Curry discussed the recent birth of Chalky and Tigger’s second child (who made a very dramatic entrance to the world), other signing events, and general fan-related chat. Shirt also held up a mirror whilst Zygon Curry put his eye-drops in, and made encouraging noises on being shown five different photographs of Zygon Curry with Karen Gillan at the Donmar Warehouse stage door. Finally they reached William, who signed Shirt’s “An Unearthly Child” DVD cover, and one of Zygon Curry’s large white cards (in small writing in the top left corner). Zygon Curry then attempted to take a photograph of William.

Meanwhile, having been informed by a steward that Patrick was uncontactable (and now over two hours late), Shirt decided to use his final autograph (the free one) to get a signed photo of Holli.

“Hello again”, said Holli, signing the photo with a smile.

Having an ‘expert’ photographer on hand, Shirt asked Holli to have his photo taken with her.

Holli was leaning over the table next to Shirt, but Zygon Curry was busy picking a photo of William Russell up.

“Come on, Zygon”, Shirt pleaded, “you can’t keep a lady waiting”.

“What a gentleman”, responded Holli, picking up on Shirt’s rubbish flirting skills.

Zygon Curry finally came over and took a very close-up photo of the two of them (possibly in revenge for Shirt’s failure to take close-up of him and Anjli Mohindra – see S…The Sky’s The Limit), which made Shirt look like ‘Moonface’ from “The Magic Faraway Tree” books.

 Zygon Curry wanted to rejoin William’s queue to try and take a better photo of him, but Shirt was in a rush to do some early Christmas shopping. Therefore they bade farewell, with Shirt having a very unproductive afternoon of shopping, whilst Zygon Curry managed to get several more autographs at West End theatre stage-doors, including Holli’s “Closing Time” co-star, James Corden. It was a tired Shirt who wended his way home, not full of the joys of the season.

[PL]