Dufus & Shirt...

...Hammer Some Angels

Dufus was on a roll – having come down South for Enigma’s wedding, two weeks later, and he was back again !!! The Sunday was to be the ‘Doctor Who Festival’, but Saturday offered the delights of the quarterly ‘London Film Convention’, this time celebrating both ‘Hammer Horror’ and ‘Thunderbirds’. Arriving at Shirt’s home on the Friday night, the two spent the evening enjoying the delights of ‘Children in Need’, particularly the Harry Hill sketch featuring both Peter Purves and Peter Davison.

Leaving mid-morning the next day, they caught the train to Waterloo, and then one stop to Westminster. Walking through drizzling rain, they made their way to Methodist Central Hall where the event was taking place. Paying for entrance they made their way into the packed convention area, walking around all the signing tables to see who was and wasn’t currently signing. None of the people that Dufus wanted to meet were currently at their tables, and so Shirt got the first autograph of the day, from Geoffrey Whitehead. Although more famous in recent years for playing Lucy and Tim’s dad in ‘Not Going Out’ (having regenerated from Timothy West), it was his turn as the Great Detective in the 1979/1980 ‘Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson’ television series, that meant that Shirt wanted to meet him. Clutching his precious ‘SH&DW’ Annual (the series was never shown in Britain and is not available on DVD) which he had previously got signed by the late Donald Pickering who played Watson (at Seventh Galaxy twelve years before, almost to the day), Shirt paid his money and proffered the hallowed tome.

“That must be worth some money”, commented Geoffrey, even before seeing the Donald signature.

On seeing it, to Shirt’s delight he praised Donald’s performance at length, in particular his “military bearing“.

Signing the title page below ‘his Watson’, he handed the book back to Shirt, who put a few coins in a collecting tin for the National Youth Theatre to get a photo with him, taken by Dufus.

Moving on, none of the ‘Thunderbirds’ guests were present, and so they both moved to Edward De Souza, who signed Dufus’ copy of ‘The Sixties’ (partially obscuring Anneke Wills’ signature which was in difficult-to-see silver pen). Next was David Warner who was in the process of sitting down. A photo and Dufus’ ‘Series 7’ DVD signed, and David was posing with Dufus for a photo. The queue for Honor Blackman was long, and so they decided to look at items for sale in the Dealer’s Room, with Dufus buying a ‘Countdown’ (not the Channel 4 quiz) annual and a Radio Times with a ‘The Hobbit’ Radio Series cover, and Shirt buying nothing (in preparation for the next day’s festivities).

Returning to the signing area, Tom Chadbon was now at his table, and so both got DVD covers signed, with both then getting a photo with him also (Shirt being aware that he is also one of the Scotland Yarders in the Granada SH).

Dufus having finally sorted his covers out, they returned to the ‘Thunderbirds’ area which was still empty.

They therefore decided to get some air and a drink from a nearby supermarket, with Dufus also managing to ‘do the tourist thing’, taking photos of the Elizabeth Clock Tower (or ‘Big Ben’ if you prefer), the Houses of Parliament and several statues, whilst sheltering from the rain.

Returning to the Hall, the ‘Thunderbirds’ guests had returned from a panel that Dufus and Shirt had not realised was happening. However, Dufus noticed that there was now not a queue for Honor Blackman, so quickstepped over there, getting a ‘Terror of the Vervoids’ cover signed by her, and a photo with her. Shirt was then tapped on the shoulder by IndyTimelord who had popped up from Bristol to get signatures from Edward De Souza and Jeremy Wilkin, and was just about to pop back again (his finances not enabling him to attend the ‘Festival’ either that day or the next). Shirt not wanting any of the ‘Thunderbirds’ guests, merely followed Dufus with Dufus’ camera, ready to take photos of him with the guests, and resolving not to make any comment about how many autographs Dufus was getting (making up for lost time). Shane Rimmer (‘The Gunfighters’), was swiftly followed by David Graham (‘The Daleks’) and finally Jeremy Wilkin (‘Revenge of the Cybermen’), for whom fans seemed to be queuing from both directions. With the guests all seated behind a long table, and being of advanced years, photos proved difficult, with Dufus nearly toppling over backwards whilst posing with Jeremy Wilkin (who had a distinct ‘Jeremy Corbyn’ vibe going on).

Final signatures gained, all covers were neatly stowed in Dufus’ bag. There was a brief panic by Dufus as to where his camera was, which was solved when Shirt revealed that he still had it. They made their way back to the Underground, making their way to Liverpool Street. The rain had increased, and after getting some lunch, they strode off for their next port of call – an exhibition of Film & TV costumes from Angels Costumiers in Brick Lane. Shirt’s lack of direction was clearly visible again, as they became lost, until Dufus finally managed to find the correct route on his phone.

Arriving almost exactly at the time that they had booked for, they made their way down to the exhibition, but not until Shirt had availed himself of the facilities.

Moving through rooms of general costumes, they found the first costume of special interest – an amalgamation of the costumes worn by Peter Cushing as Holmes in the film and TV adaptations of ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’.

Moving on, past costumes from shows including ‘Sharpe’ and ‘Downton Abbey’, they found themselves in the ‘Classic Television’ gallery, which as well as the OFAH ‘Batman & Robin’ costumes, Glenda Jackson’s Morecambe & Wise ‘Cleopatra’ costume, and Captain Mainwaring’s uniform, also featured a full Fourth Doctor costume, along with extra coats and waistcoats hanging on a rail.

Having bought a Fourth Doctor scarf on his last visit, and since then the official Fourth Doctor hat (from the What Shop), Dufus jokingly suggested that Shirt distract the security staff, whilst he grabbed a coat and waistcoat to complete his cosplay costume.

Both had their photos taken in front of the display, before moving into the ‘Royalty’ section.

Dufus’ camera had once again run out of battery-life, and so he spent the next five minutes trying to work out how to turn off the flash on his phone (flash photography of the costumes being prohibited). In frustration, Shirt snatched the phone, tapped the flash icon on the screen, causing a cross to be drawn through it, before handing the phone back.

Further costumes included ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, loads from ‘Mrs Henderson Presents’ (Film & Stage Musical), and even the outfits worn by the ‘Strictly’ judges in the 2014 Christmas Special.

The exhibition completed, and they made their way back to Liverpool Street, Shirt knowing the way this time, and back to Waterloo, where they caught a train back to Shirt’s home station (where Dufus’ car was parked). After a brief detour to buy new batteries for Dufus’ camera and to top up the Oyster Card being used by Dufus that weekend, they returned to Shirt’s.

The evening was spent in preparing for the Festival the next day, in watching ‘Sleep No More’, in ordering a pizza which arrived in the middle of the episode, and in musing on the upcoming reunion of Chalky, Dufus & Shirt at a Doctor Who event after ten years (the last being C,D&S....Are Behind You !!!).

A new chapter in the adventures of Chalky, Dufus and Shirt was about to begin (with Lupine along for the ride), and a secret C,D&S fan was about to reveal herself.

[PL]