The sterling chaps at 7th Galaxy had planned their very first one day event to be entitled Invasion 2001.

Chalky, Dufus and Shirt were quite excited.

In attendance would be Peter Davison, Anthony Ainley, Mark Strickson, Frazer Hines and Elisabeth Sladen.

There was even going to be a quiz - hurrah!

Chalky, Dufus and Shirt set off early Sunday morning, having decided to drive rather than tube - being as a prospective tube strike was planned (although, in eventuality, it was called off).

Prior to the event, dates were being checked.

"When's Invasion again?" asked Chalky.

"Invasion 2001?" replied Dufus.

"Well, yes. Unless you're expecting any other invasions that we don't know about," said Shirt, "You know - Daleks, Sontarans etc."

Dufus was nervous, having never driven in London before, but Chalky was confident of his navigational skills in getting them to Barking Library.

Shirt just sat in the back.

Conversation included the merits of Colin Blaker and Paul Davison as Doctors and the presence of Christmas tree lights (They're red! (Not the traffic lights, Dufus!)) in Brixton 6 weeks after Christmas.

With Chalky's 'Top Tunes' cassette blaring through the loud speakers, the party traversed Streatham and Brixton and soon were toddling through the Rotherhithe Tunnel.

"Does this go under the Thames?" asked Dufus.

"No, the English Channel," muttered Chalky, consulting his map.

Once through, the tricky bit of finding Barking Library began, but with Chalky's unfailing sense of direction, the group arrived a good 45 minutes early - despite Dufus's suggestion they go via Whitechapel (cos we pass it on the tube).

To while away the time they decided to play a game of 'Spot the Doctor Who fan' - which ain't hard.

Then they decided to queue.

Conversation here turned to looking at each female fan that walked past.

Now this wasn't simply a case of ogling the totty. Oh no.

The trio had made contact with their local group, the Sutton Whos and found that a trio of them were also attending the convention.

Dufus had arranged to have his mobile on, and the Whos would give him a ring at some point during the day so that they could meet up.

With bets placed on which female was most likely the leader of the group, Servalan, the doors opened and the fun began.

Once in, the gang perused the merchandise stalls, met up with Chris Cwej and then wandered upstairs, having decided to get autographs first and miss Mr. Ainley's panel (seeing as he probably wouldn't say much more than he did in Sheffield).

The queueing took quite a while, but eventually autographs were obtained from Miss Sladen, Mr. Hines and Steve Cambden who was signing his new book.

Off they then trundled downstairs to await the Peter Davison panel and soon found themselves listening to anecdotes from the long and varied career of Mr. Davison.

Following on was Frazer Hines, with guest interviewer Toby Longworth. Great hilarity ensued with unfortunate finger poses, corny gags and the ever-traditional vicar and kilt story!

Lunch beckoned and with Cwej and his mate Trotter in tow, they set off for MacDonalds.

Apparently Mr. Ainley had said some new things in his panel, but they'd been less than complimentary about certain audio producers. Oops.

Appetites sated, it was back to the fun and larks of Invasion 2001.

Wandering around the merchandise stalls, again, it was now that Chalky, Dufus and Shirt finally made contact with Servalan and the Whos.

Niceties were exchanged and the trio were invited along to the Whos next gathering the following Sunday.

Time for Anthony's autograph, decided Chalky, Dufus and Shirt, whilst Cwej (who'd got it while the others had been in with Peter) went to see Mr. Strickson.

Time passed and the very long queue didn't go anywhere. Big Ted did his utmost to keep the queues moving and satisfy everyone, but a few selfish fans decided to bugger up the system something royal.

Then Peter had to leave early. Shirt joined the separate queue for his autograph and on return, Chalky and Dufus joined too. And then they wished they hadn't.

Obviously eager to get away, Mr. Davison spent more time looking past Chalky trying to indicate he wanted the queue stopped. With a cursory signature and a muttered 'thanks' from Chalky, Dufus moved in to get a 'tut' when he asked for the signature to be personalised.

A low point of a thoroughly brilliant day - but then Mr. Davison's been known to be a bit grumpy in the past - and he had been excellent in the panel, so we may forgive him.

Mr. Strickson eventually joined the autograph table, and Chalky, Dufus and Shirt shuffled up to him.

And never left.

Mr. Ainley was slowing the queue down so badly, that the trio were stuck in front of a very tired looking Mr. Strickson. He even went to the toilet, and found the trio still standing there when he returned.

Of course, it did mean that the gang were a bit cheeky and got more than the allowed 3 items signed - well what else were they supposed to do standing there. It's not like they were holding anyone up.

Finally, after nearly 2 hours, the trio reached Mr. Ainley. As friendly as usual he signed their items and, thankful to be out of the queue, the gang trotted downstairs to await the quiz.

Two teams - Frazer's Fanatics (Hines and Strickson) and Lock and Load (Rob Shearman and Alastair Lock) - were pitted against each other in a battle of wits.

Two members of the audience were also picked to aid the teams (but none of the trio were chosen, grumble, grumble, we'd have won it for the Fanatics if we had been).

Much hilarity ensued with Frazer's team doing quite badly; Mark and Rob demonstrating superb artistic skills; Toby Longworth proving an entertaining quiz master and the audience managing to get 5 points!

And that was it. The raffle (for which the trio hadn't bought tickets - they weren't particularly interested in Debbie Watling's used knickers!) happened, and with one last trawl around the stalls, and goodbyes said to Cwej, home beckoned.