Shirt..
…Hi Ho(lmes) Silver Lining.
‘Spirit Sinema’ had managed it,
where others had tried and failed,
namely getting Shirt’s ‘dream guest’ to a convention. Having arranged a Dalek-themed even for January 2011, the follow-up was to be
a Cyberman themed event in February. The first
announced guest was Bernard Holley from “Tomb of the Cybermen”,
but it was the announcement a few weeks later of one of his co-stars from that
story that really caught Shirt’s attention. Clive “Tomb of
the Cybermen”/“
As the weeks went by, other guests were added – Deborah Watling, David Banks, Christopher Robbie, Mark Hardy, Ian Fairbairn, Brian Orrell, and
briefly Michael Kilgarriff, who was replaced by Colin
Spaull and Graeme Harper (the latter then being
replaced by Andrew Hayden Smith). Shirt worriedly checked the website each
night, scared that Mr. Merrison would pull out.
However, he remained on the guest list.
Making his way to Chiswick for
the event, Shirt arrived just as the doors were opening. The autograph sheets
had not yet arrived, and so he picked up the souvenir programme,
checking that Clive’s name was still listed in it, before sitting in a seat
towards the back of the venue. Autograph sheet obtained, Shirt went and paid
for three extra autographs (being entitled to two free autographs per guest
with entry), before going back to get another.
The event started on time, with Ian Fairbairn
and Christopher Robbie reminiscing about their experiences with the Cybermen and in the other parts that they had played.
Christopher (who looked like a cross between Christopher Benjamin and Chalky’s Dad) remembered Wendy Padbury
(with whom he worked in “The Mind Robber”) with great fondness, particularly
when she wore a short summer-dress to the rehearsal room on a day when
Christopher spent much of his time lying on the floor. The hands-on-hips stance
of the Cyberleader, turned out to be Christopher’s natural stance, which he
was encouraged to use, despite it making the character appear camp. Differing
views of Tom Baker and Patrick Troughton were also
exchanged.
It was then time for the first signing session. The
longest queue was for Christopher Robbie, and so Shirt joined a short one for
Andrew Hayden-Smith, getting a trading card signed. It also became clear that
saying “just the free autographs” caused confusion, and nearly led to one of
his extras being crossed off in error. Shirt decided to respond “no extra
autographs” in future. Next up was Colin Spaull, who
signed Shirt’s “Revelation of the Daleks” video
sleeve, having just about found a space, and “The Cyberman
Collection” DVD sleeve. The other queues having subsided, Shirt joined the
queue for Christopher Robbie, getting his “Revenge of the Cybermen”
and “The Mind Robber” DVDs signed. Next up was Ian Fairbairn,
who signed Shirt’s “The Seventies” book.
Having had some lunch bought from a supermarket over the
road, Shirt settled in for the next panel which comprised Colin Spaull and Andrew Hayden-Smith, trying to filter out the
incessant giggling of the attendee in front of him. Although the two spoke
enthusiastically about their episodes, the panel under-ran, and so there was a
short gap before the 80’s Cyber-boys took to the stage. First onto the stage
was David Banks wearing golf gloves, who took a plastic gun from the
interviewer, crushing it (showering the front row with plastic splinters)
before declaring it to be “Excellent!”. He was then
joined by his Cyber-Lieutenants, Mark Hardy (from “Earthshock”,
“The Five Doctors” and “Silver Nemesis”) and Brian Orrell
(from “Attack of the Cybermen” and “Silver Nemesis”).
The three were clearly old friends, mocking each other, whilst describing the
problems raised by wearing restrictive cyber-suits. However, the interviewer
spent slightly too long with his head in his folder of questions for Shirt’s
liking. The panel ended with a “cyber-death” contest, with Mark’s death scene
winning, even over David’s spitting water over the first row a la “Five
Doctors”.
The cyber-boys were the next signing session, and Shirt
decided to queue for the Lieutenants first. Having got Mark on his “Earthshock” DVD cover, Brian on his “Attack of the Cybermen” DVD cover, and both on his “Silver Nemesis” DVD
cover, Shirt moved over to join David’s queue. All three queues had been moving
slowly due to other attendees getting the guests to sign ever single Cyberman story that they had been in, as well as several Cyberman group photos. Whilst in the queue, Shirt heard one
of the organisers confirming to another attendee that
Clive Merrison would be attending, having received a
confirmation e-mail from him the previous day. It seemed that the organisers had shared Shirt’s concern over Mr. M. Finally
reaching his second Cyberleader of the day, Shirt got
David to sign his “The Ultimate Adventure” CD sleeve, as well as the “Earthshock” and “Silver Nemesis” covers.
The final panel was the main event as far as Shirt was
concerned, and when the time for the panel came, he glanced over to the door,
and was delighted to see his hero milling about with the other two guests,
before taking to the stage. Clive, Deborah and Bernard chatted amiably about
working on “Tomb”, despite Bernard having almost no recollection of filming the
story. Clive was very honest about the quality of his American accent in the
story, even jokingly suggesting that it had been him that had destroyed the
BBC’s copies of the story for this reason. He also suggested that the lost
episodes had been found in a skip, before Debbie chimed in with “Weren’t they
found in
“Yes, in a skip !”, countered
Clive.
Moving on to “Paradise Towers”, Clive revealed the real
animosity between the Rezzies, and told the assembled
group that Richard Briers jokingly blamed him for “destroying his career” due
to copying his accent in the story. Shirt found himself laughing uproariously
in the manner that he hates from ‘Tom-worshippers’ and found himself disappointed
that Clive was not on the commentary for the forthcoming DVD release of the
story.
Panel completed, Shirt joined the Merrison
queue, slowly sorting out his items ready for signing. Having confirmed that he
was using his final three extra autographs, Shirt placed his “
“Can you sign it ‘To Shirt’, in blue, please”.
Clive looked a little put-out, placing his black pen back
on the table.
“It’s to go with a card I’ve got signed by Michael
Williams”, explained Shirt, before adding unnecessarily, “that’s signed in
blue”.
Having signed the card, Clive then signed the (current)
first and last recordings of his Holmes – “A Study in Scarlet” and “The Further
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – The Marlbourne Point
Mystery” – whilst Shirt mumbled on about how much he enjoyed his portrayal of
Holmes.
Finally the moment had arrived.
“Can I please have a photo with you ?”,
asked Shirt.
Having received agreement, Shirt sat in the chair next to
Clive whilst the steward sitting with him, took a photo of them both.
Collecting up his items, Shirt was overly thanking to his
idol before moving off.
Final signatures of the day were Bernard Holley, who
signed Shirt’s “The Claws of Axos” video sleeve and
“The Seventies” (the
Sixth Doctor audio, “The Feast of Axos” not being out
for another three weeks), and Deborah Watling, who
signed “Three’s a Crowd” and a “Tomb of the Cybermen”
audio CD sleeve. As she was doing so, one of the organisers
reminded Deborah that she had stated in her autobiography that she had a crush
on Bernard Holley when filming the story.
All signatures obtained, and Mr. Merrison
have already left the building, Shirt made his way back to the Underground
station, musing on his audience with THE Radio Holmes.
[PL]