Shirt…

...Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.

Prologue - Friday

Spirit Sinema were having another Pandorica, but this time it was to be in the town of Shirt’s father’s birth, Bristol. Announcement of guests including five classic companions, and a reunion of guest stars from ‘Revelation of the Daleks’ (two of whom Shirt had not met at a previous Spirit Sinema ‘Revelation’ event), meant that Shirt booked up early, deciding to stay at the local Youth Hostel rather than the convention hotel to save money. Even Dufus briefly considered accompanying him, but it was a lone Shirt that made his way on the coach to his paternal homeland on the Friday before the convention.

The day was spent in pounding the streets of Bristol, visiting locations from the most recent series of ‘Sherlock’, the first two series of ‘Being Human’, and the 2012 ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas Special (Shirt managing to leave his camera outside one of the locations – luckily it was still there ten minutes later when he returned having realised). It was therefore a very tired Shirt, with blistered feet, that staggered into the Youth Hostel, and made his way to his private room, where he collapsed on the bed. After a brief jaunt out a few hours later to check that he knew how to get to the convention hotel, and frequenting a local Pasta Cabin, he returned to his room, preparing items for the next day, and listening to Large Endings’ ‘The Fall of the House of Pollard’ in preparation for meeting one of its stars, Anneke Wills, the next day. An early night was in order, so Shirt drifted off to sleep to the sound of seagulls outside his window.

Day One – Saturday

The next morning, having re-checked the proposed schedule, Shirt stowed all the items that he would not need for that day’s fun in the lockable cupboard in his room, and after partaking in breakfast, gingerly made his way towards the convention hotel, which on reaching it, he realised he had walked straight past the previous day. Entering the hotel, and making his way to the sixth floor, Shirt joined the queue for registration. Standing in the queue, Shirt read that Sarah Sutton would now not be attending due to personal circumstances, and that Katy Manning would therefore be attending a day early, being replaced by nu-Who Daleks, Barnaby Edwards & Nicholas Pegg on Sunday. Shirt therefore began googling whether Nick had appeared in ‘Into the Dalek’ as well as Barnaby (he didn’t), as he had not brought items with him for them.

Having got his convention guide, pass, autograph list, and autograph voucher for Philip Bond whose autograph was not included with entry, and having a brief conversation with IndyTimelord (who was on home turf), Shirt had just enough time to pop out of the hotel to the shopping centre opposite to get some money out of an ATM. On his return, he quickly did a tour of the merchandise room, buying two photos for later signing, before taking a seat in the panel room for the whirlwind that is Katy Manning, who had come hot-foot from Roath Lock in Cardiff, where she had been appearing in ‘Casualty’ (and had also visited a nearby set with a certain Mr. Capaldi who was filming the 2014 DW Christmas Special). Her natural energy having energised the entire room, including Shirt, she swept out to the Photo Studio. Shirt followed her out, but turned right, entering the merchandise room where the signings were taking place.

First up was Elliot Chapman, Large Endings’ recast ‘Ben Jackson’, who happily became Shirt’s sixty-first signature in his ‘Companions’ book, and then posed for a photo.

Moving along, Shirt met his co-star, ‘original Polly’, Anneke Wills, who signed his ‘The Three Companions: Polly’s Story’ and ‘The Fall of the House of Pollard’ CD covers.

“Have you heard this ?”, she asked, pointing to the Charlotte Pollard CD.

“Yes, last night”, responded Shirt, praising both her performance and that of Terrence Hardiman, who plays Charley’s father.

Next up was Alexandra Tynan, who under the name ‘Sandra Reid’ was a costume designer on 1960’s WHO, including designing the Cybermen for ‘The Tenth Planet’. Shirt therefore got her to sign a photograph of the TP Cybermen and Chalky’s ‘The Tenth Planet’ DVD cover. Shirt was amused that she signed with both names.

The final guest of the morning session was John Levene, who signed Shirt’s ‘The Daemons’ and ‘The Time Monster’ DVD covers.

To one side were two authors of books published by WKMI, namely McCoy script-editor, Andrew Cartmel, and author, Jim Mortimore. Andrew was promoting his ‘Script Doctor’ book that Shirt already possessed, but Jim was signing a book ‘Unnatural Selection: The Natural History of The Natural History of Fear’, which outlined the process of writing the so-named Large Endings’ McGann audio. Paying for a copy, Shirt asked Jim to sign it, which he did after a short chat about the current series.

Shirt then got Jim to sign the CD cover for ‘The Natural History of Fear’.

“Who else has signed it ?”, he asked.

“Paul, India & Conrad”, said Shirt, before agreeing to Jim doodling on the cover.

Two further books signed – ‘Eye of Heaven’ and ‘The Sword of Forever’ – and Shirt was moving off, stopping only to buy a copy of a humorous guide to the Seventh Doctor era that was on special offer, and came with a free fanzine.

Back in the panel room, a live commentary on ‘The Mind of Evil’ by Pik Sen Lim and Timothy Combe was just coming to an end. Next up was John Greenwood, fight arranger on ‘The Mind Robber’, who also appeared as D'Artagnan and Lancelot. He spoke enthusiastically about his work, and halfway through revealed that he had brought his musketeer sword from the story with him. Stupidly asking if anyone wanted to hold it, for the rest of the panel, the sword was passed around, with fan after fan having their photo taken with it.

The final panel of the morning was Andrew Cartmel, who publicised his book, spoke about his views on modern TV writing, and revealed that he is about to publish a series of detective novels.

Lunchtime had been reached, and so Shirt went out into Central Bristol to find sustenance, returning an hour later.

The first panel of the afternoon was John Levene, who started with an apology for previous comments about his experience of working with Large Endings. However, the apology was for his making the comments public, not for their content. Having not endeared himself to Shirt at the last panel that he had seen him at, John did nothing to redeem himself, speaking at length about his deprived childhood, poor relationship with his father, and how he felt that Tom Baker edged all the UNIT personnel out.

Panel completed, and Shirt was back in the merchandise room, queuing for autographs. First up was John Greenwood, still in possession of the sword, who signed both Shirt and Chalky’s ‘The Mind Robber’ DVD covers.

Next was Timothy Combe, who signed Chalky’s ‘The Mind of Evil’ video sleeve and ‘The Silurians’ DVD sleeve (Shirt had no items for Tim himself, already having his Silurians DVD signed).

Next up was Pik Sen Lim, who also signed Chalky’s ‘The Mind of Evil’, as well as Shirt’s CD cover for ‘The Marlbourne Point Mystery’, the last of Radio 4’s ‘The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ featuring Clive Merrison. Having posed for a photo, Shirt moved on to Philip Bond, whom he also wanted a photo with as he appears as the villain in the Peter Cushing TV version of ‘The Hound of the Baskerville’. Getting a HOUND DVD cover signed, Shirt posed for a photo.

Last up was Katy Manning, who unsurprisingly had the longest queue, which was moving slowly due to her chatting animatedly to everyone. However, eventually he reached the front and was soon getting his ‘The Mists of Time’ CD sleeve and ‘Terror of the Autons’ DVD sleeve signed.

On returning to the panel room, Shirt was in time for the second half of Anneke and Elliot’s panel (in which Elliot revealed that he lives just down the road), and then for one featuring Philip Bond.

This brought the day’s festivities to an end, so Shirt went out to waste some time in the local shops before the evening’s events began, and in order to get some dinner.

Two hours later, and Shirt was back at the hotel, and exiting the lift to a seemingly empty sixth floor. However, around 15 minutes later, other attendees and organisers arrived, and the first event of the night began, a screening of Spirit Sinema’s new DVD – ‘Cult Conversations – Terry Molloy’. This completed, an ill-judged debate took place on Series 8 prior to the new episode being screened. The general consensus seemed to be – “ I like Capaldi, but hate the scripts he’s been given”.

All too soon it was 8.30pm, and time for ‘The Caretaker’, which was watched in rapt silence by attendees.

There was then a short break, until the start of a riotous quiz in which teams led by Messrs Edwards & Pegg, and featuring a mix of celebrities and fans, took part in rounds based on shows including ‘Only Connect’, ‘Have I Got News for You’ and ‘Win, Lose or Draw’. Mr. Pegg’s team was finally crowned the winner, and everyone made their ways back to their rooms, the bar, their homes, or in Shirt’s case, the Youth Hostel.

As he gingerly walked back, his blisters throbbing, Shirt mused on an excellent first day. Roll on tomorrow !!

Go to Day Two.

 [PL]