Chalky, Enigma, Zygon Curry & Mavic Chen...

...Find Out Who's At the Funcottage

Epsom was not a place renowned for its Doctor Who connections. But suddenly, one year, the local theatre, the Epsom Funcottage, announced a one day convention celebrating K9’s 40^th anniversary. Chalky, Dufus, Shirt, Enigma and Zygon Curry went and a good time was had by all.

Soon it was announced that there would be a follow-up. “An Afternoon with…”-style affair with Carole Ann Ford and William Russell. Mutterings of interest passed around the group including little-seen Alfie, Lupine, Zygon Curry and Chalky. Shirt was intending to spend far too much money the day before at ‘London Film and Comic Con – Spring’ [LFCCS] so declined to attend despite being the closest of them all to the venue. (‘They’ll be in black-and-white’, he moaned). Alfie bought a ticket for him and his friend Fan Show. Chalky asked his offspring, Mavic Chen (who had recently got very interested in the classic series) if he would like to go. He was very much interested, much to Chalky’s delight. Lupine was tasked with purchasing four tickets and the date was set.

Time moved on and as the event approached, Mavic Chen grew increasingly excited at the prospect of meeting Susan and Ian. However, a cruel blow was struck when it was announced that William Russell was withdrawing from the event (having got a better offer from ‘LFCCS’ on the same day).

For a while, the event was in limbo until the announcement of his replacement – Wendy Padbury. Mavic Chen embarked on a crash course in Zoe, with a viewing of ‘The Krotons’ cued up as quickly as possible.

Also, in the meantime, Lupine had realised that a trip to see his girlfriend and Bruce Dickinson was more tempting than Susan and Zoe, so a spare ticket was available. Enigma – emerging from a season of travel shows – snapped up the opportunity.

But then, another blow – Alfie and Fan Show were also unable to attend.

So, on a very wet Sunday afternoon, Chalky, Mavic Chen, Enigma and Zygon (who actually managed to be on time) convened at the Epsom Funcottage to see what awaited them.

Mavic Chen was extremely excited to be at his first proper convention – panels, photographs and everything – and Chalky had promised that, as a first-timer, he would be allowed both photographs and autographs (a treat he rarely allowed himself).

Unlike the previous year’s full day convention, this affair was far more intimate with the interviews occurring in the smaller studio theatre. The foursome took their seats and waited to see how the afternoon would pan out. Mavic Chen, at this point, seemed to be the only child in attendance until a girl of a similar age walked in with her dad. Chalky mentioned this to Mavic who acknowledged it but did not look up from his fevered writings of Top Trump-style stats for Susan, Ian, Zoe and Krotons.

Enigma happened to glance around at where the girl had sat. “That girl’s waving at you,” she told Mavic. Mavic turned round to find that the girl was actually a member of his class at school! Shocked and ever so slightly embarrassed (not helped by Enigma’s teasing) Mavic turned back to his writings wondering how he didn’t know, up to this point, that she was a Doctor Who fan.

The compere arrived and outlined the afternoon – interviews with Carole Ann and Wendy separately and then questions from the audience to the two of them (with brief intervals between) followed by the photo studio and autographs.

Carole Ann arrived to applause and began to regale the audience with stories of her recent LA stay, her friendship with William Hartnell and her frustrations with the role of Susan. One story, about an early play she featured in called ‘Women of the Street’ was curtailed when she realised there were two children in the audience leaving the mature members to sift through her veiled explanation of the sort of audiences that would attend the play.

After a short interval, where Chalky and Mavic took the opportunity to chat to his friend and dad, Wendy was welcomed to the floor and shared her stories of fun with Pat and Frazer, how stage schools work, her unachieved desire to be a prima ballerina and how her singing teacher once told her that she had the potential to be great but that her friend, Elaine Paige wasn’t particularly good…!

Carole Ann returned and questions were elicited from the audience. The first, about the Cybermen, came from Mavic’s friend – which lead to a confusing moment where Carole Ann remembered the Cybermen emerging from the Thames in her final story.

However, his friend’s question seemed to inspire Mavic, who had said he wouldn’t ask a question, to venture his own. Chalky expected him to maybe ask something about the Daleks (having watched both of Susan’s Dalek stories) or maybe ask Wendy about the Krotons, having only just watched it.

But no, “What was your highlight of The Invasion?” he asked. Wendy thought for a moment and then suggested the relationship between characters Vaughn and Packer. “Do you like it?” she asked Mavic in return.

“I haven’t seen it yet,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“Well, I won’t say any more and spoil it!” said Wendy.

The question and answer session was wrapped up and people moved out to the foyer to find a merchandise stall had been set up. Mavic proceeded to sift through boxes in a vain attempt to find an action figure or CD Chalky didn’t have. Chalky continued to reiterate that he wasn’t spending any money at the stall due to planning to pay for photos and autographs.

After a little while, they all made their way upstairs to where the photo studio had been set up. Mavic found his friend again and they sat down to chat and for Mavic to show her his ‘Whograph’ book, given to him that Christmas by his Uncle Shirt (already signed by such ‘Doctor Who’ luminaries as Colin Baker, John Leeson, Nicholas Briggs, Tony Selby……..and Royce Mills).

Soon, Carole and Wendy arrived for photos and a short queue was quickly moved through till it was Mavic and Chalky’s go. Mavic wanted a photo alone with the ladies, but Chalky also wanted one with Mavic. Because the photos were priced slightly more cheaply than he had anticipated, Chalky took the plunge and paid for two photos. Mavic went first, and took his 13^th Doctor sonic which intrigued Carole and Wendy who made a point of holding Mavic’s hands and the sonic together.

Chalky was then beckoned in. Required to squeeze on to the one seat available between Carole and Wendy, alongside Mavic, Chalky accidentally pushed Carole towards the edge of her seat. A quick apology and then the photo was taken.

Some more time was waited whilst the autograph room was set up and then Mavic, Enigma, Zygon Curry and Chalky managed to find themselves more or less at the front of the queue. Mavic went to Wendy first, whilst Enigma went to Carole. A brief moment of consternation over change was solved by Zygon ‘Money Bags’ Curry who was able to change Chalky’s twenty pound note. As Mavic and Chalky moved across to Carole, Zygon Curry took the opportunity to take some photographs of Wendy.

Leaving the autograph room, a phone call was made to Tigger, who was parked around the corner with Mavic’s sister, Tala. A lift was offered to Enigma as Zygon Curry set off for the train station, and everyone wended their merry way home, proud of the fact Mavic had experienced and enjoyed his first, proper, convention.

[AE]