Convention 2004

Seventh Convention, bigger venue

...continued from part 1 here.    

Seventh Convention part 2

Not only had we gone for our biggest venue this year but also our biggest line up of actors, first on stage came Roy Heather (Sid), followed by Paul Barber (Denzil), Ben Smith (Damien), Patrick Murray (Mickey Pearce), then finally John Challis (Boycie) and Sue Holderness (Marlene).  As each member of the cast came on stage they were interviewed. Sue told us all a lovely tale about when they were filming one of the last three episodes, a little girl had gone up to Nick Lyndhurst and asked what they were all doing, he said we're filming a TV programme called Only Fools and Horses, as it was chucking it down with rain the girl looked around and inquisitively asked where are the horses'? she could already see the fools I suppose.  After the actors left the stage they got into position for autograph signing, a place they would not leave for 9 hours.

 

We had so many things lined up to make the day great this year, we had UKTV there who were filming for UK Gold, they wanted fans for links when they broadcast a day of Only Fools over Christmas, the BBC were also on hand, they have re-edited 'Royal Flush' for Christmas and they wanted fans to watch the new version and record the laughter. 400 lucky fans have seen the new version and over Christmas they will be able to hear their laughter when the episode is broadcast for the first time as a new edit. You may have been collecting the new fortnightly magazine that has been available for the last couple of months, well editor Laura Eagleton was also at the Convention and she gave away two full subscriptions, worth well over £200.

 

Once again the raffle and auctions were a huge success; one lucky person went home with a framed copy of a Peckham Echo, as used in the final trilogy, another with a signed Nicholas Lyndhurst picture and finally £100 to spend on any of the merchandise stalls. With so much going on during the day it all seems to be over so quickly, all the hard work is well worth it when people come up to you and thank you for such a great day. Our thanks has to once again go out to the actors who sit tirelessly all day signing whatever is put in front of them, it wasn't until 8.45pm that the final picture was signed, we worked out that if everyone had just two autographs of each actor, then they would've signed nearly 24,000 items! 

 

By the time we had packed everything away and had time to reflect on another successful Convention it was nearly 11.45pm and we still had to drive back to Basildon, I remember leaving heading home at about 2.45am, with Perry, Aaron and Glen still there unloading.

 

Plans are already being made now for next year, you may have things you'd like to see or maybe have ideas how we can improve on the system for queuing for autographs, one thing is for sure though, just make sure whatever you're doing you don't miss us in 2005.