Convention 2001
The Biggest yet!
Our fourth Convention had to be the biggest yet, with over 2000 people attending. Once again we were in the sports hall in Ongar.
We were joined for the 1st time by Trigger (Roger Lloyd-Pack), Denzil (Paul Barber) and making a return was Sid (Roy Heather).
The actors were on stage for about half an hour, answering questions from the audience.
After a short break they sat for what must of seemed like hours, signing all that was put in front of them.
Here’s the report you’ve been waiting for.
It’s hard to say how many people attended the Convention this year.Estimates range from 1200,1500 to 2000! Although we cannot be sure of the accurate figure, it is safe to assume that we were up on previousConventions. Looking from the stage out on to the crowd it was hard to spot a gap anywhere. This is some feat when considering the size of the sports hall in Ongar. So why was this the biggest Convention we had ever had? Maybe it was the strong line up of stars from the show. Roger Lloyd Pack (Trigger), Paul Barber (Denzil) and Roy Heather (Sid). Perhaps the
numbers swelled because fans who attended last years Convention had told friends of what a good day they had had with Boycie, Marlene and Mike, thus causing more to venture out. Was it that members wanted to purchase
the new merchandise on offer, or simply that Fools is again in the newswith the promised new shows? Whatever the reason everyone connected to the Society from members, Perry and the programme itself can be proud of being the biggest and the best! Trekkies Nowhere!
You wouldn’t have thought the day was going to be a success considering the way it started. Preparations for the event had been going well all week. None of the usual problems had arisen. Perry and Keith had not had one spat. Perry himself was very calm and, dare I say, even happy! I couldn’t help thinking something had to wrong. Unfortunately I was proved to be right. Early Saturday morning, the before of the Convention, the phone rang ‘Pete can you come round we’ve got a problem’said the panicked voice on the other side of the phone. It was Perry,who went on to explain that the van, with all the merchandise and PA system, was stuck in mud outside his house. On inspection it was obviousthat getting this ‘Luton’ out of the sludge wasn’t going to be easy.Perry, in his wisdom, thought it a good idea to take a shot cut over some grass as he was blocked in. Some might say the easiest option would have been to just knock on the door of the owner of the offending car!We were getting nowhere pushing or rocking it. Bricks were placed underneath each wheel to get some kind of grip, this didn’t work either.
Finally the AA were called, but couldn’t be with us for another hour. This was not good (very ungood) considering we should have already been at the sports hall setting up. We were given a deadline by Ongar that we had to adhere to, and here we were trying to get a loaded van out of a
bog! Things were not looking good, and Perry’s stress levels were beginning to rise. It was in the shape of his brother-in-law Terry that we finally got out of the mess. He seemed to know when to rock the van, when to turn the wheel, when to turn up the revs and the right time to give us the order to push. The big van came hurtling out of the mud, spraying us as it did so, just as the AA car turned the corner. Perry exclaimed ‘I knew we would get it out, I wasn’t the least bit worried’.Yes OK Perry!
Setting up at the leisure centre, thankfully was a breeze. This was our
fourth Convention, our third at Ongar, so we were familiar with the
format. Perry and Wendy Burton, head of the Stall, worked out the
displays while the rest of us did as we were told. I have to admit I
love opening the new boxes of merchandise. Seeing what Perry and his
suppliers have thought up for the members is always a bit exciting, I
know I should get out a bit more shouldn’t I! I first noticed the
candles, standing about 6″ tall with a thick girth coloured in the
Trotter yellow. Umbrellas were the next item I saw. These commemorated
the 20 years of Fools. We had more of the ‘Trotters pre-blessed wine’,
but this year we also had bottles of ‘Peckham Spring’ not with its
glowing charm though. A particular favourite of mine was the tea-pots.
These were ones you could actually make a cup of tea with. A larger
array of t-shirts than normal, it was one of my important duties to sort
these out into piles according to size. What a pain.
fourth Convention, our third at Ongar, so we were familiar with the
format. Perry and Wendy Burton, head of the Stall, worked out the
displays while the rest of us did as we were told. I have to admit I
love opening the new boxes of merchandise. Seeing what Perry and his
suppliers have thought up for the members is always a bit exciting, I
know I should get out a bit more shouldn’t I! I first noticed the
candles, standing about 6″ tall with a thick girth coloured in the
Trotter yellow. Umbrellas were the next item I saw. These commemorated
the 20 years of Fools. We had more of the ‘Trotters pre-blessed wine’,
but this year we also had bottles of ‘Peckham Spring’ not with its
glowing charm though. A particular favourite of mine was the tea-pots.
These were ones you could actually make a cup of tea with. A larger
array of t-shirts than normal, it was one of my important duties to sort
these out into piles according to size. What a pain.
As has been mentioned this was our best turn out to date. The queues
started to form very early. As the doors opened the crowd headed, like
well trained soldiers, to the merchandise stall. There was a heaving
throng around the stall within seconds, everyone jostling for positions.
Rightly so, as you never knew what was going to sell. Perry, for the
first year was not on the stall, strolled up and down the car park
outside waiting for our guests. Sid was coming on his own while Roger
and Paul were being driven by one of the helpers. They were late! Time
is precious at our shows. We want the fans to see the actors for as much
time as possible. Looking at his watch Perry paced anxiously seeing this
time being eaten away. You could tell he was worried that our driver was
late; you really can’t get the staff these days. However he was mildly
distracted by the film crew who were filming in the car park. The female
presenter was introducing her piece from within one of the three
wheelers that were there. Lucky it wasn’t live as she just couldn’t get
her lines right. As she was about to start her 19th attempt at getting
her lines right a car turned the corner carrying our late arrivals Roger
and Paul. Perry duly welcomed them, and then ushered them to the “green
room”. We spoke to the two stars for a short time. Paul came across very
well. Relaxed, amiable and up for a laugh. It struck me by the end of
the day that he was one of the very few actors from the show who could
be a likened to the character he played. This, I can only say, is a
compliment. Roger consequently is nothing like Trigger. From the time we
have spent with him you can tell he is very well read and intelligent.
It would be a funny scene, if it were possible, to see Trigger and Roger
have a conversation. Roy arrived not long after the other two. He in
many ways reminds us of Ken, very approachable and always ready to lend
a hand when at all possible. The three chatted for a while and had a
drink.
started to form very early. As the doors opened the crowd headed, like
well trained soldiers, to the merchandise stall. There was a heaving
throng around the stall within seconds, everyone jostling for positions.
Rightly so, as you never knew what was going to sell. Perry, for the
first year was not on the stall, strolled up and down the car park
outside waiting for our guests. Sid was coming on his own while Roger
and Paul were being driven by one of the helpers. They were late! Time
is precious at our shows. We want the fans to see the actors for as much
time as possible. Looking at his watch Perry paced anxiously seeing this
time being eaten away. You could tell he was worried that our driver was
late; you really can’t get the staff these days. However he was mildly
distracted by the film crew who were filming in the car park. The female
presenter was introducing her piece from within one of the three
wheelers that were there. Lucky it wasn’t live as she just couldn’t get
her lines right. As she was about to start her 19th attempt at getting
her lines right a car turned the corner carrying our late arrivals Roger
and Paul. Perry duly welcomed them, and then ushered them to the “green
room”. We spoke to the two stars for a short time. Paul came across very
well. Relaxed, amiable and up for a laugh. It struck me by the end of
the day that he was one of the very few actors from the show who could
be a likened to the character he played. This, I can only say, is a
compliment. Roger consequently is nothing like Trigger. From the time we
have spent with him you can tell he is very well read and intelligent.
It would be a funny scene, if it were possible, to see Trigger and Roger
have a conversation. Roy arrived not long after the other two. He in
many ways reminds us of Ken, very approachable and always ready to lend
a hand when at all possible. The three chatted for a while and had a
drink.
The hall was full and the people were ready to meet the stars. Keith, as usual, held court while waiting for the three to make their entrance, another great job done throughout the day by our vice-president. He first introduced Roy. The fans cheered and the cameras flashed. Roy told us a little about the up and coming show at Christmas. We learned that it would be he who would be taking over from Ken as the landlord of the Nags Head. He told the crowd how proud he was to take the role and that he would play the part as his tribute to Ken. Sid was a lifelong friendof Ken and said of the good times they had, had throughout the years. After a little more banter and questions from the floor he made way for Paul Barber. As Paul took to the stage you could see his expression change. He was obviously shocked by the size of the crowd. This was made more obvious when he swore over the microphone in disbelief. Keith reminded him that children were present so Paul replied ‘oh effing hell then’. As Roy before him Paul gave tribute to Ken. He said that everyone used to call him the mole, as he was the only actor who knew what was going on. While speaking to Keith a member of the crowd shouted out to Paul ‘how’s your decease?’ Paul laughed and duly replied ‘I have not
got a decease, its an ear infection’. A funny interview between Keith and Paul ensued before Mr Barber took his leave. Roger was next up. Like Paul this was his first Convention, he had been to the Birmingham show, but this was a totally different event. We were a little tense that this might not be his sort of thing. There was no need to worry; he seemed to enjoy his time on stage even when one of the audience shouted out predictably ‘Alright Dave!’ A plug for the video here, it is well worth seeing all these interviews on screen. Rogers one, like the rest was very entertaining. You will also see some behind the scenes shots, the boys getting ready and the banter between them, also the video tribute to Ken and the piece by the independent TV company shown later on a Cable TV, you will not see this unique material anywhere else it’s a genuine coup for any Fools fan. Roger was finally joined on stage by the other two for a photo call. They left the stage to rapturous applause.
It was now time to reflect. Keith and Perry had made a video tribute to Ken for us all to watch. The lights were lowered as the song ‘nobody does it better’ sung by Carly Simon began to play. We watched highlights of Ken’s TV life mainly from Fools and some footage from previous
Conventions. As the song faded Kens voice became audible over the speakers. He was telling one of his many jokes. It was when he was with us at the opening of the Nags Head in Peckham. I feel this is how he would want to be remembered, as the man who always made us laugh. The inevitable queue had formed. With the size of crowd this year it was obviously long. As always everyone was patient and the actors done a terrific job. We made a limitation of how many autographs you could ask for. This was to help speed things up and most people seemed appreciative of this new initiative. In future we will reorganise the structure of how members get their autographs. So that was it, another year and we like to think another success. Weare already looking at new ways to entertain you next year, and would like to hear your suggestions on how to achieve this. Hope you all enjoyed the new show at Christmas, indeed from all us here at Trotter Towers have a great new year all round.
Conventions. As the song faded Kens voice became audible over the speakers. He was telling one of his many jokes. It was when he was with us at the opening of the Nags Head in Peckham. I feel this is how he would want to be remembered, as the man who always made us laugh. The inevitable queue had formed. With the size of crowd this year it was obviously long. As always everyone was patient and the actors done a terrific job. We made a limitation of how many autographs you could ask for. This was to help speed things up and most people seemed appreciative of this new initiative. In future we will reorganise the structure of how members get their autographs. So that was it, another year and we like to think another success. Weare already looking at new ways to entertain you next year, and would like to hear your suggestions on how to achieve this. Hope you all enjoyed the new show at Christmas, indeed from all us here at Trotter Towers have a great new year all round.
Peter Burton.
