Fanderson raises money for Alzheimer’s Society

Posted on 20th October 2012 by 1266 Nick Williams

On Saturday 13th October 2012 hundreds of people, including several Fanderson members, joined Jamie Anderson and Matt Zimmerman on the Memory Walk in Windsor to raise thousands of pounds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Gerry Anderson was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease 18 months ago and this summer publicised his support for the Society by encouraging people to take part in a Memory Walk near them. Unfortunately, although he was looking forward to taking part in the walk himself, on the day Gerry wasn’t well enough. Those who made it along, however, were treated to Matt Zimmerman’s Thunderbirds-style countdown that opened the walk.

Matt then made his way round the course with his fellow supporters, including Fanderson members Stephen Billings, Stephen Brown, Geoffrey Ellis, Duncan Moss, Lynn Simpson, Glo Thorogood (with Virgil Tracy, of course!) and Nick Williams. Having raised much needed funds for the Alzheimer’s Society by walking the 10km course round Dorney Lake, Windsor, many decided to forge on with an extra mile in order to get an additional £5 donation from Bupa per person to the Society.

We know that many members still want to help this very worthy cause, and you can do so by donating at Jamie Anderson’s Just Giving page

Thunderbirds back on Vinyl for Record Store Day

Posted on 13th October 2012 by 1266 Nick Williams

A stunning series of five Gerry Anderson soundtrack EPs is being released by Silva Screen Records and Little Amber Fish to mark Record Store Day 2013 – the international music celebration. The recordings have been carefully restored and edited from Barry Gray’s own archives courtesy of The Barry Gray Estate and ITV Global Entertainment.

The EPs will be released regularly from now until Record Store Day on April 20th 2013, and fans will be able to send off to Silva Screen for a special stand to keep the set in!

Each EP is to be released in coloured vinyl as a numbered, limited edition of 700 copies. 200 copies of each will be kept back and sold as a complete set in May 2013 at a premium price, which means that collecting them piecemeal is certainly the way to go!

The first release will focus on Thunderbirds (in blue vinyl), to be followed by Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and Space 1999. The final EP will be released on Record Store Day itself and will comprise a special flexi-disc poster package – content yet to be revealed!

Fans can order the EPs online from 15th October at www.silvascreen.com or by emailing info@silvascreen.co.uk, as well as from independent record stores throughout the UK.

Find your nearest participating store

The full release schedule:

Thunderbirds (7″ EP, numbered blue vinyl) – 15/10/2012
Captain Scarlet (7″ EP, numbered red vinyl) – 19/11/2012
Joe 90 (7″ EP, numbered yellow vinyl) – 21/01/2013
Space:1999 (7″ EP, numbered purple vinyl) – 25/02/2013
RSD 2013 secret release (flexi-disc and poster pack (TBA)) – 20/04/2013

Captain Black takes over RAF Museum Cosford

Posted on 8th October 2012 by 1266 Nick Williams

Over the weekend of 24th – 25th November the RAF Museum in Cosford will be hosting an amazing exhibition of rare puppets and memorabilia from the worlds of Gerry Anderson. For many fans a number of rarely seen puppets – including the original Captain Black – will be the star attractions of the weekend. For others, it will be the appearance of special guests David Graham, Shane Rimmer and Matt Zimmerman. For others it will be a chance to catch up and have a friendly chat with members of the Fanderson Committee!

The event will feature puppets from Thunderbirds, Joe 90, Fireball XL5 and Captain Scarlet, as well as a fascinating range of models, costumes, full-sized vehicles and sets from the classic live action shows Space 1999 and UFO.

The exhibition will be a first for the RAF Museum Cosford and will be taking place in the National Cold War Exhibition alongside a backdrop of aircraft which inspired the look and design of the shows. There will also be a number of trade stands with associated merchandise.

Admission to the display is free and will be open from 10.00 to 16.30.

Shane Rimmer, David Graham and Matt Zimmerman will be attending on the Saturday and will be interviewed in the morning in the museum’s atmospheric bunker-style lecture theatre before participating in a question and answer session in the afternoon. Tickets for both sessions are now on general sale priced £15.00, and include a parking pass and a signed photo of the Thunderbirds puppets at Cosford.

Fanderson will be manning a table at the event and will have a range of merchandise available for members to buy. If you are planning to attend please feel free to stop by and say hello!

Read about the event on the RAF Museum website