events

Spotlight Talks as part of 54321 FAB! The Future Was Fantastic!

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Join two special guests for Spotlight Talks as part of 54321 FAB! The Future Was Fantastic!

As part of their upcoming exhibition 54321 FAB! The Future Was Fantastic!, Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum has announced two Spotlight Talks with special guests.

On Saturday 18th July 2026, Graham Bleathman, one of the country’s leading illustrators, will be talking about his work featuring scenes from Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons and Stingray. Graham is best known for producing cross-section, ‘cutaway’ illustrations of spacecraft, vehicles and locations from these shows, as well as Dan Dare and Wallace & Gromit. He started illustrating for fan magazines in the 1980s, and since then has his illustrations have appeared in a number of books, magazines and comics. Graham’s other work includes historical subjects, alongside production art on animated releases of Doctor Who and Dad’s Army episodes.

A master of the technical illustration, join Graham for a fascinating insight as he talks about his experiences working on these amazing projects and his fantastic new work Worcester: 2066, specially commissioned for our summer exhibition!

Graham’s talk will be 11:00-12:00. It will be followed by a meet and greet with Graham in the exhibition, where he will be autographing, sketching and meeting fans.

On Saturdays 1st and 29th August 2026, renowned British voice actor Marc Silk will talk about his voicing numerous characters in cartoons, games and films. Marc specialises in character creation and performance across all media, bringing some of the world’s most celebrated characters and stories to life.

Marc was the voice of Global Defence Force agent Captain Wayne Rigby in Thunderbirds Are Go as well as the voice of several guest characters in the show. Best known for his roles as Aks Moe in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Bob in the US dub Bob The Builder and Nero in Danger Mouse, Marc has collaborated with a vast array of major entertainment and gaming studios over his 30-year career. These include Lucasfilm, BBC, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros.

He’ll take you on a journey through his fascinating career, with a plethora of anecdotes as we meet the voices of our comic heroes.

Marc’s talk will be 11:00-12:00. The talk will be followed by a meet and greet with Marc in the exhibition, where he will be signing autographs and meeting fans.

The Spotlight Talks are £10 each, though there’s free entry to the exhibition.

Special Fanderson Sales offer for Project Johnson attendees

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Order your Fanderson merchandise now, with postage and packing discount, to collect at Project Johnson!

With so many great guests and other things to see and experience at Project Johnson, the regular Fanderson Sales team won’t be having a table there. However, we’re delighted to offer attendees 15% off our merchandise range (roughly equivalent to the saving in postage and packing) if you order in advance.

Just select the UK option for everything you want to buy and pop it in your basket, by Saturday 16th May. Apply the coupon code ProjectJohnson before you pay and we’ll take 15% off all eligible items (see below for exceptions). The team will make up your order in advance and bring it along to the event on Sunday for you.

OFFER TERMS AND CONDITIONS (in addition to our standing Ts&Cs)

  • This offer is for attendees at Project Johnson only. Non-Fanderson members should add a UK Club Membership to their order, which will be refunded once their order is ready (as they have already paid a membership premium as part of their registration fee)
  • Members will get 15% off the UK price of the entire Fanderson Sales range (excludes products in the Club Memberships, Postage Options, Events and Soundtracks (Silva Screen) categories).
  • Apply the coupon code ProjectJohnson before you pay to get the discount.
  • This coupon code cannot be used with other codes in the same transaction.
  • Only orders placed using this coupon code will be available at Project Johnson.
  • Members must apply the coupon code themselves to get the discount. It cannot be applied after you have paid, and we cannot apply it retroactively.
  • This is an online-only offer. It cannot be redeemed via the post.
  • Offer ends 16th May 2026

Cromford Mills Comic Con 2025

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Fanderson is delighted to, once again, be able to meet fans of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s work at this year’s event at Cromford Mills on Sunday 10th August.

The event promises an intergalactic display of models, props, puppets and costumes from classic sci-fi productions of Gerry Anderson, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Blake’s 7, Star Trek, Stranger Things, Star Wars… and beyond! Fans of all ages are encouraged to dress up for our cosplay competition and explore the site showing off their creations. Don’t miss the chance to browse amazing stalls selling everything from comics and toys to replica props and clothing. There will also be photo opportunities, gaming, activities, Lego® displays, and much much more. It’s sure to be out of this world and a great day for the entire family!

Special guest including Brian Blessed (Space:1999‘s Dr Cabot Rowland and Mentor) and Hattie Hayridge (Red Dwarf).

Click here for more information and ticket booking info, as they become available.

Come along to the Fanderson table and say “hello”!

Below photos are from previous events at Cromford Mills.

Space:1999 50th anniversary celebration

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Join fans and guests to celebrate Space:1999‘s 50th anniversary in Los Angeles

Hot on the heels of their wildly successful London:1999 event in September, the team behind London:1999 have announced the 2025 event will be in Los Angeles, USA.

Los Angeles:1999 will run 12th to 14th September 2025 at The Hotel Burbank, right in the heart of Hollywood. Celebrity guests announced already include Barbara Bain, Nick Tate, Yasuko Nagazumi, Carla Romanelli, Gianni Garko and Carl Held, with many more to be added.

The schedule is still being formed, but this year’s banquet will be extra-special as it is being held on Barbara Bain’s birthday! The weekend will also feature an “exclusive global broadcast” of Breakaway – The Theatrical Cut to attendees of SpaceCon 7 in Italy. Optional day trips include Hollywood sightseeing on 11th and the Vasquez Rocks on 15th (location for many Star Trek episodes).

Click here to find out more and book your place!

 

 

Location, location, location – a Hole In One

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On the weekend of 3rd/4th August 2024, two coachloads of The Secret Service fans gathered to celebrate the series’ 55th anniversary, including a filming location tour.

During a very full Saturday we visited 16 filming locations used in The Secret Service, some never visited before, as well as several private residences to which access is not normally possible:

  • Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire gates (To Catch A Spy)
  • Dropmore House, Burnham gates (Hole In One)
  • junction of Thompkins Lane/Hawthorn Lane, Burnham Beeches (The Cure)
  • junction of East Burnham Lane/Allerds Road, East Burnham (The Cure and The Deadly Whisper)
  • Foxlea Manor, Burnham (Father Unwin’s vicarage, seen in most episodes)

  • Abbey Park Farm, Burnham (More Haste, Less Speed)
  • Saint Michael and All Angels, High Wycombe (Father Unwin’s parish church, seen in most episodes)
  • Sheepcote Manor, Wooburn Green (The Deadly Whisper)

  • Windsor End, Beaconsfield (May-Day, May-Day!)
  • Hall Barn and gates, Beaconsfield (To Catch A Spy)

  • Greensleeves, Gerrard’s Cross (The Feathered Spies)

  • junction of St Huberts Lane/Fulmer Lane, Fulmer (A Case For The Bishop and School For Spies)
  • Fulmer (A Case For The Bishop)
  • Wexham Park Hospital , Slough (School For Spies)
  • Oakley Court Hotel, Bray (More Haste, Less Speed)

Plus, amongst those we also passed en route:

  • The Ferry Inn public house, Cookham (The Saint, The Talented Husband)
  • junction of Green Lane/Curriers Lane/Park Lane/Pumpkin Hill (More Haste, Less Speed)
  • junction of Thompkins Lane/Hawthorn Lane (The Feathered Spies)
  • former site of Wingroves, Hawthorne Lane, Burnham Beeches (More Haste, Less Speed (re-developed since filming))
  • The Crown public house, East Burnham (The Avengers, Killer)
  • the Jolly Woodman public house, Burnham (Carry On Dick, Genevieve)
  • The Green, Wooburn Green (To Catch A Spy)
  • Crowne Plaza, Gerrards Cross (The Persuaders!, Nuisance Value)
  • Bulstrode Court, Gerrards Cross (The New Avengers, The Eagle’s Nest)
  • former entrance to St Hubert’s Farm (To Catch A Spy (re-developed since filming))
  • Fulmer Hall, Fulmer (The New Avengers)

Upon our return to Cookham, where the event was based, we presented a plaque to the manager of The Kings Arms, officially recognising it as the spiritual ‘birthplace’ of Parker in Thunderbirds (voice artist David Graham having been inspired by the waiter there).

 (Click image for more information)

On Sunday we relocated to our final filming location – Maidenhead Golf Club (Hole In One) which is due for imminent demolition – passing the Queen Victoria clock tower (Last Train To Bufflers Halt), Maidenhead on the way.

Throughout the weekend we enjoyed a fun quiz, a charity raffle, episodes of The Secret Service, interspersed with recorded interviews with director Alan Perry, model-maker and special effects technician Alan Shubrook, voice artist and actor Gary Files, voice artist and actor Keith Alexander, puppet supervisor Mary Turner and series’ star Stanley Unwin. Alan and Bridgitt Shubrook also joined us in person for the whole weekend, and Keith Alexander joined us live from Australia on Saturday evening. And, of course, the whole event was a great opportunity to meet and socialise with like-minded people.

Thanks to Andrew Staton, Glenn Hobster and Gary Whittaker for planning and executing such an enjoyable weekend. If any attendees have feedback on the event, please drop us a line at fanderson.org.uk@outlook.com.

Special thanks to Jenefer Farncombe, Sarah Bracken, Gem and Tanya.

Thanks to Mike Burrows for the photographs. Read Mike’s review of the event.

(Click on this image for a larger version)

We have a very limited amount of Supporter’s Packs from the event available in the Shop. The Secret Service Close Up book and Annual have more location details.

[UK] Sci-fi and fantasy at Cromford Mills Comic Con

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Fanderson is delighted to, once again, be able to meet fans of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s work at this year’s event at Cromford Mills on Sunday 13th August.

Now entitled Comic Con, the event promises an intergalactic display of models, props, puppets and costumes from classic sci-fi productions of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Blake’s 7, Star Trek, Stranger Things, Star Wars… and beyond!

Fans of all ages are encouraged to dress up for the cosplay competition and explore the site showing off their creations. There will be stalls selling everything from comics and toys to replica props and clothing. They’ll also have photo opportunities, gaming, activities, Lego displays, and much much more.

It’s sure to be out of this world and a great day for the entire family – and entry is free! Come along to the Fanderson table and say “hello”!

Below photos are from previous events at Cromford Mills.

UK: Fanderson to again sponsor Anderson On Film

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Fanderson is the proud sponsor once again of the Anderson On Film presentation as part of the Southend Film Festival, enabling fans to enjoy Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s work with other fans this summer… on film!

In this digital world it’s easy to watch programmes on your phone, to stream, or even to watch from DVD or Blu-ray Disc. This year’s Southend Film Festival gives Anderson fans a chance to have that collective experience of watching with fellow fans, thanks to the beauty that is celluloid film!

This year’s programme of Anderson goodies on 11th June 2023 – all on the big screen and all shown from 16mm film – includes:

  • Thunderbirds The Uninvited
  • Joe 90 See You Down There
  • Terrahawks Expect The Unexpected – extended version, only previously seen as part of the compilation feature presentation

The popular Southend Film Festival has been running for fourteen years in two parts – as well as the main festival, the Film Festival Fringe encourages various venues around Southend to put on film screenings. The festival’s patrons are actors Ray Winstone, Vicki Michelle and Phil Davis, and you can see more at www.southendfilmfestival.com (the website is in the process of being updated for 2023).

Fanderson is delighted to be able to support fan-organised events such as this. If you need help or support with your Anderson event, please drop us a line at fanderson.org.uk@outlook.com.

UK: Catherine Schell as star guest at London Film Fair

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Space:1999 co-star Catherine Schell has been announced as the star guest at the London Film Fair on 18th June 2023.

Established in 1973, the London Film Fair enables fans to meet the stars of their favourite classic cinema and cult television programmes. You’ll have the chance to get an autograph and have your photo taken with the guests. The London Film Fair will appeal to avid film buffs, collectors, archivists researchers and students making it a must attend event. The conventions also brings dealers from all over the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Australia and South America that specializes in vintage and modern film memorabilia. Items cover the history of cinema from the silents to the present day blockbusters.

With stalls selling stills, vintage posters, modern posters, programmes, magazines, books, DVDs, soundtracks, lobby cards, toys, autographs, videos, postcards, actors and directors signings, it’s a must for anyone with an interest in cinema and cult television!

The London Film Fair will be held on 18th June 2023 at The Royal National Hotel, 38-51 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0DG. Click here for details, including other guests.

 

41 FAB Years

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On Thursday, 20th August 1981, Gerry Anderson invited fans of his work to meet him at his office at Pinewood Studios, and together they formed Fanderson.

On Saturday, 20th August 2022, Fanderson members celebrated Gerry and Sylvia’s work, and the club itself at the 40th birthday bash (albeit one year late, due to Covid-19!).

Deliberately designed to be a social event rather than a convention, club members enjoyed music, models, puppets and lots of chat as it had been three years since they’d been able to get together (at our Supercelebration convention back in 2019). We were delighted that puppeteers Mary Turner and Judy Preece were available to celebrate with us too. It was a perfect day, weather-wise, and so we were able to enjoy the garden of the Pinewood Hotel much of the time, especially for the barbecue and cake (lots of cake!).

The event package included a birthday card, poster, badge and the first issue of our new club magazine, FAB Express.

Club secretary John Wilkinson also set a couple of quizzes for anyone with time on their hands:

  • a headlines quiz asked members to state the year for 40 Daily Mirror headlines
  • the particularly fiendish episode synopses quiz asked members to identify Anderson episodes from their TV Times listings

You can have a go now (just for fun) and the answers are below the photos.

Well done to our winners Lily Ride (31 out of 40 headlines correct) and Mark Castell (32 out of 40 episodes correct) who each win a lifetime Fanderson membership and Zavvi’s reissued Topps trading cards or vinyl EP boxset (respectively).

Well done to all who took part in the quizzes, and a big thank you to everyone who was able to attend and/or contribute to our 40 FAB Years!

Headlines quiz answers:

  1. 1987
  2. 2010
  3. 2006
  4. 1992
  5. 2011
  6. 2008
  7. 1988
  8. 1995
  9. 1998
  10. 2001
  11. 1984
  12. 2003
  13. 2007
  14. 1999
  15. 1982
  16. 1985
  17. 1994
  18. 1983
  19. 2020
  20. 1996
  21. 2009
  22. 2004
  23. 1989
  24. 1990
  25. 2017
  26. 2018
  27. 2002
  28. 1981
  29. 1991
  30. 2012
  31. 2016
  32. 2000
  33. 2005
  34. 2013
  35. 2014
  36. 2019
  37. 2015
  38. 1993
  39. 1986
  40. 1997

Episode synopses quiz answers:

  1. Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons Flight 104
  2. Thunderbirds Pit Of Peril
  3. Space:1999 The Full Circle
  4. UFO The Dalotek Affair
  5. Joe 90 Business Holiday
  6. Thunderbirds 30 Minutes After Noon
  7. Stingray The Master Plan
  8. The Protectors Petard
  9. Thunderbirds The Man From MI.5
  10. Joe 90 Hi-Jacked
  11. The Protectors Goodbye George
  12. Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons Fire At Rig 15
  13. Fireball XL5 Robert To The Rescue
  14. The Secret Service More Haste – Less Speed
  15. Supercar Keep It Cool
  16. Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons Codename Europa
  17. UFO Timelash
  18. Space:1999 A Matter Of Balance
  19. The Protectors Burning Bush
  20. Thunderbirds Martian Invasion
  21. Stingray The Big Gun
  22. Joe 90 The Fortress
  23. Space:1999 Earthbound
  24. UFO Destruction
  25. The Secret Service Recall To Service
  26. Stingray Sea Of Oil
  27. Thunderbirds End Of The Road
  28. Fireball XL5 Convict In Space
  29. UFO Flight Path
  30. Space:1999 Missing Link
  31. Thunderbirds The Cham-Cham
  32. Space:1999 Dragon’s Domain
  33. UFO Survival
  34. The Protectors A Case For The Right
  35. Thunderbirds Path Of Destruction
  36. Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons The Trap
  37. Space:1999 The Immunity Syndrome
  38. Joe 90 Relative Danger
  39. UFO The Long Sleep
  40. Thunderbirds Martian Invasion

UK: Fanderson to sponsor Anderson On Film!

Posted on by Parker

Fanderson is the proud sponsor of the Anderson On Film presentation as part of the Southend Film Festival, enabling fans to enjoy Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s work with other fans this summer… on film!

In this digital world it’s easy to watch programmes on your phone, to stream, or even to watch from DVD or Blu-ray Disc. This year’s Southend Film Festival gives Anderson fans a chance to have that collective experience of watching with fellow fans, thanks to the beauty that is celluloid film!

This year’s programme of Anderson programmes on 29th May 2022 – all on the big screen and all shown from film – includes:

  • Four Feather Falls Trouble In Yellow Gulch and Indian Attack
  • Space:1999 War Games
  • Thunderbirds Pit Of Peril

The popular Southend Film Festival has been running for thirteen years in two parts – as well as the main festival, the Film Festival Fringe encourages various venues around Southend to put on film screenings throughout May. Over 50 films were screened during last year’s festival. The festival’s patrons are actors Ray Winstone, Vicki Michelle and Phil Davis, and you can see more at www.southendfilmfestival.com

When the club announced that Supercelebration would be our last full-weekend convention we offered to help smaller events around the country to ensure fans of Gerry and Sylvia’s work could continue to get together. That help might be financial (such as seed funding to secure a venue, or advertising, or sponsorship) or it might be more practical (such as liaising with guests, or logistical help).

If you need help or support with your Anderson event, please drop us a line at fanderson.org.uk@outlook.com.