Fanderson

FAB Annual 2025 on it’s way in time for Christmas, for most club members

Posted on by Parker

Finally! We can confirm that FAB Annual 2025 has been mailed to Fanderson members today!

Hopefully, this will give enough time for the majority of members to find their annual under the tree this Christmas – certainly those in the UK should and maybe those in parts of Europe too. Unfortunately, due to ongoing industrial action in Canada we’ve been advised not to mail to members there, but we’ll keep your FAB Annuals safe and post them as soon as the action is over and the backlog of mail has cleared.

Together with FAB Express 108, mailed recently, our winter mailing is complete and we can get on with welcoming all the new club members who have been waiting patiently for their membership packages!

Cor blimey, mi’lady, what a whopper!

Posted on by 1266 Nick Williams

Over the last 12 months Fanderson members have helped to raise an amazing £6978.81 for Actors’ Benevolent Fund, from activities including 2023 advent calendar, Summer Solstice Spectacular and special items available for a donation to the charity.

Parker’s on his way now to ABF with a whopper of a cheque!

Alison Wyman, CEO of Actors’ Benevolent Fund, says:

“A huge THANK YOU from the Actors’ Benevolent Fund (ABF) to all Fanderson members who have kindly donated to support the work of the ABF. The trustees of the ABF are very grateful for your support which will enable us to help more actors and stage managers in need.

We know these are challenging times for the performing arts profession, with fewer opportunities for actors and stage managers. This has created significant financial pressures as well as challenges with mental health and wellbeing.

In 2024 we launched a new strategy for the future ‘Acting for Impact, which has the aim of helping more people in more ways to achieve meaningful and sustainable change. So far we have developed new types of grant support and also launched wellbeing workshops and webinars. This year we are on track to directly help more people than last year, and we aim to help even more people next year!

The support from Fanderson members will help us to achieve that, and so from us to you a great big THANK YOU!”

Fanderson has a great reputation for supporting worthwhile causes, and over the club’s 43 years members have raised in excess of £60,000 for the likes of Alzheimers Society, Baby Lifeline, Children In Need, Diabetes UK, The Film And TV Charity, Hearing Dogs For Deaf People, Macmillan Cancer Support, Orchid, Silverline, Terrence Higgins Trust, Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal and many more.

Our 2023/4 fundraising is in aid of Demelza. Our first fundraising even for them is our 2024 Advent Calendar with offers right up to Christmas Eve, and many then running until 31st December.

Special thanks to Chris King for the cheque presentation.

Fanderson 2024 advent calendar – DAY TWELVE

Posted on by Parker

CHARITY AUCTION – FAB1 CONVENTION BROCHURE!

We’re auctioning a FAB1 convention brochure, included in delegate packages at our 1992 convention.

You can place a bid by completing this short form. Auction proceeds will go to our 2025 charity – Demelza.

CURRENT HIGHEST BID – £10

Auction closes at midnight, 31st December 2024.

COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER GREAT OFFER!

See all of our Charity Fundraising items, sales of which are also helping Demelza.

Advent Calendar terms and conditions apply, in addition to Fanderson’s standing Terms and Conditions.

Please note our last order days for Christmas, and see the various additional postage options available with merchandise orders.

Fanderson 2024 advent calendar – DAY FIVE

Posted on by Parker

CHARITY AUCTION – TRACY ISLAND NEWS, ISSUE 3!

Today, we’re auctioning a copy of Tracy Island News issue 3. We started Fanderson Junior in the mid-1990s to cater for the burgeoning young audience created by the BBC broadcasts of Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90. TIN was Junior members’ equivalent to FAB magazine and provided as part of their membership package.

You can place a bid by completing this short form. Auction proceeds will go to our 2025 charity – Demelza.

CURRENT HIGHEST BID – £10

Auction closes at midnight, 31st December 2024.

COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER GREAT OFFER!

See all of our Charity Fundraising items, sales of which are also helping Demelza.

Advent Calendar terms and conditions apply, in addition to Fanderson’s standing Terms and Conditions.

Please note our last order days for Christmas, and see the various additional postage options available with merchandise orders.

Fanderson 2025 advent calendar – DAY ONE

Posted on by Parker

CHARITY AUCTION – FANDERSON ‘PARKER’ MUG!

We’re starting our 2025 advent calendar by auctioning a much sought-after item all the way from the late 1980s – a brand-new ‘Parker’ mug that was originally sent to Fanderson members as part of their membership package.

You can place a bid by completing this short form. Auction proceeds will go to our 2025 charity – Demelza.

CURRENT HIGHEST BID – £10

Auction closes at midnight, 31st December 2024.

COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER GREAT OFFER!

See all of our Charity Fundraising items, sales of which are also helping Demelza.

Advent Calendar terms and conditions apply, in addition to Fanderson’s standing Terms and Conditions.

Please note our last order days for Christmas, and see the various additional postage options available with merchandise orders.

Could you be the next Fanderson chairman?

Posted on by Parker

Since the current Fanderson Constitution was adopted in 2009, the role of chairman has been limited to a term of not more than five years.

2025 will be time for you to elect your chairman for the next five years, so we are currently welcoming nominations for the role, to be voted on by club members early in the new year. We look forward to hearing from anyone who believes that they can effectively undertake the role, and bring new ideas to the table.

Members of at least two year’s good standing can be proposed by another member, in writing to the Club Secretary at fanderson.org.uk@outlook.com or 99 Caton Crescent, Milton, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 8XH, United Kingdom. Nomination proposals should include:

  • both nominator and nominee membership details
  • details from the nominee of your experience and what makes you suitable for the role
  • how you’ll make a difference as chairman.

Proposals must be received by 24th December in order to considered.

There’s more information in the club’s Constitution, but here are some helpful extracts:

TERMINOLOGY

    1. “Member”, “club member”, “current member” or “Fanderson member” refers to those with an active Fanderson membership (ie, they have been sent the most recent issue of FAB magazine)
    2. “Members of good standing” refers to those Fanderson members paying subscriptions continuously for two calendar years, unless specified otherwise (therefore excludes Committee Members (except those seeking re-election), Life Members and Friends of Fanderson (who do not pay a membership subscription).

ITEM 12.3 No one person may be Chairman continuously for more than five calendar years. At such point that the Chairman resigns (or after five years’ service, whichever is the lesser):

1)  the Committee will make the resignation and application process known to the membership by all reasonable means

2)  Members may propose other members of at least two year’s good standing (including the incumbent Chairman and current committee members), in writing to the Secretary

3)  All members will be given the opportunity to vote (in person or by proxy) to elect a new Chairman at the next Annual General Meeting, in the manner determined by the Committee at that time

4)  Until such time as a new Chairman is elected, the Secretary will perform the Chairman’s duties, or the incumbent may be asked to continue to perform his/her duties at the discretion of the Committee

Order in good time for Christmas

Posted on by Parker

We know, it’s not even December yet, but for some countries we’ll need to get merchandise orders on their way as soon as possible if they’re to arrive before Christmas!

You can see Royal Mail’s full details of last posting dates here, but to allow us time to package your order up and get it in the post, here’s a summary of ‘last order’ dates that will apply to the majority of Fanderson club members:

  • 25th November – everywhere outside the United Kingdom
  • 17th December – UK (19th December if you add the optional Special Delivery payment to your order)

We’ll do our best to fulfil orders as quickly as possible, but we cannot guarantee orders will arrive by Christmas. If in any doubt, please place your orders as soon as you can. Remember, they’ll show as ‘complete’ in your online account once they’re in the post. Of course, we’ll save up any packages we haven’t been able to mail in time for Christmas and send them as soon as possible afterwards.

It’s Fanderson Day 2024!

Posted on by Parker

Today’s the day each year when Fanderson, the club and its members around the world, show their appreciation to Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson and the hundreds of technicians who brought our favourite TV shows and films to life.

Puppeteers, writers, composers, designers, musicians, model-makers, voice artists, actors, directors, hair, make-up and wardrobe and many, many more people worked as part of the amazingly talented teams that Gerry and Sylvia recruited and nurtured to bring Thunderbirds, UFO, Stingray, Doppelgänger, Joe 90, Space:1999 and so many more to the screen.

They all deserve recognition for their wonderful work which is why, every year on Fanderson Day*, we celebrate all these very special people. Join us by commenting below** or on social media, or email us at fanderson.org.uk@outlook.com, to tell everyone who (on the Anderson productions) you think is special and why.

*With so many people to recognise, celebrate and honour it’s appropriate to do it on the day Fanderson was formed by Gerry Anderson and ITC, with the explicit intention of celebrating and honouring Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s productions.

**Comments can only be left by club members, and all comments are moderated.

Location, location, location – a Hole In One

Posted on by Parker

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.

The postman’s on his way with a little something to start your summer…

Posted on by Parker

We’re delighted to report that FAB Express 107 was posted today to all Fanderson members! As well as all the Anderson news and your views, this issue takes a FlashBack to The Secret Service Hole In One, to whet everyone’s appetite before the Hole In One event in August.

Being the summer mailing, it’s also that time when we again ask you all to renew your club memberships. Mailed with FAB Express 107 is a short letter that explains how to renew your membership – ensure you do it by 1st October and you can save money with your Loyalty Discount (explained in the letter).

As long as we’ve got your renewal by 1st October you’ll be included in the winter mailing, comprising issue 108 and FAB Annual 2025. Editor Mike Jones is working hard to ensure it’s another goodie that you won’t want to miss!

UPDATE 27/7/24: Apologies to Fanderson’s Honorary Members – your mailing includes a renewal letter by mistake. Please ignore this as we’ll renew your membership automatically.