The Secret Service

Three great offers, as an alternative to the World Cup!

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Three great offers, as an alternative to the World Cup!

In 1966, Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick at the World Cup Final to secure England’s victory over West Germany to lift the Jules Rimet trophy. Sixty years later and it’s World Cup fever again. Mindful that not everyone is a football fan we’ve put our thinking caps on to supply our own hat trick of super sales offers.

OFFER 1 – As an alternative to the football, order the two Supermarionation Super Space Theater titles Thunderbirds In Outer Space and Thunderbirds To The Rescue and get the FAB Challenge game absolutely free.

OFFER 2 – If you want more in the way of live action (and we don’t mean football highlights) then order the Space:1999 Super Space Theater titles Alien Attack and Destination Moonbase Alpha and get two extra free items, the Tony Anholt: This Charming Man audio interview CD and a set of the Doppelgänger picture cards.

OFFER 3 – Maybe you just want to relax with a cup of tea and your favourite biscuit whilst thumbing through some of our exclusive printed material? Order the Thunderbirds Are Go lobby cards set along with the ITC Brochures pack and we’ll throw in (football pun not intended) three FAB Books absolutely free – Playing Cards, Dinky Toys and Jigsaw Puzzles.

These special offers will continue until… well… back in 1966, BBC Commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme, just before Hurst’s third goal, declared (using our own artistic licence) ‘Some Fanderson Members are about to miss out- they think it’s all over, it is now!’

The offer will expire at midnight on Cup final day, 19th July 2026 (or whilst stocks last).

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

  • This offer is for Fanderson members only.
  • Members must buy the items detailed in each offer in the same transaction.
  • Members can take advantage of more than one offer in the same transaction.
  • There is no need to add the free items to your basket. We will add them when we are packaging up your order.
  • This is an online-only offer. It cannot be redeemed via the post.
  • Offer ends 19th July 2026

54321FAB! The Future Was Fantastic!

Posted on by Parker

Thunderbirds and friends are coming to Worcester this summer

  • 54321FAB! arrives at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on 4th July and runs until until 6th September 2026
  • Exhibition includes original puppets, studio models, art and memorabilia
  • Includes family Action Station for hands-on fun
  • Free entry

54321 FAB! is an incredible display of original puppets, studio models, art and memorabilia from the much-loved 1960s TV shows of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.  The exhibition arrives at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on 4th July and runs until 6 September 2026.

Visitors will revisit their childhood favourites including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons, Joe 90, Stingrayand more, and will have an unprecedented opportunity to see screen-used original puppets from the shows.

Original puppets including Lady Penelope and Joe McClaine will be on display, having been painstakingly restored to their original condition as filmed in the 1960s. Other characters which no longer exist in their original form, such as the heroic International Rescue pilots, have been rebuilt from original moulds and materials to create new working replica puppets. The exhibition also features models of iconic vehicles such as Fireball XL5, Stingray and the Thunderbird craft.

Original comic and production design art will also be in the exhibition, whilst a huge collection of 1960s toys and memorabilia will be on show to take visitors on a FAB trip down memory lane.

Families can enjoy hands-on fun together at the WASP – Worcester Aquanaut Severn Patrol action station where they can create their own puppet show and dress up as characters from the TV shows.

A FAB programme of events celebrating the exhibition can also be enjoyed at the Art Gallery & Museum throughout the summer, including spotlight talks by Graham Bleathman, one of the country’s leading illustrators well known for his work on Gerry Anderson’s TV series including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray, and Marc Silk, 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. Plus the popular Museum After Hours events return with a FAB theme.

Museums Worcestershire Senior Curator Deborah Fox comments: “We pride ourselves in providing top, family fun for the summer holidays and this year is a true classic where visitors can relive their childhood through Thunderbirds and friends, and share their memories with their families. We might even inspire some new fans!”

The exhibition has been made possible with the support of Fanderson, The Official Gerry And Sylvia Anderson Appreciation Society.

Check out www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk and our social media channels for up-to-date news and information on the exhibition and a fun FAB-themed programme of events and activities.

This year’s Worcester Show is also following the 60s theme, so prepare for a day of family fun, entertainment, food and community competitions when the Worcester Show is back at Pitchcroft on Sunday 9 August. Find out more at www.worcestershow.org.uk.

 

Thursday 2 July, 11am photo / interview opportunity, Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum

There will be a photo opportunity with Captain Scarlet (Chris Daniels). There will be an interview opportunity with Marc Silk, 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. Please confirm your attendance with Helen.Large@worcester.gov.uk

 

Exhibition Details:
54321FAB!

Saturday 4th July – Saturday 6th September 2026 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, Foregate Street, Worcester, WR1 1DT (www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk). Free entry to the exhibition, donations welcome

  • Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm,
  • Sunday 10am – 3pm

FAB events and activities:

Talks and Events

Family Fun!

 

Some images from 2024’s 54321 FAB! The Art Of Supermarionation exhibition:

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.

Fantastic free exhibition this summer!

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Fantastic free exhibition this summer!

Building on the huge success of the 2024 exhibition 54321 FAB! The Art of Supermarionation in Lichfield, Chris King is assembling an expanded version of the display in Worcester this summer.

Retitled 54321 FAB! The Future Was Fantastic!, this new iteration will introduce fresh exhibits, including an impressive collection of original puppets, studio models, artwork and memorabilia from across the Worlds of Supermarionation and beyond.

54321 FAB! runs at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum from Saturday 4th July to Sunday 6th September 2026. Visitors can explore the exhibition Tuesday to Saturday from 10am–4pm, and Sundays from 10am–3pm, with last entry one hour before closing. Entry is free, making it an ideal summer outing for fans of all ages.

Fanderson is proud to confirm that the club is sponsoring the exhibition in partnership with Chris King, helping to bring this remarkable celebration of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson to a wider audience.

Recognition for Honorary Members at Project Ford

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Puppeteer, sculptor and director Mary Turner and actor, voice artist and writer Keith Alexander were recognised for their contributions to the Anderson productions, and to Fanderson, by becoming Honorary Members of the world’s only official Gerry and Sylvia Anderson appreciation society.

Mary and Keith were presented with certificates at the Project Ford event on 31st October 2025 and will receive free membership of the club.

Get ready Canada – your FAB Annuals will soon be on their way!

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We’re getting FAB Annual 2025 ready to mail to club members in Canada

Fanderson members in Canada will be aware that we chose not to mail their FAB Annuals in December along with everyone else, due to the effects of the postal strike there. Although the strike was resolved a while ago, we were advised to wait until the huge backlog of post had been cleared and services were back to normal. Canada Post suggested that we should steer clear of January, so we’ll start mailing again to Canada in the next few days, and catch up with FAB Annuals to those who are owed them as part of their club membership.

FAB Annual 2025 on its way in time for Christmas, for most club members

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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!

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.

Property Master Peter Holmes’ auction on 30th May

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Century 21 Property Master Peter Holmes has decided to sell some of his collection from working on the latter Supermarionation series.

The items will be auctioned by Ewbanks as part of their Entertainment & Memorabilia Auction on 30th May 2024.

Peter’s lots are 5215 to 5236, but check the entire auction catalogue and you’ll also see this Sky One harness buckle and a selection of the sublime Arnold Putzu’s Look-in cover artwork too.

[UK] All Fireball XL5 episodes and Century 21 Slough now on ITVX

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Although most episodes of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s productions have been available for some time on ITVX, free of charge, inexplicably only two episodes of 1962’s Fireball XL5 have been included. Now that’s been remedied, with all 39 episodes available from today on the streaming service.

Also added to ITVX today is the Century 21 Slough documentary:

On the eve of demolition, the former film studios where Stingray, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons and Thunderbirds were launched are brought to life one last time. Join original AP Films team members as they say goodbye to the buildings, sharing memories as they tour recreated sets, models, and puppets alongside studio originals.

ITVX is free to view, with most of the Anderson content available ad-free too. There’s a free seven-day trial of the subscription Premium service (normally £5.99 a month/£59.99 a year) which offers even more content, ad-free, from the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Studio Canal.