The next morning we met in the Kiln Restaurant for breakfast. I was really excited about the morning’s guest panel and, of course, the dealers tables. Gary warned me that I should go early before certain items sold out...I’m afraid I took his advice too well!
With my official Silver Arrow 2000 t-shirt, pictures and fanzines, I spent way too much money! However, where else could I have found so much RoS merchandise at once, hmm?
Fortunately, the opening ceremony soon began and I was able to put my wallet away. The lights went down and, with some spectacular effects, a figure with antlers (Kelvin Jones) appeared! Then both of his sons gathered beside him (Dan Rendell as Loxley and Gary Rhodes as Huntington). When the lights came on again, Janet Reedman delivered a short speech and introduced us to the morning’s guest panel, Robert Addie and Terry Walsh.
Photo taken with Robert Addie and Terry Walsh after the morning guest panel
They walked up to the table and stared at the large plush lion sitting there. Despite its royal robe and crown, Terry punched it and sent it flying to the ground, an act that met with great approval.
Unclean! Unclean!
LEPERS!!!
The morning panel was very entertaining. Robert admitted that he was terrified when he first met Terry Walsh on the set of Smuggler because he had to demonstrate his skill with a sword. Terry said that Robert was pretty good even then, but that he wasn’t always so fortunate with actors. He recalled working with one actor who was very reckless and had to be kept away from the swords!
Robert managed to provide some unintentional humour (I assume!) whenever he poured out a glass of water because the sound was picked up by the microphone and it sounded like a Pepsi commercial! He seemed to pull this trick whenever Terry was talking...However, he made up for it by revealing a big secret. Apparently Fury (Gisburne’s horse) sometimes tried to bite the horsemaster, Stephen Dent, when he walked past him!
After the guest panel, author Steve Wilson gave a really interesting lecture about Robin of Sherwood and other cult hits and what makes them successful. I have to admit that I returned to the dealers tables during part of his lecture because they were much less crowded...I was picking up some gifts for friends - HONEST!
Robert Addie and Terry Walsh returned for an autograph and photo session after Steve Wilson’s talk. Robert signed the back of my Gisburne photo and both he and Terry signed my souvenir programme. Robert wished me a “Happy Millennium” and Terry wrote “Hi, Claire!”
During the autograph and photo session, some lepers managed to sneak into the hall. With their bells ringing wildly, they went “creeping about”. They only left after Robert shooed them away and Kathye placed 5 p in one of their rotting palms. *g*
