When I finally returned to our table at the back of the room, I saw that Robert Addie had joined us. I also discovered that my pint of Strongbow had generated some speculation as to its owner. Robert seemed intent on claiming it for himself. I would have given it to him willingly if I hadn’t already taken a sip from it. I said as much and told him that he probably wouldn’t want it. His eyes still remained fixed on the pint and he seemed determined. That's when Kirsty piped up, “She’s from Toronto. You really don’t want that pint.” Then, to illustrate her point, she started coughing. A second or two later, all the ladies had joined in. That was when Robert looked me straight in the eye and jokingly said, “Stay away from me.”
Fortunately, before Sar, Patti and I were forced to wear bells around our necks and cast from the hall as SARS lepers, Kirsty managed to distract Robert with his card from the Pinkie Club. I think the card might have scared him even more than my pint of Strongbow, but he seemed amused all the same and thanked us.
While we were waiting for the auction to begin, Robert began taking pictures of all the people at our table, saying that he was getting his own back. He then told us proudly about how he himself managed to get an autograph from Michael Praed. Robert’s friend and business partner had asked Robert to get a picture autographed for him, so Robert brought one along. Then, during the autograph session, Robert jumped the queue (which probably wasn’t difficult as he was sitting at the same table as Michael) and sat down. Michael looked up and Robert said, “Oh, Mr. Praed, may I please have your autograph?”
Oh, Mr. Praed, may I please have your autograph? *
I remember wishing at the time that someone had taken a picture of the precious moment. Well, somebody did! A friend (who wishes to remain anonymous) gave me permission to use it in this report after some concern about something else she managed to catch on film. However, thanks to the wonders of computer technology, she was able to edit out that portion of the photo. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, take a look at the picture. A very close look. *g*
Luckily, Phil Rose didn’t get a hold of Nigel Bell’s baby during the auction because I wouldn’t put it past him to auction it off. He attempted to auction off Michael Praed’s cigarette butt. He also made a further plea for £ 7 million for his film project and got Robert’s attention when he joked that Fury (who, sadly, has passed away) had probably been turned into dogfood. Robert’s response was: “Hey, that’s my horse you’re talking about!”
I personally think that Phil’s crowning moment involved a sneaky little auction trick he came up with. He asked who would be willing to pay £10 to take a picture of something they’d never seen before. He insisted that at least five people with cameras come up. Then he put on his glasses and said, “Here’s something you’ve never seen before: Friar Tuck wearing spectacles.”
The first patsy – er – person in line was dressed in what looked like a flight suit. In fact, I think that most of the people at his table were wearing costumes. Heather was dressed up as Sally Bowles from Cabaret, with a black wig, bowler hat, and everything. Anyway, Phil Rose asked the Fly Boy if he was still willing to pay £10 for the picture, adding that if he didn’t he’d probably be booed at by everyone else in the room. For some reason, Fly Boy and the other four suckers – er – people forked out the dough.
My £ 5 picture of Robert Addie
When Robert stepped up to the auctioneer’s plate, he said that Phil’s trick was a good one, but that he’d only charge £5 for the same thing as he was cheaper than Phil and always had been. Phil had only made it about halfway across the room and turned to stare at Robert in astonishment. Undeterred, Robert asked if anyone with a camera would be willing to pay £5 for a picture of him wearing spectacles. Kirsty immediately leapt up and bounded (literally) to the front of the hall. As soon as Robert saw who it was, he said, “Oh, my God! She’s the head of my fanclub!”
When no one else came up, Robert said, “Oh, come on!” and Kirsty joined in the pleading and cajoling until three other people rose from their chairs. Although math was always my worst subject, I couldn’t help noticing that they still needed a fifth person, so I checked my wallet, saw that I had a fiver, said, “What the heck?” and joined the group. I’m sure my decision had nothing to do with that pint of Strongbow I had been drinking, though it did seem to steady my nerves. Otherwise, I might have suffered from a crisis of confidence when I caught sight of the very sophisticated camera, complete with telephoto lens, belonging to the person in front of me. Robert exclaimed, “That’s a very scary looking camera!” I think he might have actually been relieved when he saw how unsophisticated my camera was in comparison.
Robert managed to auction off a number of items, including some copies of RoS scripts. There was even a script that had belonged to Judi Trott, which she had signed. The Silver Arrow 2003 banner that had been hanging in the hall during the convention (and signed by all the guests) was auctioned off for £110. However, Robert really had his work cut out for him when he tried to flog a copy of Bye, Bye, Baby, with Jason Connery and Brigette Neilson, though his sales pitch might have had something to do with it. When he read the back of the video, he said, “Starring Brigette Neilson. Oh, that’s always a promising start.”
After the auction, the final Silver Arrow convention drew to a close. The Silver Arrow committee thanked us for our attendance and support, and we were consoled by the news that a new group had decided to take up the reins and were planning a new convention – Legend 2004. Then, as if to demonstrate this passing of the torch, Dan Rendell (as Loxley) held out his bow in front of him. A number of people guessed what Dan was going to do and immediately gasped or let out disappointed cries of “AAAAAHHHHH!” and “NO!” But there was nothing any of us could do to stop it. Dan took the bow and broke it across his knee just as Loxley did during his final moments in “The Greatest Enemy”. More gasps followed and there were people who probably sat with tears in their eyes. I, uh, kind of got a little teary-eyed myself, but I’m sure that was just the Strongbow talking.
Once the room had recovered from its shock, there was a loud burst of applause, and the Silver Arrow 2003 committee took their bows. I’m not sure if it was the emotion-charged room or my Strongbow, but after the closing ceremony I needed to go in search of the loo. I stepped out of one of the back doors and immediately froze. Kirsty was sitting hunched forward in a chair, crying.
I immediately joined the concerned little entourage of friends who had gathered around her and asked what was wrong. Kirsty looked up at me with red eyes and attempted to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “It was all just too much,” she said, and I assumed for a split second that she was experiencing some huge surge of grief for the passing of the Silver Arrow convention. “All those people sitting there with tears in their eyes, saying, “AAAAAHHHHH!” she continued. Then she burst into fresh…gales of laughter. The tears we had seen had been ones of laughter. When I thought about what she had said, I couldn’t help it: I started laughing hysterically too.
Taking a picture before Robert arrives From left to right: Alys, Rina, Ange, Fiona, Kathye, Patti, Kirsty, Shell, Sar and Anita
Once Kirsty managed to recover and could, in fact, stand up again, she began to herd her friends together for a group photo with Robert. We managed to gather everyone but Robert, who was still in the banquet hall. We decided to take some group shots without him. Then we just talked and waited, until Kirsty couldn’t wait any longer. She walked to the back door of the banquet hall and stood there, hands on hips, glaring at Robert. He eventually managed to break away and join us. The fact that he was facing the wrath of Kirsty might have been a strong incentive.
When we were all in position, Peter, con committee member and custodian of the Silver Arrow Lion, was kind enough to take pictures for us…with about ten different cameras! Then he asked Robert if he could have a picture of him. As Peter had been patient enough to take so may pictures for us, I felt the least I could do was offer to take a picture of both of them.
As I feared, the night had to come to an end. Sar, Kathye, Ange and I were leaving bright and early the next morning to catch a train to Nottingham. We knew we needed to bid our fond farewells if we were going to get some sleep that night. So we had a hugfest and slowly disentangled ourselves from our friends.
I had managed to survive my second con experience and it was a good one.
* Photo donated by a friend who wishes to remain anonymous
