Setting out at 6:45am, my friend Neil, myself and my daughter Chloe headed out to Earl’s Court in London for the last day of the 2013 London Film and Comic Con, where we would meet some old friends and make some new ones.
It was from the start a very warm and sunny day, so we dressed casually, me in a science blue Trek tee, Neil in a black Trek tee and Chloe in an Angry Birds Darth Vader tee. (I’m trying to convert her from Wars to Trek but it aint happening).
We didn’t have to queue long before we entered the exhibition hall where we were immediately greeted by Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters, one of the things my daughter was looking forward too.
There was plenty to see: Gremlins, Aliens, Predators, a bunch of Stormtroopers and even a Jabba The Hutt was worming his way around. There of course, some people dressed as Starfleet Officers looking forward to meeting some of a huge selection of DS9 actors, but people in costume were a bit thin on the ground. At this event at least, Star Wars ruled the weekend in terms of cosplaying.
Hot on the list of most people was a rare apperance of Alexander Siddig, Dr Julien Bashir. Neil had an autograph booked and had a really cool posed photo after, which Alexander had no hesitation in taking, along with plenty of other people I know who also had the opportunity to meet him. Along with the ever awesome Avery Brooks, Alexander was a joy to meet, as was Armin Shimmerman, Max Grodenchik, Aron Eisenberg. Nana Visitor, Barry Jenner and Rene Auberjonois.
Barry Jenner, Admiral William Ross, even promoted a Starfleet Officer as he was doing a signing, i’m sure a very memorable moment for the individual involved.
One of the things I just had to do was to have a photo with K.I.T.T. from the awesome 80’s series Knight Rider, and the Hoff was also present at the con and what a cool dude he really is. A very nice guy who spent as much time as he wanted talking to people, a breathe of fresh air where so many treat you, or should I say the organisers, treat you like cattle.
One unexpected encounter both Neil and I shared was a meeting with Richard Arnold, Star Trek expert and one time assistant to the one and only Gene Roddenberry. He was sat at a stall selling trading cards when we wondered past, when a card caught the eye. It was then we realised who we were dealing with and Richard kindly allowed us to ask questions about pretty much anything, and his knowledge is extradorniary. We were sat with him for well over an hour and we learned some interesting facts about certain things that are contrary to popular belief, something I will have to explain deeper in a later post.
After speaking with Richard we exchanged business cards, which we had autographed, and we both had a cheeky photo taken as well, a brilliant find to top off an awesome day.
If you attended this event, have a story, or would like to share your photo’s please email me and I will add your content. startrek@gmx.co.uk
Here are the photo’s: