The coaxium-eating Fantha Tracks freighter dropped the coordinates into the navacomputer and headed south for this years running of Croydon Star Wars, a two-day event that saw a slew of superb guests signing at the Masonic Hall in Croydon and giving fans the opportunity to talk with some genuine legends of the Star Wars saga. Myself, my Start Your Engines co-host Paul Naylor and friend of the site Jonathan Hipkiss headed down the M40, circled London and headed in, a tad damp from the rain and the exertion of trying to find a parking space to hit the show floor on the Saturday.
Forthcoming episodes of Making Tracks will bring our chats with a number of the guests, starting with Paul Jerricho (AT-AT Driver in The Empire Strikes Back), Michael Culver (Captain Needa in The Empire Strikes Back), Michael Carter (Bib Fortuna in Return of the Jedi) and Robert Watts (producer on the original trilogy and the first three Indiana Jones films), and they were joined at the show by Julian Glover (General Veers in The Empire Strikes Back), Hugh Spight (Gamorrean Guard in Return of the Jedi), Bill Hargreaves (constructed IG-88), Dickey Beer (stunt Boba Fett), Daniel Eghan (various roles in Rogue One and Solo), Joel Adrian (Kylo Ren double) and John Street (Solo) as well as the six performers behind the Knights of Ren.
Also there was our good pal Topps artist Rutvig Vaid, studiously drawing away for the day as we checked out the various stalls at the show, Upstairs was a mixture of signers, stalls and artists, while the always industrious Joker Squad were occupying a healthy space at the back of the room. Always friendly and ready to engage, it was a pleasure to catch up with the crew at the show.
Downstairs can’t be discussed without first mentioning the tastiest cupcakes this side of the Expansion. Good grief, they were good, and with proceeds going to charity they tasted even better. The Knights of Ren, Joel Adrian, John Street and Dickey Beer were in the downstairs room (don’t be fooled by the photo of the room taken near the end of the day, the room was far busier for most of the Saturday). Here there were plenty of bargains to be found, with great deals on figures from all eras, as well as toys from other franchises.
While a long drive for the three of us, it was a superb day. The event staff were friendly and helpful, the guests engaged and chatty, the dealers eager to strike a good deal and the cupcakes….oh, those cupcakes….if you’ve ever considered attending, put it on your calendar as this is a trip well worth taking for an afternoon you’ll walk away from with a smile.
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