Recent council cuts have meant that various items including some relating to local comicbook hero Dan Dare have been moved to the town gallery.
Most of the Dan Dare exhibits have been loaned by Eagle club members and Peter Hampson, Frank Hampson's son.
To be honest, in spite of these generous donations, it's not quite the attraction as it was in 1990, when Southport went Eagle comic crazy and hosted an excellent tribute to the comicbook son of Southport.
My son, Danny was just four years old then and he, like the thousands of other visitors who attended enjoyed the plethora of exhibits.
The current exhibition is just a nod to what seems like an almost forgotten part of Southport's past, but at least I got to dress up as Dan Dare!
Thanks, Scoop, Dan Dare is not entirely forgotten! Great post on the Aurora kits too.
ReplyDeleteCheers Andy. I've been taking some photos of some of the local Dan Dare landmarks too, here in Southport which I'll post later.
ReplyDeleteFrom what little I've seen of the comics, there were some interesting space port and ship designs. You're a lucky guy Scoop to be able to make the exhibition.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do like the Eagle connection with my home town, Ed. : )
ReplyDeleteIt is a fab connection you have there Scoop, Dan and Southport. I wonder if the town ever featured in his stories in some way? It really was the Sci Fi coastline back in the late 80's and 90's: the Dan Dare expo in Southport and Space City, the Anderson expo, in Blackpool [ could have been earlier]. And to think I missed them both as I had jumped ship to Yorkshire by then. I think we visited the Dan Dare shed when you took us round Southport one evening a few years back. Has it got a plaque on it at least? Is it safe?
ReplyDeleteThe 'Bakery ' as it's called Woodsy, is looking a bit sad these days. I've got a few photos which I'm going to post at some point. It still has its plaque fixed in place though.
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