SUPERCELEBRATION: GUESTS

Now I’m back from Fanderson’s Supercelebration convention, it’s time to share a few more photos kicking off with shots of just  some of the many  guests.  As there was a lot going on,  displays, workshops and the like, sadly I didn’t get the chance to take pictures of all the guests and take in all their talks, but hopefully this should give you a fair taster of most of those who attended. Most fans will already know who these guests are but for those who might not I’ve added a brief note on their work or association with or on the various Anderson’s series.

Dee Anderson, daughter of the late Sylvia Anderson, and step daughter to Gerry was a highlight. She talked about growing up during AP Films’ early days, and her mum, Sylvia’s significant creative input that in no small way contributed to the success of the series both she and Gerry worked on.

Dee appeared on stage with Mary Turner and Judy Preece. Mary, who worked on all the Andersons’ Supermarionation series as a puppeteer, puppet designer and sculptor had brought along a couple of puppets including this original Joe 90.

Judy Preece worked as a puppeteer on Gerry Anderson and Christopher Burr’s Terrahawks TV series.

Judy also appeared on another dedicated Terrahawks panel. I can’t honestly say I’m that interested in Terrahawks but the panel did include Steve Begg who has gone on to work  as a special effects supervisor on the James Bond film series so, as I’d missed his previous talk with Brian Johnson the previous day I thought I’d look in.

Terrahawks model makers, John Lee and Peter Tilbe who have both continued to work in the film industry.

Terrahawks art director, Gary Tomkins. Gary has gone on to work on Harry Potter and the recent Star Wars films.

Kaye Main, who jetted over from New Zealand for the event, worked with the Terrahawks crew as runner, buyer, prop maker and general assistant.

Terry Adlam who worked as set builder and later, special effects technician on Terrahawks. He went on to create, write and direct the rather surreal set of stop-motion animated short films featuring the robotic-looking gumshoe, Dick Spanner. Steve Begg provided the special effects and the series was produced by Gerry Anderson.

Peter Hitchcock who started his film career shortly after leaving school in the mid-sixties at AP Films. He started on Stingray and moved on to Thunderbirds, working on the feature film, Thunderbirds Are Go.(Although, he didn’t remember it was for a feature film at the time) He left the studio shortly after that, eventually emigrating to Canada where he continued to  work on filming, and has recently finished a self-produced indie film called , ‘A Song For Us’.

Slides were shown during Peter's interview showing him working at the AP Films Studios. This is Peter working the crashed Zero X from Thunderbirds are Go.

Here's Peter pointing out his younger self on an early AP Films studio group photo.

Georgina Moon and Penny Spencer, better known respectively  as Skydiver crewmember, Lt. Sylvia Howell ,and Janis, a SHADO Operative ,both who appeared in the Gerry and Sylvia Anderson TV series, UFO.

Susan Jameson and Michael Jayston who appeared together as brother and sister, Russell and Anne Stone in the UFO episode, The Sound of Silence.

Gary Raymond who appeared as Col. John Grey in the UFO episode, The Man Who Came Back.

Christian Roberts who appeared as ‘Hippy’ Tim Redman in the UFO episode, The Long Sleep.

And finally , concept artist Mike Trim, who was interviewed along with Dominic Lavery. Dominic previously worked as a concept artist on the 2004 Thunderbirds film, and Gerry Anderson’s The New Captain Scarlet in 2005.

Mike, who worked at the AP Films studio starting with Thunderbirds, did treat us all to a slide show featuring his artwork for Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds album, and concept drawings for proposed Thunderbirds reboot from Carlton TV.