OK readers by now you will all know my love for SciFi and you’ve seen me covering many events that are SciFi based, so when the guys behind SciFi Wales asked me to join them for a day in Llandudno, how could I refuse.
So on Saturday, IÂ headed over to Venue Cymru in Llandudno where the first SciFi Wales event was being held, Venue Cymru is a large place and is well suited for a convention such as this and after getting our passes from the organisers, it was time to take a look around and see what was going on.
The great thing about doing events such as this, is that you get to meet some amazing people and you get to know them over time, so having friends such as Virgina Hey and John Challis at the event, made me feel more at ease for the new event in the area.
With so much to get in during the day I was spoilt for choice on who to chat to, but I started with popping along to the “Guest Hall” to check out the book launch of Gerry Anderson’s Gemini Force One.
Gemini Force One is a book series originally created by Gerry Anderson – the man behind Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Fireball XL5, Space: 1999 and many other iconic TV series.
The first book in the trilogy is called Black Horizon and was released on 2nd April 2015.
Moving through the day it was a chance to catch up with so many people to chat with about what they have been up to since I’d last seen them, the arena area at Venue Cymru was for all the traders, many of which I have met over the years, including The Rhyl Jedi, who was selling is custom Jedi Robes and Baravellis who make chocolate that is totally out of this world (ideal for a SciFi show) they even had a Kryten head made of white chocolate that the lovely Robert Llewellyn signed so that it could be auctioned off later.
Robert Llewellyn Signs Kryten Head Made of Chocolate!
.@bobbyllew signing a chocolate Kryten head made by @Baravellis at @ScifiWales at @VenueCymru pic.twitter.com/T6gij9kivb
— Blazing Minds (@BlazingMinds) September 5, 2015
Robert wasn’t the only Red Dwarf actor that was at SciFi Wales, Hattie Heyridge and Steven Wickham were also alongside to bring Red Dwarf fans a little something special to Venue Cymru.
A first for me at a SciFi Convention was John Altman aka Nasty Nick from EasterEnders, who back in 1983 was in Star Wars:Â Episode VI – Return of the Jedi as a rebel pilot, yep he was you know.
With so much to do and so many people to speak to, Saturday just raced by and after the brilliant Q & A’s going on such as the Doctor Who one with Caitlin BlackWood (Young Amy Pond), Sarah Louise Madison (Weeping Angel) and John Challis (Scorby in The Seeds of Doom), book launches, things to buy and guests to chat to and get autographs, the day just raced by.
But before we left the event, it was a chance to catch up with my friend the lovely Virginia Hey, we must have spent a good 30-40 minutes talking about so many things, from the movies to Twitter, so after our chat and a quick photo, it was time for hugs and then to do one last trip upstairs to the auction.
The auction was all in aid of a very worthy cause, which was the Alzheimer’s society, many items were being auctioned off including the posters that were behind the guest saying who they were that they had signed, not only those, but the chocolate Kryten head also went up for auction and one lucky bidder won the head for £70, now that’s a bargain for a life-size Kryten head, which is signed by Robert Llewellyn.
In total the auction raised £251, well done to Jamie Anderson and Richard James (Space Precinct) for auctioning off the items and helping the Alzheimer’s society.
So SciFi Wales came to an end and although we arrived at 9 in the morning and left at the end at around 5pm, the day was fantastic, Rob Dyer and the organisers of the event did an amazing job, everyone that I spoke to during the day had nothing but praise for Rob and his team, I have to say myself as well that Rob has put on a brilliant event, a great choice of guests and Venue Cymru was certainly perfect choice for the venue, with guests not crowded into the same room as the retailers.
SciFi Wales – The Slideshow
Here at Blazing Minds we are proud and honoured to have been chosen by SciFi Wales to cover their first show in Llandudno and after speaking to them today, we will be back for next years event which will be on the 3rd September, so we will no doubt be doing so much more with the live coverage from SciFi Wales, so a massive thank you to Rob, Steve and all the team at UK Conventions, thanks for asking us along and we’re looking forward to next year.
See you at Venue Cymru next year SciFi Wales.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
