2020 Events

As 2019 wraps up, here's a list of events I'm looking forward to in 2020.

Spring
Nantwich Comic Con (aka Nanocon)
Staffs University Invertebrates Fair
Stoke Con Trent 11
Liverpool Comic Con

Summer
Fairford Air Show

Autumn
Staffs University Big Biology Day
Stoke Con Trent 12

Winter
Christmas Fairs, especially Mossley Village Hall

Links and more details to follow.

Happy New Year.

Review: Interview and Signing with Transformers' Simon Furman and Geoff Senior

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I was able to attend Forbidden Planet's store in Wolverhampton to take part in a live Q&A and signing with Simon Furman and Geoff Senior, the writer and artist for Transformers UK comics in the 1980s.

I have a video of part of the interview, which you can see here; I also took some notes of the interview.

Geoff Senior was originally approached by Ian Rimmer to draw for the Transformers, and initially thought it was drawing electric power components, like those you'd find in Scalextric (my parents and grandparents also made that assumption when I explained I liked Transformers). The art, Geoff explained, is very stylised - all artists have their own styles, based on their own influences. Originally done on card (which he had to cut to size), things are now very different, with the art for "To The Death" - their latest work - done on screen.

Geoff explained that as a child, he was mostly interested in TV, and this was before VHS, leading to the inevitable problem of missing his favourite shows. Comics don't have this problem - once you've bought them, you can read and re-read them at your leisure. The first comic he read was Countdown with the artwork especially. He remembered reaching the time when you grow up and start actually noting who wrote and who drew it, and the introduction of the credits box helped with this.

Simon Furman added at this point that it was a requirement from DC Thompson comics that you must not sign your work even though this was the only way they could get known. Transformers has always had the credits box (or similar) near the start of each issue. Simon grew up with the Marvel: Vision series of comics, and the Hulk. Geoff, in addition to Countdown, also read Beezer, Topper, and TV action comics, but was not attracted to Marvel/DC.

Simon commented also that he enjoyed meeting fans and doing signings, and as he explained, it's great to see a ragged and worn copy of a Transformers issue being presented for signing - "That's a well-loved comic."

Both Geoff and Simon posed for photos, signed anything and everything we put in front of them, and were both warm and enthusiastic about Transformers and Transformers fans. If you ever get chance to see them, meet them and talk to them, I can strongly recommend it!

Christmas Fairs

Christmas Fairs are a great place to pick up stocking fillers, support local charities and local craft artists.  And they're great fun.  Here's a list of upcoming Christmas fairs around the Stoke and Newcastle area, and further afield.

Saturday 23 Nov
Fegg Hayes Methodist Church Christmas Fayre
11-2

Saturday 23 Nov
St Giles Christmas Fayre, Newcastle Under Lyme
11-3

Sat 30 Nov
Bradwell Lodge Christmas Fayre
2-4

Sat 30 Nov
Mossley Village Hall Christmas Fair
http://www.congletonteamparish.co.uk/Events/EventsEn.asp

Saturday 7 December
Christmas Bazaar, Audley Methodist Church
10:30-1

Wednesday 11 December
Ormiston Horizon Academy Christmas Fayre
5-7pm

Review: Heroes and Foes, Mander Centre, Wolverhampton

I attended the Heroes and Foes event at the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton on 9 November, and it was an event which was very different from any other convention I've been to.  It was approximately the same size and scale as Nanocon in Nantwich, with approximately 15-20 traders, and five celebrities from the world of sci-fi TV and film.  Okay, so far so typical, but the main difference is that it was actually held in the middle of a bustling shoping centre.  This had some significant advantages, and is definitely a good move for a smaller-scale convention (passing customers; reduced costs; free admission; and a central location for a start).

I visited the event on my way from Wolverhampton railway station through to Forbidden Planet for their event with Simon Furman and Geoff Senior (more on this in a separate post) and I was very, very pleasantly surprised at the event.

The atmosphere was warm and friendly (compared to the dark and wet early-November conditions outside).  The traders were enthusiastic and engaging, and there was the added attraction of a wide range of people in cosplay - I spotted the Riddler, a few Disney princesses and other villains on my wander around the tables.  

The stalls covered a diverse range of merchandise - I spotted some Star Trek replica models that I'd not seen before, a comic book stall from Oxfordshire with a wide range of comics and the best selection of Transformers comics I've ever seen; and around half of the stalls selling various assortments of Funko Pop vinyls (they're becoming ubiquitous).  Most of the stalls had multiple tables, and the total floor area was around 40 metres long by 20 metres wide (at a guess) - there was plenty of space to move around, and being in a two-storey open area in the middle of the shopping centre meant that there was no over-crowding or having to jostle to reach the best stalls.

I've already mentioned the friendly atmosphere, and a prime example of this happened while I was taking photos of some of the stalls on my SLR.  One of the event crew (I'm not sure if he was part of the Heroes and Foes event, or part of the Mander Centre staff) came to me to ask if I'd lost a part of the eyepiece of my camera.  Staff had found an eyepiece cover on the floor earlier and he was going around checking with SLR photographers to ask them each if it belonged to them  Like I said, this was a nice touch of above-and-beyond service (even though the part in question wasn't mine).

The list of celebrities wasn't long, and didn't appeal to me personally, but it was a good cross-section of well-known stars - Gareth David-Lloyd from Torchwood; recent Doctor Who villain Sam Oatley; Mickey Lewis from Star Wars Rogue One; Simon Fisher-Becker from Harry Potter and comic book artist Grant Perkins (I was on my way to see another comic book artist, as I mentioned).  And let's not forget that there was no entrance fee, either, so no complaints from me at all - well done to the organisers for arranging an event on a limited budget with no ticket sales to rely on. 

This was a rare occasion of a Day Out By Myself - the journey to Wolverhampton was a bit of a stretch for Daddy to take the kids, and I think I judged it correctly.  There wasn't as much to see or do as some of the other conventions, especially not for younger convention-goers, and it was 30 minutes on the train for me.  If I was more local,- I'd have definitely gone and taken the kids for a great morning or afternoon out.  The date for the next Heroes and Foes day has been set for 2-3 May 2020, and I shall certainly be looking into visiting again!

Tabletop Sale, George Hotel, Burslem, 26 October

26 October 2019, 12:00 - 4:30
George Hotel, Burslem, ST6 2AE
Seen on the Signal 1 calendar

Table-top sales are highly variable, but this one looks promising because it's local, in a good location and indoors.  This sale is in aid of two charities - Dougie Mac Hospice and Our Burslem.

If you want to sell your items (home bric-a-brac, or homemade wares), then tables cost £5.00.

All funds raised will go to the two causes, and 20p of every pound you sell goes to the both of the good causes

There's also a cake/refreshments/coffee stall.  Soft drinks, tea and coffee are just 50p, half of which goes to the causes.

There's also a bar which will be open for alcoholic beverages.

Stoke Con Trent XI - 13 October - Review

Stoke Con Trent held their 11th convention this weekend, and it was a great success, despite the intermittent rain.  The number and range of celebrity guests continues to grow, and there was a definite increase in the number of cosplayers (in my estimation).  This is definitely a healthy, growing event, and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

*I should comment that my 10-year-old, 8-year-old and I were admitted with press passes so that I could produce a full review, similar to the other articles I write in this blog.

The convention started at 10:00, and we arrived at about 10:30 - we couldn't get into the main Leek Road Venue due to capacity (most of the visitors hadn't yet moved to the other buildings), and were directed to the other buildings.  I will say immediately that it's advisable to grab an event guide/map, which shows the buildings being used for the event.  In previous events, they've used the science block - but not this time, and we had a long walk there and back!  However, each of the buildings are well suited to a convention, with three separate zones - predominantly traders and celebrities (LRV); traders and comic/superheroes/sci-fi (Sports Hall), and a kids' zone with food court (Brindley Building).

The kids' zone was based in the Brindley building (where it was also possible to purchase refreshments and find a place to sit) - there were toys to play with; a tombola; soft toys to purchase, and wide range of activities - making slime, playing with coloured sand, and so on.  Our 8-year-old enjoyed the dinosaur toys in particular, but he was far more interested in finding the traders' tables, and we only stayed for around five minutes in the toy zone.  This kind of zone is ideal, though, for parents with younger children - even up to age 8 or 9 - given the wide range of activities and the organisers hit their target audience with plenty to see (props, models) and do (toys, craft activities) and buy (more soft toys).

We made our way back to the Leek Road Venue, and we were very impressed with the number of stalls; the amount of space, and the range of celebrity guests.  Hacker The Dog was a real attraction for both of the children, especially the 10-year-old who is outgoing and talkative, and it would be great to see him at future conventions.  He was sitting next to Michael De Souza, writer of Rastamouse, and while he wasn't immediately recognisable, once I'd explained who he was, the children were very pleased to see him.

No mention of the guests would be complete without mentioning the Gladiators.  I mentioned them in my preview, and suggested that perhaps people had seen them enough in previous conventions.  I was wrong.  The Gladiators are a major attraction every time they appear, and there was a steady flow of visitors eager to meet and photograph them.  This time saw Lightning, Jet, Cobra and Wolf attend, and they were very warmly welcomed by the Stoke crowd.

Another recurring celebrity visitor is SoCal Val.  I confess I've not heard of her outside Stoke Con Trent - I've had to do a quick Google to find out more - she's a professional wrestling valet; ringside announcer and interviewer.  While we'd not heard of her, and didn't stay to chat, this shows the best part of Stoke Con Trent - there is something for everybody.  In the same way as the kids' zone appeals to some children, the guests are selected to appeal to as wide a fanbase as possible.  There are the current children's TV stars; there are TV stars from the 90s - like the Gladiators - and then there are the comic artists and classic sci-fi celebrities (who formed the nucleus of the early Stoke Con Trents), and these were to be found in the Sports Hall.

The atmosphere in the Sports Hall was unlike anything I've ever experienced at a convention before - it was calm, laid back and relaxed.  There was even more space to move around, even with a good complement of traders' stalls and celebrities, and the most unusual but welcome difference was that the floor was carpeted.  I know that doesn't sound like much, but it changed the acoustics completely - sound was absorbed instead of reverberating, and it meant it was possible to hold conversations at normal volume instead of having to raise your voice to be heard.  We were able to have a chat with the traders and with some of the guests, and in particular I was able to meet Lee Sullivan, comic artist currently known for Doctor Who and Thunderbirds, and who also drew Transformers comic covers.

Meeting Lee Sullivan was probably the main highlight for me.  He was chatty and outgoing, and kindly signed the three 1980s Transformers comics I'd brought with me - ones where he'd drawn the covers.  He posed for photos and talked through his current work, his portfolio and some of the history of the Transformers artwork he's done.  My children got bored while I played the fan for quite a few minutes, but this was quickly remedied when we went to meet the dinosaur.

There was a life-size (actually, it was probably less than life-sized) velociraptor prowling around the sports hall, and this was a major attraction for both of my children, who had a number of photos taken with it.  This was cosplay on a whole new level, and it was a great fit for Stoke Con Trent.  We moved on from the dinosaur to some of the more regular cosplay characters, and it was great to meet Central Legion, who run cosplay events across the West Midlands.  They were present in force, with Star Wars characters, Batman villains and Marvel heroes wandering the sports hall and the wider event area.  It was great to see a variety of characters as well as the usual Star Wars Stormtroopers, and they were all very happy to have their pictures taken - in fact, some of them insisted.  While the children were meeting the characters, I managed to grab some photos of the traders' stalls, and of the table set out by the Cheshire and Staffordshire Wargaming Club, (their Facebook page) who had brought some very photogenic Star Wars games.

The atmosphere throughout the event was warm, welcoming and friendly.  Everybody acknowledges that everybody else has some degree of geek-ness, whether it's meeting 90s TV stars or sci-fi favourites such as Paul McGann (Dr Who) or John Morton (Star Wars, Boba Fett).  As the Boba Fett cosplay character commented, "That's Boba Fett.  THE Boba Fett!"

My children particularly enjoyed two of the star guests - namely Eddie Hall, the world's strongest man, and Tim Bradbury (I didn't see his name on the event list, but my children both picked him out from the photo behind his desk) - "That's Tiny Tim!".  Tiny Tim is an internet and YouTube sensation - Tim Bradbury is a 36-year-old man who is able to produce the voice of a child who sounds "three, nearly six," and make comedy prank calls.   He was very funny (although he was also a little late), and well worth waiting for.  This was the highlight of the day for my 10-year-old.

There were a few minor disappointments - some of the replica vehicles didn't show up (The A Team van, The Knight Rider KITT and the DeLorean replica), but we still enjoyed those that did, especially the Jurassic Park jeep.  Overall, we spent close to three hours having a great time browsing, buying, chatting, playing, taking photos and posing for photos.  We each had our own separate highlights, and there was plenty for us to see and do, each of us with our own interests (the traders; the comic book artists; the cosplay and the celebrity guests) and Stoke Con Trent once again did a great job of balancing everybody's interests and appealing to a very, very wide audience.  A huge success, expanding beyond the typical narrow focus of a sci-fi convention, but therefore appealing to a wider audience than most 'comic conventions'; not everything will appeal to you, but there's something for everybody.

Tickets are £40 for a family (2 adults, 2 children); £15 for an adult (age 17+); £10 for concessions and £8 for children.  Stoke Con Trent is twice-annual event, with conventions in April and October.



  

Staffordshire University Big Biology Day - Review

Staffordshire University's Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department held their latest Big Biology Day on Saturday 12 October, and (from our perspective, at least) it was another resounding success. The range of activities; the enthusiasm of the staff and students, and the organisation and helpfulness of the volunteers all ensured that the event was once again the best educational "day out" event of the year.
 
I took our 10-year-old and 3-year-old, with very different interests and preferences, and throughout the 2.5 hours we were there, they were both fully occupied throughout, typically doing very different things at the same time.

Our three-year-old's highlights were rescuing the fish from the plastic pollution in their fish tank, where we spent a good ten minutes - not just rescuing the fish but enjoying the explanation of plastic pollution (and the free chocolates too).  in fact, he enjoyed the fishing so much that we had to go back and do it again.  He also enjoyed excavating the human bones from the sand pit, and even - at a stretch - recognised that the bones he was digging up matched those on the skeleton next to it.  10-year-old daughter certainly enjoying matching the bones with the skeleton, and the volunteer on the stand was able to tell us the names of the bones, as we managed to see how the thigh bone fits into the pelvis.

Every corner of the science centre revealed something new, and we found a play-doh station set up almost underneath the staircase.  Play-doh is a massive hit in our household (except when it gets into the carpet) and we spent 10 minutes making our own healthy sea creatures, before fishing (again) for ducks amongst the plastic solution, and rescuing sea creatures from a plastic quagmire (represented by spaghetti).  

There were more strictly educational activities upstairs, where there was a lab full of microscopes set out.  10-year-old set herself in front of a microscope and started examining some insects; 3-year-old wanted to open the petri dishes to take a proper look at them :-/  Unfortunately we weren't able to stay too long here, but the facilities were very well laid out and we would certainly have stayed longer if we'd had the attention span for it!

Other highlights included making a cell from biscuits and sweets (this is a long-standing attraction and a definite winner), which 3-year-old did while 10-year-old enjoyed the adjacent stand - the all-new and very exciting virtual reality CPR training.  The layout was ideally suited to us - the activities weren't grouped in any particular way (or maybe they were), and frequently led to activities for a 3-year-old being located directly next to activities suited to a 10-year-old.  We were warmly welcomed by everyone we spoke to, and the enthusiasm of the staff certainly matched our excitement, so that everybody had a good time.  

Our thanks to the staff, students and volunteers of the Staffs Uni BioScience department - we had an amazing time; we're already looking forward to the invertebrates day in the spring, and next year's big biology day!

October Half Term 2019

Here we go: October half term 2019

ALL WEEK
Stoke Library - Book Sale
Stoke Library will be selling off old and surplus stock.  You might find a literary bargain - it really is a mixed bag, with everything from reference to fiction to children's to DVDs.

Potteries Museum and Art Gallery - Where's Wally - every day

Go along to the national Where's Wally event at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery this half term. We’re part of the national Where’s Wally? The Big Museum Hunt, organised by Kids in Museums and Walker Books, will celebrate the release of the new Where’s Wally? book, "Double Trouble at the Museum". Can you find Wally in our collections? Pick up a free activity sheet at the museum Welcome Desk, and get a special sticker if you do!  

I love museums and museum events - even if the event doesn't suit your family, you can still look around the rest of the exhibits and activities. 

Friday 25 October
Some schools are closed for teacher training on Friday 25 October - many aren't - so this is an ideal time to visit busier events and locations, when most children are still at school.  My children are off on 25 October, so we're already planning ahead.

Saturday 26 October
09:00-17:30
Halloween Comic Fest 2019
Forbidden Planet, Hanley are holding a free comic day (similar to the one in May).  Unlikely to be all Halloween, you'll probably pick up some superhero comics, and possibly some with giant transforming robots.  You never know.  Full details here (ignore that it's for the Wolverhampton store; Hanley will be doing the same).

12:00 - 4:30
Table Top Sale
George Hotel, Burslem, ST6 2AE
Seen on the Signal 1 calendar
Table-top sales are highly variable, but this one looks promising because it's local, in a good location and indoors.  This sale is in aid of two charities - Dougie Mac Hospice and Our Burslem.  See my separate post on this event for more details.


Sunday 27 October
Working on it.  I've not found anything yet.

Monday 28 October
The Mysterious Case of the Four Quarters at City Central Library
City Central Library, Hanley
There are four slots:  10:00-10:40; 11:30-12:10; 14:00-14:40; 15:30-16:10
Free entry

In a world where stories have the power to come to life a very special book has been created. Holding all the curiosity, kindness, bravery and imagination of every story ever told is The Book of the Four Quarters. If anything were to happen to The Book of the Four Quarters life would never be the same again, for anybody.

It is FREE to join in with The Mysterious Case of the Four Quarters but tickets MUST be booked in advance by contacting your local Stoke-on-Trent library. 

These kinds of events at the local libraries are frequently over-subscribed, so book early!

Mars Robots at Potteries Museum
Potteries Museum and Art Gallery
Starts 11:00
Explore the surface of the red planet and learn all about robots with our Mars Rovers. Drive a remote-control robotic vehicle across a realistic Martian landscape and discover the challenges faced in space exploration and how robots will help the first humans to land on Mars! Free entry, no need to book.  ONE DAY ONLY.

Tuesday 29 October
The Mysterious Case of the Four Quarters at Tunstall Library
Tunstall Library, The Boulevard, Tunstall
There are four slots:  10:00-10:40; 11:30-12:10; 14:00-14:40; 15:30-16:10
Free entry

As above.  Contact your library in advance to book.

Free Let's Fish! - Middleport - Trent & Mersey Canal - Learn to Fish Session
Whether you have fished before or have always wanted to try, why not join us for this day. in association with Stoke on Trent Angling Society, come and learn to fish with our team of professional, fully qualified angling coaches. (All the bait, licences permits and equipment is provided, so all you need to do is book in and turn up on the day.)
10:00-16:30
Trent and Mersey Canal, Milvale Street, Middleport, Stoke on Trent, ST6 3NQ 

Jurassic Adventure at Affinity Outlet Staffordshire (Freeport Talke)
Tuesday and Wednesday; outlet is open 10:00-16:00, no times stated for the dinosaur
Now this looks cool.  "Europe's Largest T-Rex" will be visiting Freeport Talke.  I haven't seen timings yet (so watch out, because Freeport tend to play fast and loose with the timings) and make sure you arrive early, because their crowd control isn't the best.  They get oversubscribed on many of their events and it can spoil the event if you're not in a good location.

Free entry, naturally, bring a camera and be prepared to wait.  It could get very busy, especially if the weather is bad.

Wednesday 30 October
Jurassic Adventure at Affinity Outlet Staffordshire (Freeport Talke)
Tuesday and Wednesday; outlet is open 10:00-16:00, no times stated for the dinosaur
This looks good.  According to Twitter, "Europe's Largest T-Rex" will be visiting Freeport Talke.  I haven't seen timings yet (so watch out, because Freeport tend to play fast and loose with the timings) and make sure you arrive early, because their crowd control isn't the best.  They get oversubscribed on many of their events and it can spoil the event if you're not in a good location.

Free entry, naturally, bring a camera and be prepared to be patient.  It may well be busier than Freeport can easily handle.

Thursday 31 October
Meet the PJ Masks at Intu Potteries, Hanley
Book tickets for slots at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 or15:00.

Catboy, Owlette and Gekko - the PJ Masks - will be coming to visit intu Potteries to meet their little shoppers.  The PJ Masks will be appearing outside H&M on the upper mall on the hour from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Each appearance will include a meet and greet plus an interactive Hero Moves session where kids can learn the super moves of their favourite PJ Masks heroes.


Only children wishing to meet the PJ Masks will need a ticket for this event, adults will not need to book a ticket to accompany them.

Because Intu events are ticket-only, there is much better crowd control compared to the Affinity (Freeport) events, so this one gets a recommendation from me.

Friday 1 November

Saturday 2 November
Table top sale, Newcastle Methodist Church, Merrial Street , 10-1
More information here


Sunday  3 November

Staffs University Big Biology Day - 12 October 2019 (preview)

Staffs University hold an annual Big Biology Day every October, and, without saying too much in the first paragraph, it counts as one of the family event highlights of the year.

It's truly a family-friendly event, with a wide range of activities and exhibits that will appeal to toddlers upwards.   The Biology department put on a great show, with exhibits from microscopic samples (and lab benches filled with microscopes), to a mock-up forensic scene, to live animals (furry, feathered, scaly, slithering and crawling) which can be seen at close quarters and - in most cases - handled.

Top marks must be given to the department staff, who all share their subject with real enthusiasm.  During a short break at the most recent "Bug Day" (Invertebrates Science Fair), my children got into a discussion with one of the senior lecturers in the department, whose main area of interest is bees.  They enjoyed a surprisingly lengthy and in-depth discussion (my daughter was nine years old at the time has the questioning skills of a journalist and the ability to soak up information like a sponge) and this was completely unplanned, but pitched just right for our family.  The Big Biology day is the same.

There are activites to colour; interactive games, quizzes and puzzles; there are the animals to see, and there are many leaflets to peruse, posters to view and many varied activities for parents, children, students and educators alike.  The exhibition (for want of a better description) spans two floors, with the microscopes and forensic crime-solving activities upstairs.  This is a great advert for higher education, for biology (and I'm a chemistry graduate) and for Staffs University.  It's great that they are continuing with their series of community days - this Big Biology Day (October); their Invertebrates Science Fair (April) and their new Science Technology Engineering and Maths day (they hosted the West Midlands Big Bang fair in June).

And, while searching for the date for the STEM day, I've discovered that earlier this year they introduced a Fete (August) based on gaming and social online gaming.  I'll be looking for that (and sharing it when I find it) next year!

North Staffs Sci Fi Convention (Bradwell, Newcastle)

THE PLANNED NSSFCON FOR 12 OCTOBER HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

One of the smallest conventions that I like to attend regularly is the North Staffs Sci Fi Convention, held twice a year (so far) at Bradwell Hall, near Newcastle Under Lyme.  It might be small, but it punches above its weight - "Judge me by my size, do you?"

It doesn't have the star-pulling power of the other conventions - in particular, Stoke Con Trent - but it does what it does and it does it well.  I've been to three of the last conventions, and it's generally a meeting of traders, some static props and some cosplay.  The North Staffs Stormtroopers are regular guests, as is the North Staffordshire Tardis.  As far as I recall, they've not drawn any celebrities, but this doesn't stop the convention from being a great place to meet like-minded enthusiasts, talk about your particular hobby (everything from Blake's 7 to Battlestar Galactica through to Star Trek, Star Wars and Transformers) and pick up some merchandise for your favourite book, film or TV show.

The traders offer a wide range of new and used items - toys, magazines and comics, DVDs and books are most prevalent (do you count Funko Pop as toys?).  They come from near and far - the most recent convention back in April 2019 also include Retro City from Longton (they've just moved to larger premises, but still in Longton) and I was able to grab a number of photos of their stall. 


Entry is reasonably priced, and there are also fairly-priced refreshments served in a spacious seating area, and there are plenty of characters in costume milling around and entertaining the visitors.  On our last visit, we arrived early, and were able to enjoy meeting the Star Wars characters and other costumed entertainers before it became crowded.

As I mentioned, it's small, but this is not a disadvantage (especially if you're a sci-fi enthusiast with younger children).   Think of it as compact. It won't take you too long to get around all the stalls, and you can be sure that you've seen everything and taken in all that's on offer.  In my case, it was a chance to see some 1980s G1 Transformers 'in the flesh' for the first time in 30 years, grab some photos and move on.  Younger children will enjoy some of the rummage bags and boxes of smaller items and you'll be able to get round everything without over-stretching their attention span.

And one other thing:  the focus here is very much on Sci-Fi.  I mentioned in my previous article that Stoke Con Trent has grown by becoming a Film, TV and Comic Convention - which is fair enough, and it's great to see it fluorish - and the North Staffs Sci Fi convention is much more strongly focused on Science Fiction (and superheroes).  It's very much a comic con, and the smaller size is partly a consequence of its narrower focus.

I highly recommend North Staffs Sci Fi Convention  - it's great to be able to support local traders and local fans, and I will continue to visit.

Next date:  Saturday 12 October (the day before the next Stoke Con Trent - either by coincidence or design, the two fall very close together on the calendar!).

Stoke Con Trent 11 - Preview

I've been attending Stoke Con Trent since their first convention back in September 2014.  I was delighted when our home town (city?) hosted its first comic convention and was very pleased with the organisation, guests and layout.  In the five years since then, it's become a regular bi-annual event at Staffs University, and one which I've only missed twice, through a family emergency and unforeseen circumstances.  

 
The convention has grown in scale from one event to the next, and in January 2016 was recognised as 2015's convention of the year.  It has new guests with each iteration, and is frequently visited by:

- comic book artists (both Staffs University's own students, but other professional comic book artists, such as Lee Sullivan and Lew Stringer who appeared at SCT 10)

- 1990s TV Stars, including BBC comedies, Gladiators, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, Star Trek - on one occasion, Garrett Wang, aka Ensign Harry Kim from Star Trek Voyager.

- local cosplay teams - the North Staffs Avengers; North Staffs Stormtroopers and so on (and on at least one occasion, the UK Garrison).

The level of visitor participation in cosplay is also excellent, partly due to . We've met a wide range of characters, from Stormtroopers to Spiderman and Daleks to Nintendo's Mario and Luigi.  The standard of cosplay costume is generally very good too (ranging from semi-professional to dress-up-for-the-day).  This really adds a signficant element to the whole convention (encouraged by a cosplay competition), so even if the guests don't appeal to you, the range and professionalism of the cosplayers will definitely entertain you.

There's a very wide range of stalls, covering the full range of merchandise, from Lego to Star Wars, comic books to models, posters, and the stars tend to have tables for photos, autographs and so on.

If there is any one criticism I would make of Stoke Con Trent, it's the selection of guests.  For example, in the Autumn 2018 convention, in my opinion the organisers over-indexed on Gladiators (there were easily four or five attending) and there was a lack of range of other guests - e.g. from other TV programs or from films.  They tend to rotate their guests, but it's worth mentioning that SCT 10 and 11 both have Gladiators headlining (clearly Jet and Wolf are significant crowd-pleasers).  

I would not describe STC as a Comic Convention or a Sci Fi Convention, and to be fair, I don't think the organisers would.  The first convention is 2014 was marketed as a "comic and memorabilia exhibition"; that subtitle has disappeared more recently.  I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but please be aware that this isn't a pure comic convention; it's a more of a TV convention with a slight comic twist.  By widening the scope of their convention, the organisers have been able to appeal to a much broader audience, and then pull in some of the more famous (and more expensive) stars - this just means that the guest list reads like a mixed bag.

Overall, my criticisms aside, I thoroughly enjoy attending STC, and can recommend it.  We enjoy the range of guests, the variety of stalls (including collectibles, and just regular merchandise) and in particular the wide range of visitors who attend in cosplay, and who are all very happy to have their photos taken (but always ask first).

SCT 11 (or XI) is coming up in just over a month, and I'm especially looking forward to seeing the Jurassic World Jeep; the DeLorean car and Paul McGann (star of Doctor Who, among other things).  I'm slightly interested in seeing Jet and Wolf (again), but have no interest in seeing any of the other 'headline' guests (Paul Cooper, Justin Lee Collins, Sheila Reid and Clinton Baptiste).  Like I said, it's a mixed bag.

Review: Madam Tussauds, Blackpool

I mentioned in my previous post that this year, our family has Merlin Annual Passes, and we're putting them to good use by visiting as many of the attractions as possible, including those that aren't most local to us.  This year, this meant going to Blackpool for the Sea Life Centre and Madam Tussauds.

Madam Tussauds Blackpool is situated on the sea front, as part of Blackpool's "Golden Mile".  We visited on the last Friday of the school summer holidays, and it wasn't busy.  You start (as you do in London) with a ride in a lift to the top floor, and then work your way downwards through the floors.  A word of warning:  pushchairs aren't allowed.  There's a buggy park just off the foyer, and if you have a toddler or pushchair person, be prepared to carry him or her around (especially on the stairs... did I mention the stairs?).  Still, since you've just taken the lift to the top, most of the stairs are downwards!

The displays are very innovative:  the Coronation Street exhibit was very well done, set up as the Rover's Return pub - with seating and eating areas, which are always welcome when you have little people to look after.  Spiderman was clinging upside down on a wall, on a scene which was built to make it easy to look like you're hanging on to the edge of a tall building.  Bear Grills is climbing up a large boulder, with another one alongside for you and your friends to climb - great photo opportunity.  The exhibits are well spaced out, and are laid out in a way that gives you plenty of unusual and interesting photo opportunities.

There's a series of musicians - dead and alive - with a collection of listening booths (CD jukeboxes and a selection of tracks to choose from). Not exactly waxworks, but still a very interesting addition to the experience.  There's even a set of drums to play on - just for fun.  You can play along with the music, or you can just play (depending on your age and ability!).  The range of activities make the museum an interesting place to visit, even if you aren't interested in waxworks and celebrities.

Facilities:  I mentioned that push chairs had to be left at reception, which in theory sounds unfortunate, but is definitely better than lugging child plus pushchair down all the stairs.  Apart from the Rovers Return, I don't remember any large seating areas or places selling refreshments.  The shop at the end was geared more towards celebrity merchandise - clapper boards, microphones, all that stuff.

Overall, we all enjoyed our visit to Madam Tussauds.  The range of activities in between the waxworks helped break up the visit - it wasn't just a series of relentless statues, and the changing scenery and backdrops really made it very interesting.  Our children range from loving having their photo taken to hating it, but still everybody had an enjoyable time.

Ticket Pricing
There's the option of buying multi-tickets for Madam Tussauds, the Sea Life Centre; Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Tower Dungeons, but if you want to visit just Madam Tussauds, the tickets are £16 on the door (£13 in advance) for adults, and £13 (10.50 in advance) for children aged 4-15.  Family tickets are £54 (£43 in advance).