9th 501st and Friends Stormtrooper Meeting, Bayern Park, Germany.

The day was finally upon us and Derek Lyons, Pam Rose, John Chapman and I were finally there in the deep south of Germany for the 9th Annual 501st and Friends Meeting in Bayern Park, Bavaria!

We flew from Heathrow with Lufthansa and made excellent time, arriving in Munich 10 minutes early. Met by Ulli Pallor of the Austrian Garrison, Michael Robl of the German Garrison and some of the girls also of the 501st German Garrison, we headed off in the direction of Reisbach, in the vicinity of Bayern Park.

After heavy rain the last few days, we appeared to have brought the good weather in tow and, indeed, the temperature was 31 C today.  We continued first to the hotel, Das Hotel Schlappinger Hof, which Derek and I had previously stayed in the year before and checked in. Ulli took us out to meet with the members of the 501st already setting up on the camping ground by the park and we then went to meet the charming family who own and operate the park.

I must say, this park is a country idyll, with clean paths and rigorously maintained lawns and borders as well as state-of-the-art rides and amusements for the whole family. I wish our amusement parks were of this sort of standard! Children can run free in safety and the staff are delightful. One price on the gate and and everything is free within!

The latest ride inaugurated for our visit - Der Freischutz

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped off for a pizza and relaxed in the heat of the late afternoon, as the heavens decided to open and pour down for 20 minutes. It refreshed the air and we had a delicious meal.

Day 2 started with a blazing hot sun and the drive back to the park. On arrival, even though we were early, a large queue had already formed and so we went straight in and met up with Garrison members from Austria, Switzerland and Germany and members of the Rebel Legion, who were also trooping the event. In all, over 150 costumers in full costume, as well as children in brilliant costumes as good as those of their parents, were there to troop!

The next generation is already in training! LOL

The day got underway with welcoming speeches given by Ulli Pallor, who then introduced each of us to the crowd. We also expressed our appreciation for the opportunity to appear with our friends and to meet so many of the public. The gate was in excess of 10,000, but not all could crowd into the small plaza where we were being presented. I picked up my camera and discreetly made a quick pass of the crowd to give an impression of the numbers present...

I applaud all of the 150+ costumers of the German and visiting Garrisons for trooping tirelessly in full costume in the heat! This day the temperature rose to 34 C before midday and very humid!!! But you can't keep a true Star Wars fan down and all trooped with amazing good humour! The public gave all the guys and girls fantastic receptions as they toured the park, posing with kids and parents alike and joining in the fun.

The crowd massed to see what photos we had brought with us and any other novelties, as Derek and I had done the year before. I had sat down a few days earlier and made up a load of bookmarks for each of us and we had all brought a variety of cards, figures and t-shirts to help the event along. As in Stockholm, Her Majesty The Queen was in attendance on my table waving cheerfully to the public!!! I told the kids and their parents it was my way of getting my taxes back for all she cost us! Don't suppose I'll get a knighthood now!!! LOLOL

John Chapman was very popular with his comic books of the adventures of Jonnie Rocket - great books for kids of all ages, and especially those learning English!


Lunch came and went and I once again remained signing throughout, missing my Wienerschnitzel and fries! But I didn't mind - I had the very lovely Daniela Hofman helping me with the throng and we battled on in good humour to the end of the day. The public spoke confidently to me in the certain knowledge I would understand them, as I had made my little opening speech in German at the beginning. I was met with accents and dialects I had never heard before. Truly, people had come from far and wide for this event!!!

Amongst the highlights of the day were three particular children. Firstly, the one month premature baby daughter of Andrea and Michael (who had collected us from the airport and driven us to the park), just two weeks old and pushed by her father in costume in a converted buggy made to look like a Sand Crawler! :)

Another little darling, Rebecca, settled happily into my arm and stayed with me a long time - I was reluctant to hand her back as she was so well behaved.

Baby Rebecca with me, Daniela and Ulli's daughter, Constanze.

The Sand Crawler buggy! :)

Baby Rebecca with her mother Nicole! A perfect little bruiser with a sunny disposition - the baby that is LOL!!!

Hardly a baby anymore, but #3 - this cheeky little chappy preferred to stand on my hand!

The day was a huge success and we all felt we had had a really satisfying experience with the children and their parents! Although I was exhausted from the heat and the fact I had managed to stand up just three times during the day, I felt blessed to have met so many friendly and good-natured people.

That evening, we all returned to the park for a BBQ with the 501st members camping there. The sky was bejewelled and clear and the International Space Station tracked acroess the sky on queue! Amongst the attendees was a lovely girl, Katje, with her dog, Sophie - a cross Miniature Pincher/Chihuahua. Katje Beham lived a while in the States and her English is really great! We chatted for quite some time and Sophie made my lap her bed. A nice feeling of home-comfort and lovely food and company!

Sophie and her 'Mum' Katje. Andrea Rilli and Ulli Pallor behind.

Next day, we travelled out to Passau to have lunch at the same outdoor restaurant as last year (yummy Schweinshaxe!) and then on to the Cathedral for a quick look round. The Cathedral is beautiful, with a wonderful mixture of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo. We could all have spent longer there, but tempus fugit!

A view down the aisle towards the Gothic Choir.

The beautiful painted roundels in the ceiling of the nave.

We then moved on to visit a vast and sprawling castle on the Austrian-German border at Burghausen. This, we were informed, if the longest castle in Germany - 1 km long!!! I am afraid, as beautiful as it was and as much as I wanted to see it all, I managed to walk only a third of the way in and back out! The castle seems to have originated in the late 11th century and been added to century by century. The only direction it could grow was backwards along a ridge between two rivers and thus the longest castle grew out of the rock!

The entrance to one of many courtyards across a wooden bridge.

And another courtyard, dated above the arch 1533....panting by now! LOL

A courtyard too far!!!!!!

Michael Robl in his Lederhosen by a plan of the castle.

Pam and I stuck together as the others went on ahead. We found a small door in an outside wall and found ourselves above the town and by a sign asking us not to feed the goats!!! Believe me, only goats could have lived on that vertiginous slope!

Pam with the town behind...

And so, back to Reisbach and the hotel for an evening meal in company with Ulli and some of the others with whom we had travelled far and wide that day. Exhausted, but happy, I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow! :)

Our final day was to be a brief excursion to a German traditional dress outlet to have a look at Lederhosen and Dirndls. Only John Chapman and a couple of the girls tried anything on. John declined to show us! :)))) But Elisabeth and Daniela were game.

Daniela in her dirndl. The headwear is not traditional! LOL :>)

We left the shop and tottered into a brilliant Chinese restaurant, where we had a fantastic buffet as Ulli and Michael's guests.So generous!!! Thank you guys!

And with that done and our tummies stuffed full, we went on to Munich and the airport. The flight was on time and comfortable and we were soon back in my car and heading back to London. I think I can certainly say that we all had a fantastic time in the company of our hosts and the German/Austrian and Swiss 501st. Long may they continue to attract such wonderful and welcoming people!!!

Farewell Germany, until the next time.......

"Phase III", The Dark Side of Daedalus Con, Bochum-Werne, Germany. 5th - 7th November 2010.

This year, I attended as the sole Star Wars guest, but in the company of my dear friend, Wendy Lowder - another 'veteran' of the British Film Industry. Wendy and I have been friends for over 30 years and share many experiences filming, starting with appearing together in the film 'Breaking Glass', starring Hazel O'Connor - a Punk extravaganza - and 'Quatermas and the Planet People' - a film for TV, in which we played rather peculiar hippy-types - both filmed in 1980 in the UK.



Myself and Wendy at a previous convention in Bournemouth, UK

Wendy in the film 'The Missionary', 1982.

Wendy in the Roald Dahl film, The Witches, with Anjelika Huston and Mai Zetterling.

Wendy Lowder.

Wendy has appeared in countless films, including; Willow, Shadowlands, Superman 1 and 2, Ragtime, The Mirror Cracked, Octopussy, Victor Victoria and Krull, as well as appearing on TV and in iconic music videos. Here she is in Kool and The Gang's video for 'Fresh'. Wendy is the blond ugly sister!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ1XwGDcA4&feature=related

The Convention.

Wendy and I flew out together on Thursday the 4th November on a minute twin-prop plane and were met in Düsseldorf Airport by my friends Markus Tschentschel and Rolf Prippenow. We were driven into Bochum through a gridlocked motorway system (for no apparent reason, it was the same throughout Germany that day) and brought to our hotel - the same as last year - the Hotel Specht.....



Das Hotel Specht - official con hotel.

We took the time to wander around the area a little and do a little window shopping and we both bought in a few 'necessary' bits and pieces. Later that evening, Markus and Rolf returned to take us out to a lovely Greek restaurant in a delightful cobbled courtyard and, I must say, the food was delicious and generous! Our thanks to you both for the wonderful hospitality!!! We had a very convivial evening chatting, giving Wendy a chance to get to know our hosts a little better. She is of the same opinion as me; they are very kind, considerate and good people - the sort it is a pleasure to spend time with! And so to the hotel and bed.

Next morning - Friday - we had a very filling and varied continental breakfast before our first day at the convention. Wendy was impressed with this small, family-owned hotel and it's charming staff, all of whom speak excellent English. We had a while to kill and so went back to a few of the shops we had surveyed the day before, giving Wendy a chance to buy a couple of very nice tops and a gilet. A girl can never have too many clothes I am told!!! We ate lunch in the hotel from a very alluring menu and both had fabulous meals, cooked to perfection!

On arrival at the convention venue, we were met by many friends from last year, proving that intimate and family orientated shows like this can attract and hold a devoted following, happy to return year in, year out, to experience the friendly and comradely atmosphere, whilst offering a hearty welcome to new visitors.




Lovely Bianka Riepegerste and her two adorable children, grown so much since last year!

 Wendy was welcomed literally with open arms and she was put at ease immediately. Amongst fellow performers, we met Der Klingolaus, the Klingons' answer to Santa Claus (www.klingolaus.de), Freddy Bee, the convention MC and comedian (www.freddybee.de), a strong turnout by the 501st German Garrison (http://www.501st.de), led by Garrison Commander Markus Rau, and a host of costumed role-players, LARP and gamers from last year, as well as new groups! All in all, an impressive turnout!

Wendy and I were offered a table with the German Garrison, for which, once again, I thank Markus Rau, and we duly set out our stall. It took minutes only before we were in conversation with everyone passing by, as we found ourselves in the main entrance lobby with all attendees passing us to enter the convention!



Wendy and I with Ettore Holle, a great friend from Bussum in Holland.



The opening ceremony at 7 p.m.was fun, with lots of cheering and shouting as the assorted line-up of guests and groups attending were announced.


A few of the audience at the opening ceremony.

The evening soon turned into a talking shop as all caught up on news of each other's year and shows attended.since the last Daedalus Con in 2009, and Der Klingolaus brought the scheduled proceedings to an end with his usual loud and hysterical characterisation.

Der Klingolaus!

The evening continued through to the early hours with an informal party fuelled by schnapps-style exotic mead-based shots - from plain mead to cherry liqueur mead and even chili mead! As in previous years, the catering was, as ever, beautifully and tirelessly presented by the lovely Inge Meierkord, Marcel Meierkord and Inge's friend, Torsten. An army marches on it's stomach and Inge knows how to please!!!

Day two of the convention started on Saturday at 10 a.m. Attendances were up on last year and the talks and events planned went on in good order. At 12 noon I did a talk and Q &A, after being taken in to the auditorium by the 501st and then guarded on stage! It looked like an Imperial coup was taking place! :o)

501st Escort for my Q & A, with Markus Rau front left.

At 1 p.m. Wendy was the host of a funny and vigorous coffee meeting in one of the side rooms, attended by a good variety of people, eager to hear from Wendy of her experiences in film and especially of her work on Octopussy and The Living Daylights. Questions veered off onto all sorts of tangents. Wendy took it all in her stride and we had a very entertaining time with lots of laughter! 



Getting settled for Wendy's coffee meeting.

As the afternoon progressed, fan films, talks, computer gaming discussions took place in adjacent rooms, as well as the first of two performances by a band called Astray Path - a Goth/rock band with fantasy themed music - interesting!

The Klingolaus had everyone in stitches again, as he invited audience members onto stage, one by one, to perform a poem or song or receive a forfeit. Wendy, being a good sport. went up to recite a short poem, but received the Klingolaus's forfeit anyway! LOL



Wendy recites poetry on the Klingolaus's lap!!!



A spanking with the Klingolaus's sword is Wendy's reward - but she didn't complain.
In fact, I think she rather liked it! :o)

Later still, a competition to ascertain which costumes made by their wearers were judged to be the best took place, with myself, the Klingolaus and a TV writer/designer I had met the previous year called Stevie, as judges. The kids were particularly cute, of course and so each entrant had a first prize - how can you not give first prize to every kid? The best adult costume was won by the winner of last year's competition, but this year in a fantastic fantasy costume with metal armour, leather and real chain mail.

A winner in the junior section.



A three year old winner!



Rohan the Warrior, winner in the adult section.



The assembled winners in all categories.



At the end of the competition and with everyone who entered having received a prize of some description (for whatever categories we could invent), all competitors climbed onto the stage for a group shot....

There had already been assorted performances on the stage by the varied role-play and costume clubs present and the evening progressed with the second performance by Astray Path.

Astray Path

At 10 p.m. the party moved downstairs again and into the club atmosphere of the dance floor in the basement of the venue. Mead and liqueur shots were the order of the day and the party progressed into the wee small hours (so I am told!).

A bar full of mystery drinks!

Ettore Holle, the Dutch friend mentioned earlier, decided to stay over and had booked a room through the conference organisers at our hotel. Unfortunately, by the time the three of us got back there, the owners had retired and so Wendy, Ettore and myself ended up all sharing a room! As Wendy and I both wrote on photographs dedicated to Ettore the next day, it was a pleasure sleeping with him!!! (He slept on the floor by the way!!! LOLOL).

Sunday dawned and we three showered and breakfasted before being collected again for the final day. We arrived as Lars Adler and Stephan Wonczak were demonstrating sword fighting with Japanese swords and a bicycle wheel!?!

Stephan and Lars demonstrate ... something! LOL. Sorry guys - missed the lecture!

More fan films and exhibitions were on show this morning too, with new exhibitors replacing those who had left the night before. I had agreed the previous day to appear in a fan film as a Police Chief in LA, and quickly perused dialogue given me in German, requiring translation to English and then a mixed accent of a Bronx cop living in LA! A challenge at the last minute, but I enjoy challenges! It then transpired that having done these three pages, I would be needed again for a location shoot in Dresden, possibly some time soon! So, Germany, here I come again!!! :o)

Rene Altman, myself and Mario Schmaeske dressed for the LAPD fan film.

The day passed quickly and very soon it was time for the closing ceremony, conducted in his inimitable fashion by Freddy Bee...

Freddy wins through!

As each and every participant and club was acknowledged, the organisers applauded their contribution along with the rest of us! This has been a memorable weekend in the presence of good and generous friends and I look forward to this event continuing to grow in coming years.

 



Wendy and me with the 501st German Garrison.



Markus Tschentschel and Thomas Riepegerste - principal organisers - say farewell and thanks to the convention.

Wendy and I left straight from the venue with Markus and Rolf and headed for the airport again, there to have a meal together before saying our farewells. All went well - we had the same twin-prop aircraft for the return flight and arrived in London Gatwick Airport about a quarter of an hour late. This quarter of an hour lost was unfortunate, as, by the time we had collected my car from the long-term car park and set out for Southampton to rendezvous with the ferry to the Isle of Wight, where Wendy lives, we were still 15 minutes late and Wendy missed the boat! But Wendy is made of sterner stuff and she slept in the ferry terminal, before catching the first boat across - arriving home at 6.15 a.m! I arrived back in London at 3 a.m.

So, it only remains to thank everyone involved for making this convention and visit so memorable and I look forward to seeing everyone again soon!



DAEDALUS CON - MY FIRST FORAY INTO THE WORLD OF CONVENTIONS.

After having completed the private signing session for Mark Dermul, Derek Lyons informed me that he had received an invitation from a convention he had attended the previous year, to attend again and to suggest further guest(s) - me!

As I already mentioned, Derek had worked his magic with images of me and Mark Dermul had kindly agreed to me using the images he had previously supplied, too. Suddenly, I had a stock of photographs and I was ready for my first lesson from Derek in how to deal with the public!

We laughed our way through one heading after another until it was time to travel to Germany and meet our hosts at Dortmund airport, Markus Tchenschel and Ralph Pripanow. Thomas Riepergerste and his lovely wife Bianka would meet us at the venue. Immediately it became obvious they were as eager to please me as I them and so we settled down and drove into the suburb where our convention was to take place. The area seemed quite charming and our hotel proved to be perfect - a family-run affair with super-friendly owner and staff who remembered Derek, and a brilliant menu, cooked to order by the owner/chef!

The following morning, Ralph came to pick us up and drive us to the venue - a modern Community Hall, built as a rotunda. The very first thing I saw was an old Trabant outside, an old East German car of ingenious design - the Communist version of the 'Peoples' Car' - and an answer to the West German and much more famous 'Peoples' Car' - the Volkwagen! My first encounter with a Trabbie was in East Berlin, whilst filming 'Shining Through' with Michael Douglas, Melanie Griffiths and Liam Neeson in the late 90's and being taken to a secret location by an East German General, willing to sell me army boots at 50 pence a pair from a shed on an allotment, with windows covered by newspapers!!! That trip was eventful enough in itself, nevermind the smell of burning oil, petrol and Russian cigarettes! LOL.

Anyway, there it stood before us and before I left I was determined to get a picture of it.

Me beside the plastic 'Peoples'Car', the Trabant.

In the course of getting to meet everyone present, Derek introduced me to a truly awsome character by the name of Frank Klepke - Conan incarnate! :o) Frank attends conventions all over Europe and his immense good humour and booming voice make a lasting impression on all who meet him! :o) He's a super guy and his postings on Facebook inevitably always make me smile... :o)

Frank the Barbarian and Derek Lyons!

I had curiously been asked to attend the convention in my Henry VIII costume, which I had used in staging shows for the British Army, corporate shindigs and lookalike bookings. Not naturally being a shrinking violet, I agreed, so be prepared for some alarming costume combinations in the following shots! HAHAHA!

Henry VIII (me), Derek, Frank and a costumed visitor, winner of the costume competition.

A lovely lady Vulcan and Henry VIII

Der Klingolaus (German Klingon Santa!!!), Derek Lyons and Henry VIII !

There were talks, games, demonstrations and role-play performances and I was having a whale of a time. And then, I felt ill! I had a raging thirst and no matter how much I drank to try to assuage the thirst, I got worse!

Assuaging my thirst with an unlikely pack-shot of Coca Cola.

I had suddenly come down ( as it turned out when home in England and at the hospital Emergency Department) with Diabetes - a nuissance I am still getting used to!

We completed the convention with a signing session, at which I looked like I had stepped inside from a downpour! 

Sweating for England and signing for a great guy called Jens, who had driven all day to reach us!

I had the pleasure that night of meeting some of the members of the German Garrison of the 501st costuming organisation, when Derek arrived back from a dinner given in his honour, at which he was presented with an Honourary Membership.

Amongst some of the fans attending, I had the great pleasure of getting to meet some stalwarts of the German convention scene and truly some of the nicest people! Uschi Heyn, a biker-chick with loads of great one-liners. Uschi claims to speak little English, but she has a command of English that made me smile at her apparent innocence, as she came out with toe-curlingly funny expressions!!! And to cement her in my affections further, she was accompanied by the love of her life, 'Baby' - a vintage motor bike of some quality!

Me, Comedian Freddy Bee, Derek and Uschi

Me with 'Baby'

All in all, we had a great time and I was recovered enough before we left to have a Turkish Pizza (recommended) before flying home. Only Ralph had any problems dealing with the crisp thin pizza base...

My especial thanks go to Markus, Ralph, Thomas and Bianka, Inge and Klaus for looking after us so well! I look forward to returning later this year (November) and seeing everyone again!