BLOGGERAMAMANIA: Doctor Who - Terrance Dicks visits Airdrie

TERRANCE DICKS IN AIRDRIE LIBRARY

Geek Love at Airdrie Library - 14 May 2014

For any fan of the BBC television series, Doctor Who, The name Terrence Dicks will automatically conjure a memory from a much different era in the production of this long running Sci-fi Television series.

For the past few weeks, the folk at Airdrie Library had been advertising a sort of mini Geek fest. Intrigued, I called them and booked two spots. One was for myself and the other for my daughter Lucie.

I should note that while I consider myself a member of the honorary guild of geek, My daughter Lucie is a humongous Doctor Who fan...or Whovie...and would almost certainly be knighted for her contribution to Whovie geekdom should such an honour exist.

Anyway, back to the good folk at Airdrie Library. Excited, Lucie and myself arrived at the Library just before 7pm. People were already taking their seats and I could see it was a full house. All around us, Doctor Who books were arranged - like a placement advert - but I was comfortable with that.

At the front, was a TARDIS, which Librarian Fiona MacDonald told me later on, was made by some students in Motherwell. ..and a great job they'd made too. It was even complete with flashing lights on top.

Adjacent the TARDIS was Terrance Dicks Himself. If you want to know more about him, click here. OK its Wikiepedia, so I take no responsibility for its accuracy, but nevertheless it gives you an idea.

Paul & Lucie Chatting with Terrance

THE INTERVIEW

Terrance had a sort of "Compare" with him in which and interview was carried out and Terrance would recite his time at the BBC to the audience. He spoke initially of his accidental arrival at the BBC on the set of Doctor Who in 1968, being offered a three month contract as a script editor, only to be there right through until the end of 1974.

Terrance recited his time on the War Games with Patrick Troughton still at the helm as the Doctor. With Troughton announcing his retiral from the series, and faced with Budget cuts at the Beeb, Terrance was faced with the task of exiling the doctor on Earth resulting in the Jon Pertwee years and his creation UNIT.

The floor was then opened to the audience, where I managed to ask him a question - "Who was your Quintessential Doctor?". A rather smart answer was offered, I felt. All the actors are great, said Terrance, you have to remember, they are all playing the same part, the same character, the same benevolent man. However, all that said, he did say he had a liking for David Tenants doctor.

Greg Beekman with Terrance

AUTOGRAPH SIGNING

After several questions, a break was announced whereby the audience were able to explore the several areas assembled within the Library which included a games area, a chillout room, The opportunity to visit the Observatory and a visit upstairs to have a chat and an autograph signing with Terrance himself.

After opting for the very generous hospitality and refreshments laid on for the guests (beer wine, crisps, sweets, etc) Lucie, myself and it seems most of the audience went upstairs to meet Terrance. Standing in the queue for 15 minutes, we eventually were in front of Terrance. Lucie managed to get him to sign her book - The Day of the Daleks and a DVD Cover (I forget which one). We both had a wee chat and thanked him, took a few photos and headed off, happy as can be back downstairs.

Jack meets Terrance

QUIZ

When the audience re-assembled, there was a quiz and we came fourth.

William Lawrie receives Autograph

FINALLY

At the end, our small group, consisting of William Lawrie, Lucie Clark, Jack Frederick, Gregory Beekman, Iain Girvan and myself had another chance to chat and have our photo's taken in front of the TARDIS.

Lucies Book and DVD being signed

THANKS

A special thanks to the staff of Airdrie Library and their guests and assistants who worked hard on this to make it a memorable event. Their hospitality was excellent as usual.