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attack of the garrison |
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Report by Mark Newbold |
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After the
amazing weekend that was Celebration Europe every UK Star Wars fan has
been itching to get together and discuss the events of those three
golden days back in July. Well, for many the first opportunity was
at the National Space Centre's two day Star Wars weekend event Attack of
the Garrison. |
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Guarded as ever by
the UK's own UK Garrison, the event was a great success, bringing in
hundreds of visitors, including a great many kids under 10, which is
always a heart-warming thing to see. Moms and Dads, grandparents
and friends, everyone got into the Star Wars party mood and made the
most of the event. With special guests John Mollo - A New Hope's
Oscar winning costume designer - and Robert Watts - producer of Empire,
Jedi, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade - the 30th anniversary
celebrations continued with style. Here are just a few snapshots
from the event, taken by Lightsabre photographer
Rebecca Newbold and Lightsabre game
reviewer
Anthony Harding... |
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Saturday 22nd September 2007 |
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Mark Newbold,
Webmaster and Editor |
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Mark - "What you
can see here is what Anthony and family saw as they entered the
National Space Centre on the Saturday. A classic Star Wars
welcome - intimation by Stormtroopers and a demand to see your
papers. Damn Whitecaps." |
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"Hey,
you! Do you have a permit for that camera?" |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "Just inside the
main entrance were these amazing engines. I admit I was too scatty
to note which vehicle they were originally from, but I promise you they
weren't any part of my 1.1 Kia Picanto." |
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A 1978
Ford Cortina engine |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "This was a view
looking up in the dining area, where Lightsabre and Jedi News would meet
on Sunday. Rather impressive , if you like vertigo with your
coffee." |
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Next
stop Jupiter |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "And looking down
into the food area. Apparently the rocket launches every hour on
the hour and it's the only place in Leicester that has an indoor
barbeque." |
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Happy
Hour started when the room was cleared |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "Here's a display
from those good guys at
www.allthecoolstuff.co.uk.
Alongside the amazing Palitoy 2007 Archive there was a great selection
of older and bang-up-to-date items, including these very reasonably
priced replica helmets." |
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£250
and one of these could have been yours |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "And here we see
Jack, Anthony's little Jedi showing Dad how it's supposed to be done." |
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Clearly
the boy has been trained well. |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "Of course, even
Jedi need to take the weight off their feet, so he continued to hack and
slash at people's ankles from the safety of his XP-38 buggy..." |
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Seconds
later the pole was no more... |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "There was a very
cool display of props from various films as well as the Star Wars saga.
Apparently the bottle of Evian was a prop from Waterworld." |
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Sadly
missing was Will Smiths Noisy Cricket... |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "This was a very
cool set up of Vader and a subordinate officer. In fact, many of
the costumes on display were fantastic, thanks to the great work of the
UK Garrison, who really made the event come alive." |
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Vader
wondered when Imperial Commanders got so tall... |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "More great shots
from the Garrison. Moments later these three would engage in a
rousing game of pattycake, run around the centre and pose for more
photo's." |
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All
three were taken by surprise when the cleverly disguised
Astromech attacked from the rear... |
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Photo
by Anthony Harding |
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Mark - "Anthony has a
knack of finding trouble. First off he starts waving his sabre
around at a load of Imperials..." |
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"Ok
sir, look directly into the camera and smile." |
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Mark - "...and then looks
surprised when this happens. No wonder we didn't see him Sunday, I
hear he's still en route to Coruscant for sentencing." |
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"Oooohhh
bugger..." |
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Mark - "Anyone who's been
to Memorabilia, Celebration Europe or any Garrison gathering will know
Trevor Lloyd. He's a member of Rebel Command, an arm of the UK
Garrison and here we see him on the Saturday night at the
Garrisons annual Ball, who's special guests were John Mollo and Robert Watts.
By all accounts it was a rather late night. Watts told us he
didn't get to bed until 4am. Sounds like my kind of party, count
me in for next year" |
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"Look
into the eyes, not around the eyes, look into the eyes..." |
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Sunday 23rd September 2007 |
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Mark - "After
a busy Saturday night we decided to take a drive up to Leicester and
organised meeting the gang from Jedi News. It was a pleasant
drive and we arrived there at 1pm after spotting the distinct
building from a few miles away. We entered, paid for our
tickets, text the JN guys to see where they were and entered, and
the first two things we saw were Robert Watts and John Mollo and
this agonised looking fella." |
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Captain
Solo, wishing like the rest of us that Jar Jar had taken a
tumble into the carbon freezing chamber.. |
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| Mark - "There was
a very cool display of Star Wars props, as well as props from other
sci-fi movies, but Bex spotted this very neat display right next to
Mr Solo." |
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The
AT-AT in the forground was a liddle bit drunk...
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| Mark - "Anyone
who visited Celebration Europe knows that one of the very
best displays was the Palitoy 2007 Archive, run by
www.allthecoolstuff.co.uk.
Dave Tree is an old acquaintance from the Ultimart days and he's
done an amazing job of organising this nostalgic and unique
display." |
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"I'll have one of them, and one of them..." |
Mark - "We spotted
this hairy beggar from about two miles away and, just like everyone
else, we started clicking away. He must have been on stilts,
you could hear his feet clanking." |
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"Aren't you a little short for a Sprogtrooper?"
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Mark - "Ok, I was
asked not to tell you who was who in this photo so answers on a
postcard please to the usual address:-
| Tizwas |
| ATV Land |
| Birmingham |
| B1 2JP |
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"The
return of the Fab Four." |
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"Many Yaks died to bring us this Wookie." |
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| Mark - "Right at
the end of the day, after having a long chat with the Jedi News gang
and saying hi to some Garrison members we met at Celebration we
wandered down from the Palitoy exhibit and watched the kids parade.
Just like back in July, it's always great to see so many young kids
getting into Star Wars and enjoying the films and especially the
characters." |
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Even the Clonetroopers were impressed |
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The
kids parade - none of these guys are too short to be
Stormtroopers |
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| Mark - "All in
all it was a top way to spend the afternoon, with fellow Star Wars
fans enjoying the great atmosphere that the National Space Centre
has to provide. Thanks to everyone who helped, especially the
Garrison who always make it a special events. And to Robert
Watts and John Mollo, two very generous guys who were a pleasure to
meet." |
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