Collectormania 8
Milton Keynes, UK. September 30th-October 2nd 2005
(Saturday 1st October)

The day had arrived and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. With my friend Shirl and my parents (yep, they like Sci-fi too) in tow, we arrived at The Centre:MK at approx 10:00am.

The nerves was starting to build up as we got to where Gil and 'the gang' were sitting. I got into Gil's queue first (well come on what did you expect). Anyway, he was really enjoying meeting us fans and soon it was my turn (Mom by my side, I tried to lose her, honest). Gil said "Hi". I didn't expect him to recognise me from the convention in 2002, unless he's seen the picture on the Convention 2002 page, which he might of. He asked my name so he could personalise the 24in x 20in picture/poster, which I took for him to sign. I said "Rebecca" and also thanked him for doing the welcome message for the site. That's when he stared at me and said "Rebecca Evans?". Uh-oh do I stay put or run like hell? Alas I admitted to who I was. Gil thanked me (aka a hug and a kiss on the check) for "Doing a great job with the site" as he put it and turned to Erin and said "This is Rebecca". Erin smiled and said hello. After all it was Erin that brought this site to Gil's attention. Gil was genuinely pleased to meet me....again, as I think he recalled the Basildon encounter. After a short chat, about this and that, it was necessary to have my picture taken with Gil LOL. Nice!

So I'd met Gil again (he's great), got my picture signed and he likes this website....and now he could be reading this report.
(I know what you are thinking, what about your Mom? Yep, he met mom too LOL)

After meeting Gil I joined Erin's queue. I'd met Erin before in 1998, that was my first convention and this time I was determined to have my picture taken with her. So I did. Erin advised that I'd leave the flash on "Makes you look better" she said. Quite true, dark convention photo's aren't the best thing in the world but then again you'd be spared from seeing my face. "Flash! Excuse the pun" I said to Erin. Erin was lovely.

I then went on to meet Tim and Felix. I love the Dr Huer character and meeting Tim was brilliant, of course I had to have my picture taken with him (had to be done). I told him that I missed Dr Huer when he didn't appear in the second season, it was a crime leaving that character out. Tim was saddened about been left out of it too. He looked quite relaxed during the convention and was quite sprightly too. I enjoyed meeting him.

Felix was great too. Friendly and easy to talk to and yes I had my picture taken with him (there is a pattern forming isn't there LOL). Later on during the convention he was taking pictures (of Gil and Erin I think) and a nice camera he's got too. Well if we take snap shots of the day why can't they?

I did meet a 'non-Buck' celebrity, I met Wayne Pygram (Scorpius from Farscape), he was nice, great to meet. But to be honest my priority was the 'Buck Rogers gang', I wasn't particularly interested in meeting anyone else that day, harsh but true.

Being that the convention is held in a shopping centre (a weird concept but it works), it's easy to find somewhere to have a coffee, somewhere to eat, chill out or look around the sci-fi stalls etc. Four hours passed and I find myself in the 'Buck Rogers' area of the convention again (oh, how surprising I hear you cry). A strange seating arrangement yet very cool, Gil and Erin sitting 20ft away facing Felix and Tim. So my friend Shirl and I sat on a low wall (part of the indoor gardens), with Gil and Erin to my right and Tim and Felix to my far left (sat nearer to Gil and Erin). We stayed there savouring the moment for a while, taking pictures and chilling out, the crowds had died down a bit as it was getting later in the afternoon and that's when things got spontaneous, Gil briefly burst into song. I don't know what the song was but he's got a very nice voice, not the restrained singing he did during the BR movie (you know, "Chicago, Chicago you're my kinda town") but a loud, let it all out kinda singing and Erin had to get up to stretch her legs and did a demo of Tai-Chi (if I did that I'd probably fall over). It was after this time that I managed to get my picture taken with Gil and Erin. Erin commented on my T-shirt that I was wearing, on the front it says "Buck's Road Service, Rock Springs, Wyoming". Gil asked jokingly "Do you like Wyoming?" I replied "Don't know I've never been to the U.S., I just like the 'Buck' reference". To which, he smiled.

Great picture. Shame about the gal in the middle

All in all it was an amazing day! Gil, Erin, Felix and Tim were a pleasure to meet. They did us fans proud. If you ever get the opportunity to meet them, take it!!

See Convention/Event Photos for more pictures of Mr Gerard. Thanks to Andy for the picture of Erin Gray.