Nexus (convention)
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Nexus |
| Dates: | 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001 (likely others) |
| Frequency: | at least twice |
| Location: | at the Bristol Holiday Inn |
| Type: | |
| Focus: | media, Science Fiction |
| Organization: | BSFR |
| Founder: | |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Nexus was a science fiction media con held in Bristol, England.
1995
August 11-13, 1995
The convention opened with the vid Bohemian Rhapsody.
1999
July 1999, Hilton National Hotel, Bristol
1999: Photos
2000
There are three con reports in Avon Club Newsletter #76.
2000: Photos
- Vila's Royal Mounties.
- Fancy Dress Competition.
- Tufty Wig Competition.
- The Lord Avon at Nexus.
- Tattoos (and a Scar).
- Old Friends & New.
- Pillow Fights & Handcuffs.
- Steve Rogerson's web pages
2000: Con Reports
Having never been to a convention before, I wasn't sure what to expect from Nexus. I arrived on Friday running late, so not in a good mood. The hotel I was staying in turned out to be quite hard to find (three times round Bristol) and even when I found it , it was three times round the block before I could find a way into the car park!
But from the moment Emma Peel met me at the hotel door (thanks, Emma!) it was non-stop fun & merriment! I unpacked my essential Nexus kit:
Tufty Wig (for Wobblevision)
Neuronic Whip (in cast there were any Tufties about)
Emu Feather Boa (essential Servalan prop)
Blonde Soolin Wig (heh heh! Might come across a likely looking Dorian…)
Scorpio Guns (flashing lights, laser beam noises)
Petri dish (Emzi had instructed me to collect genetic material from the Lord Avon for cloning purposes…)
Digi Camera
Naturally, I had forgotten to bring my registration papers and I immediately got into trouble for registering under my web name! We were soon hip deep in friendly faces wanting to try out the Tufty wig and take a peek at Emma's Liberator tattoo. Paul Darrow arrived and joined our table - wasn't sure what to expect, but he turns out to be a really nice guy (was particularly impressed by his sensitivity over Emma's eye). The man has the patience of a saint with those two doe-eyed fans who apparently follow him absolutely everywhere - I found them to be the weirdest people I came across the whole weekend…
At some point over the evening (after several Bailey's…) Emma and I decided that we would have to enter the fancy dress competition. After several more drinks we came up with the idea of going as Vila's Royal Mounties and the next day (after more Bailey's for breakfast - well it looked like cereal…) headed into Bristol to cobble together our Red Fur Uniforms. We were shocked at how run down the town centre seemed - there wasn't even a Marks & Spencer in sight (found out later we were nowhere near the town centre…). We eventually found some red material, tops 2 sizes too small for us and a red fur cushion! Back to the hotel to patch together the uniforms (took 10 minutes). Straight to the party in the meeting room to down a quick drink before queuing for a week to get autographs. Back to the party (now moved next door into Steve's room) and a few scribbled cue cards (had no time to learn the words!) - BIG Thank You to Steve Rogerson for his help there.
Back to the bar to down some more drinks then into the main conference room to await the start of the competition (HUGE Thank You to Bob for the champagne and for handing out song sheets btw).
The Competition was brilliant - everyone (apart from us) had clearly put in a lot of effort on their costumes. We didn't win (not even close actually), but we had a fantastic time… and acquired a few more stalkers as an added bonus.
Having adjourned to the bar once more, it was time for Wobblevision! Emma hollered out a general call to the potential cast members (the wholly fictitious yell of "free beer here" attracted a lot of potential cast members). Rumours of Death was the episode to be filmed and Emma wrote a script and stage directions (in 10 minutes flat) while the rest of were sent scurrying off in search of likely looking props. The filming was absolutely hilarious (the crisp box as Orac was an inspired bit of casting).
After Wobblevision, some more mingling with other fans and Paul Darrow joined us once again. Emma persuaded him to sign her tattoo (check out the pics).
Next day was a very late start - we were both conventioned out by this stage. Emma had to leave to catch her train back to Glasgow; I headed back to the convention hotel to buy a few more souvenirs and to say my goodbyes (Pauline, John, Sue, Claire, Mike, Louise & Simon etc - sorry I missed you guys out in my goodbyes!).
I had a great time at Nexus and I am going to sign up for the next convention as soon as I find my diary! Oh, and thanks to Steve for retrieving my Tufty wig from lost property the hotel reception (no, it wasn't that I was scared to ask, it was just that the last time I saw the wig I was using it to mop up the large red wine stain on the lounge carpet… did not want to be landed with the bill for that one!). [1]
2001
July 6-8, 2001
A long con report with photos (focus is Rene Auberjonois): Nexus 2001: My Raffle with René.