Trek Dwarf

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Convention
Name: Trek/Dwarf
Dates:
Frequency:
Location: England
Type: fan con
Focus: Star Trek: TOS & Red Dwarf
Organization:
Founder: Carol Davies
Founding Date:
URL:
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Trek/Dwarf (also Trek Dwarf) is a Star Trek and Red Dwarf convention held in England. There were at least two of them.

1993

It was at this con that Lister's (Red Dwarf character) dreadlock hair extensions were sold.[1]

1994

Trek/Dwarf 2 was held March 25-27, 1994 at the Holiday Inn in Leicester. GOH: Nana Visitor, Norman Lovett, Rob Grang, Joe Nazzaro, Doug Naylor and Richard Arnold.

1994: Con Reports

This was my first convention, so I suppose you could call me a virgin, though what an airline has got to do with first time conventioneers eludes me. I arrived less than bright and early on the Friday afternoon. Because of the long drive (mostly due to several wrong turnings alone the motorway) from Buxton, 1 missed the whole of season I and arrived just as Joe Nazzaro finished his talk at 19.30.

Registration pack in hand, I proceeded to the bar, only to be confronted by Mr Flibble and hand-maiden, Kathryn George! Two drinks down the line I retreated from the bar, picked the peanuts out of my hair (thirty tries and I still couldn't catch one in my mouth!) and went to throw rotten vegetables at the screening of Red Dwarf USA whilst still skillfully missing Robert Llewellyn who put up a sterling performance despite the incompetent American actors who woulahave been more at home in Santa Barbara!

I then thought that I'd better go and offer my services to the con, and make myself a steward. I must admit that after letting Rob Peet roster me up for anything I regretted it, and will be returning for another crack at it next year! Hopefully with more success, body armour, fire power and crowd dispersal equipment.

Norman Lovett's act at 2230 was superb! The man's a comedy genius if ever there was one! Truly fantastic, and a sheer joy to watch. The evening down after that, and the stewards party died a natural, so I chickened out and went to my room to watch tne hotel channel which was meant to have weekend long viewing. Unfortunately I found the wrong channel, so after an hour of desperate tuning I lounged on my bed eating a room service Bavarian apple torte and ice cream, which I can thoroughly recommend.

Saturday morning I completely missed my stewards meeting. After a speedy breakfast I sprinted up to the stewards room to raid I had the whole day free, joy of joys! I spent two hours shopping in the dealers rooms, and came out with an Official Red Dwarf Fan Club mug (well worth £5, buy one! They really do hold beverages! And they've got handles for easy lifting, what more can you want from a mug?!), a rather tasteful Starfleet uniform and a twelfth century ear cuff/ring. After this mad shopping spree I decided a nice long swim was in order, so that's what I did next. Somehow (I'm not sure how) I managed to avoid the man who has caused more sleeping sickness and convention suicides than William Shatner (don't sue me, Bill, I'm only kidding!), yup - Richard Arnold. The Trekkies (that's all four of them) appeared to be unaffected, though I did see unfortunate Smeggies bring carted out in strait jackets mumbling about Silicon Heaven and sacrificing lives to Cloister the Stupid. Obviously the excitement had been too much for them.

The rest of that day appeared to be a drunken void of Red Dwarf Cider and Mars Bars but I vaguely remember watching onto a group of Trekkies at around 16.00. Apart from that I have no recollection of the afternoon. I did, however, manage to sober up enough to go and watch Anbu Jytsu, second round. The tournament was won by Jamie Leader. The game consists of two blindfolded people in a dark room hitting each other with large sticks. Understand that, and you'll understand anything.

Apparently the fancy dress was won by Jenny Govey who I was told was last years winner! Fix! Soon afterwards the disco began, and we partied 'til dawn! Well, until the bar shut, anyway.

Later, as I was lying on my bed watching TV it struck me that the bloke with the naff beard was our beloved Chief Smeggy! I laughed so much I almost choked on my apple torte. Let it be known that he can't Kan-Kan either!

On Sunday I caught Robert Llewellyn's talk (or should I say comedy routine) and wished I'd brought a video camera. His definition of what happened during Gunmen was worth the entrance fee alone! He didn't have to read us an excerpt from his book, but he did, because he's a truly wonderful man, a real star, and should do more conventions! Give him a pay rise!

After that I had time to grab some lunch and a swim before I left to drive home. Ahhh, life! One thing I'm sure of - I'll be back next year and I might try a triple fried egg chilli chutney sarnie!!! [2]

References

  1. ^ from a comment in Better Than Life #13 (1994)
  2. ^ from a fan in Better Than Life #13