machbusterman

Me with Sir Stirling Moss Mr with General Tom Stafford What I got signed

I'm gutted! You got a photo of him signing? The sign behind him said no photos/no video so I didn't ask. I asked the his helper if it was possible to take a photograph while General Stafford was signing for me and was told that was okay.. and

Where do I start? Had a good day but what a NIGHTMARE to begin with!! My flight with FLYBE from Edinburgh to Birmingham was due to depart at 0655 and when I checked in there was no info available on the monitor... I cleared security and the monitor said ESTIMATED DEPARTURE 1020. This would have me arriving at Birmingham at approx 1155 and by the time I got to the Birmingham Metropole it would have been around 1230 giving me ONE HOUR at the show before having to catch the shuttle bus to the railway station and the momorail back to the airport itself (1515 departure). This was clearly not do-able!! I was absolutely GUTTED!!!! Upon learning this I swiftly made my way to the FLYBE customer service counter in the terminal. When I asked what the delay was the customer service officer advised that the crew was sick and a stand-by crew would not be available until 10am. On a Saturday BMI do not operate flights from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Birmingham. FLYBE are the only airline operating Saturday flights to BHX and the 1515 was the only flight back to Edinburgh from BHX that day (the flight to Glasgow was at 1315!!) so it looked as though I wasn't going to be able to attend the show. Whilst driving home in a fit of rage I called my wife Debbie and she consoled me. I could have got a few signatures via my good friend Yvan on glossies provided at the show but it would not have been the same as actually being there as I really wanted to meet Tom Stafford, Stirling Moss and Ursula Andress. I got back home at 730am GUTTED and Debbie said if I could give her half an hour she'd be ready and she'd come with me to drive down to the show at Birmingham.... YES!!!! I'm going after all. Departing at 8am we arrived at the show at 1pm and I'm thankful that the delays on the M6 were all NORTH BOUND!! After meeting up with Yvan we quickly got into the show I went about getting my items signed. First was Ursula Andress who was very pleasant indeed (signing a portrait for me & my Bond Girls are Forever book), next was Sir Stirling Moss (signing a portrait for me & my Stirling Moss 1956-60 Scrapbook). I had a lengthy chat with Sir Stirling Moss about his career and the state of Formula 1 today (we both agree that its no longer a sport but a business and that todays drivers are very dull indeed). Because I arrived at 1pm I'd missed the Tom Stafford photoshoot (which was at 1120) and when getting my litho signed I asked General Stafford's assistants if I could get a photo taken at the desk with General Stafford as I arrived late due to my flight being canceled and having to drive down instead. General Stafford's handler said he thinks he could do better than that and called one of the Autographica runners over and told her of my predicament. I waited while she spoke with the photographer and when she came back she said that there was a slot available at 1435 and she spoke with General Staffords assistant and handler and they all very kindly agreed to help me and came over for the photoshoot right at 1435 on the dot. I cannot thank the Autographica crew, General Stafford and his assitants/handler enough for making this happen... they went above and beyond what would normally be expected in my opinion. When sitting in the bar showing my wife the items I'd got signed when it came to the litho Tom Stafford signed for me she asked where the signature was (I had a post-it with signing instructions on the litho but had forgotten to write signature)? Blind panic struck me... Luckily Yvan had a spare litho and when I went back to the General's desk the crew member who had helped me with the photoshoot was sitting and I explained what had happend so she said she'd get General Stafford to sign the litho under the inscription. I said I'd rather have a new piece signed and would be glad to dispose of the one sans signature. When General Stafford arrived back at his desk he dutifully signed/inscribed another litho for me and this time all was perfect (the inscription was in fact much nicer looking this time around) so thanks to all for fixing my little problem LOL!! For me, the show was very well run and everything was so slick... these guys are PROFESSIONALS... and once again I'd like to thank Dave and the rest of the crew for helping me have a great day after what looked like being a total disaster. - Derek

I should have taken a pic on the day seeing as my camera was on me and very under utilised. As for outfit suggestions... ...I believe on the internet this is whats called 'made of win' hubba hubba!!

I am only able to attend on the Saturday and will have to leave the hotel by 2pm to catch my flight home... I've booked a photo op with General Stafford but if the photo-shoot is outside of the times I can attend I'm going to be disappointed... Could you please advise the time of the photoshoot please Showmasters? Thanks!!

The food is usually pretty good (for a mass catering event)... its usually some kind of chicken dish for the main event... but its not for the food we attend is it? its for the experience of dining/spending time with a varied cast of celebrities, war heroes and space travelers.

If you think they are expensive try some of the astronauts at Autographica... General Tom Stafford will be £170... There'll still be plenty queuing up to pay that however... including me!

I can only attend on the Saturday and will have to leave the hotel by 2pm to catch my flight home... I'd like a photo op with General Stafford but if the photo-shoot is outside of the times I can attend there isn't much point in my buying a ticket. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Derek

Well done Dave!!!

Glad to see the pestering works!! Keep these announcements flowing!! 4 minutes to go...........................

Joe Kittinger will not attend an autograph show. He was booked to attend the Spacefest show in 2007 as a speaker but did not attend. I heard from some sources that he canceled due to learning of the fee's the astronauts were charging.

I thought Ernest Borgnine was one of the best guests I've ever met... he's incredibly full of beans for someone of his age.... a real diamond geezer... Made me laugh when I saw how p**sed off Mickey Rooney was.... the guy was IMHO ignorant and clearly wasn't enjoying the himself at the show..... whereas Ernest Borgnine appeared to have a blast and enjoyed meeting everyone.... even thanking people for visiting him.

There didn't seem to be... I think I was 4th or 5th in line and think there was perhaps another 15 or so people after me... but I could be wrong.

Mr Lazenby kindly posed for a photo with me after the Gala dinner.... even though I was not sitting at his table.

It was a great (if expensive for me!!) weekend. I had items signed by Joan Collins, George Kennedy, Ernest Borgnine, Mickey Rooney, Karen Seeberg, Femi Gardiner, Martine Beswick, George Lazenby, Ke Huy Quan, Leonora Crichlow, Charlie Duke, Bruce McCandless, Helen Sharman, Kenny Baker, Dave Prowse, Henry Cooper, Ron Holmes, Ron Green, George Johnson, John Freeborn, Billy Drake & Peter Ayerst. A few photos: With Charlie Duke With Bruce McCandless With Helen Sharman With the Bond Girls With Leonora Crichlow With Karen Seeberg With George Lazenby The rest of my photos and items I got signed can be found here http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21914691 . Best regards, Derek

He was supposed to be at Autographica 2004 (Coventry) and he never showed for that one either.

When do we find out which guest we'll be sitting with for dinner.... I haven't had a call this year to say and am just curious. Looking forward to the show... Cheers, Derek

I opted for a "Joe Patroni" portrait of George and a shot of Ernest in "The Dirty Dozen".

Thanks! They didn't have exactly what I was looking for but I found some great portraits for some of the guests.

It would be wonderful if both Kristina Wayborn and Ivana Milicevic could attend Autographica 13

I'm just wondering if there'll be any images of the cast from "Flight of the Phoenix" as I would really like to have a photo signed by both Ernest & George?

Look again dude... 6th from the top.

Yes, he played the role of Shughie McFee and appeared in 74 episodes of Crossroads.

I never tire of meeting Caroline Munro... she is without doubt one of the loveliest and most friendly people one could hope to meet... and she ALWAYS has time to chat with you... The above were signed at CM Glasgow last year.

OUTSTANDING Dave!!!