Spring Memorabilia 2010: Brum goes retro (March 27-28)
Dalek love: could this be your chance to get up close and personal with Katy Manning?
Stuck for something to do this weekend? Well, you might find many a worse thing to while away the time than visiting Memorabilia at the Birmingham NEC.
Held twice a year, in March and November, 2010’s spring event is open both tomorrow and Sunday (27th and 28th) and offers a plethora of oppotunities to meet and buy autographs from major faces of TV, film and sport past, as well as a large number of exhibitors’ stands and other features, such as fantasy film props, horror movie make-up, modern kids’ TV performers and loads of comics stuff.
Truth be known, I’ve never gone in for this sort of thing myself; on the few occasions I’ve met a famous person for a signing or otherwise indulged my retro and nostalgia interests, I’ve tended to do it on a lower scale, more a one-on-one fashion, but that may just be me.
Indeed, the number of autograph-signing guests at Memorabilia is hugely impressive. Those who’ll be present include:
- John Saxon, Bruce Lee’s co-star in Enter The Dragon
- Warwick Davis, Star Wars and film fantasy actor
- Burt Kwouk, Bond and Pink Panther star
- Martine Beswicke, Bond and Hammer Horror actress
- Ron Moody, Fagin in Oliver! (Saturday only)
- Mark Lester, Oliver in Oliver! (Saturday only)
- Fenella Fielding, Carry On star (Saturday only)
- Katy Manning, Doctor Who actress (Saturday only)
- Peter Purves, Blue Peter presenter and Doctor Who actor (Saturday only)
- Frazer Hines, Doctor Who and Emmerdale Farm actor (Saturday only)
- Anita Harris, Carry On actress and ’60s/ ’70s pop star
- Victor Spinetti, from the Beatles and Pink Panther movies
- Grange Hill actors ~ Gwyneth Strong (Mrs McClusky), Lee MacDonald (Zammo McGuire), Terry Sue Patt (Benny Green), Erkan Mustapha (Roland Browning)
- Footballers; Saturday and Sunday ~ Mario Kempes (Argentina legend), Steve Bull (Wolves and England)
- Footballers; Saturday only ~ Teddy Sheringham (England, Man Utd and Tottenham), Tony Adams, Ray Parlour and Nigel Winterburn (England and Arsenal), Ray Houghton (Rep of Ireland and Liverpool), Allan Clarke, Johnny Giles, Eddie Gray, Norman Hunter, Mick Jones, Peter Lorimer and Paul Reaney (Leeds Utd)
- Footballers; Sunday only ~ John Barnes (England, Liverpool and Watford), Mark Wright (England, Liverpool and Derby County)
- Boxers; Saturday and Sunday ~ Leon Spinks, Roberto Duran and Ernie Shavers
- Snooker; Saturday only ~ Jimmy White
So, if this does sound your sort of thing, why not pay Birmingham a visit this weekend? I can certainly vouch for Brum, it’s a great city. Plus, if I may add, a good friend of mine, who generally has no retro, film or fantasy hang-ups, got roped into going along to a Memorabilia show recently and despite her major misgivings really rather enjoyed it. She ended up getting a host of the actors from Predator to sign a poster of said film that now proudly hangs in her home. Sure, Predator may not be to everyone’s taste (right or wrong, not everyone’s a fan of cheesy Arnie flicks from back in the day), but you get my point, I’m sure. 
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Spring Memorabilia Show
The NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT
Tel/Fax: +44 0844 448 7600 (10am to 4pm – Monday to Friday)
General opening ~ Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 5pm (Last ticket sale 4pm)
Early entry opening ~ Saturday: 9am to 5 pm (Last ticket sale 10.55am)/ Sunday: 10am to 5pm (Last ticket sale 10.55am)
General entry tickets ~ Adult Ticket: £10 (15 years old & above) / Child Ticket: £5 (5 to 14 years old)/ Family Ticket £30 (2 Adults and up to 3 children)/ OAP (Over 60) £5
Early Entry Tickets are £15 each regardless of Adult or Child, plus £1 booking fee per ticket/ Family Early Entry Tickets are £35 each and include 2 Adults and up to 3 children, plus £1 booking fee per ticket
Autograph signings are generally £10 or £15
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