[29] TK-46116 Troop Log

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[1] Cambridge Country Show
31st July 2021
 
My induction and first troop.
Spent the morning learning to crew, and the afternoon in armour (that's me in the middle). Busy, but not too busy. Great weather. Really nice bunch of guys to troop with.
 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by CallMeMrTibbles

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[2] Star Wars Fan Funeral
3rd August 2021
 
Honoured to be able to take part in this.
Funeral for a guy that was a huge star wars fan, and very active on various fan forums;, although I didn't personally know him. Not a 501st member, but of course we were happy to help when asked. A somber occasion, but it was appreciated by his family and friends.

Edited August 6, 2021 by CallMeMrTibbles

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[3] Twilight Walk - Leicester
14th August 2021
 
Meet and interact with those taking part in a charity walk raising money for LOROS hospice. Had a great evening.

Edited August 30, 2021 by CallMeMrTibbles

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[4] Essex Family Fest - Hornchurch
15th August 2021
 
Full day of meeting and entertaining folks at the busy and well run event. Very lucky with the weather, and a great crowd.

These guys also had a real sterling and a real mg34

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[5] Visit the Vulcan - Southend
22nd August 2021
 
Family day for kids and enthusiasts to get up close to one of the last few remaining Avro Vulcan bombers, plus other jet cockpits and exhibitors. Fairly quiet, but made up for with enthusiasm with kids really getting in the character role playing.
http://www.avrovulcan.com/

[baldtrooper[TK]]

On 8/4/2021 at 5:22 PM, CallMeMrTibbles said:

[2] Star Wars Fan Funeral
3rd August 2021
 
Honoured to be able to take part in this.
Funeral for a guy that was a huge star wars fan, and very active on various fan forums;, although I didn't personally know him. Not a 501st member, but of course we were happy to help when asked. A somber occasion, but it was appreciated by his family and friends.

ONORE

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

Strange Games Festival, Sussex, UK
28th August 2021

Not adding to my count as I was crewing, but wanted to add here as it was a fab, albeit quiet event. Set on a scout campsite, it was a festival for gaming. Not computers or consoles, but board games and role playing. Groups (of 2 to 20, some friends, some strangers) scattered around the site playing everything from Risk to Call of Cthulu, all day (and most of the night), with an archery range thrown in for good measure.

Edited August 30, 2021 by CallMeMrTibbles

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[6] Minster Lovell Beer Festival and family fun day - Oxfordshire, UK
29th August 2021

An afternoon of beer, cider and wine tasting, with great live music, and a great crowd. The event went on until 11pm, but as expected with that much alcohol we finished trooping just after 4pm, as the crew realised it was getting a bit 'lively'.

Edited August 30, 2021 by CallMeMrTibbles

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[7] Opening of Shinfield film and TV studios - Berkshire, UK
3rd September 2021
 
A corporate and PR event this time. 45 members of UK Garrison appeared in a variety of film and TV outfits (UKG covers more than just Star Wars).
 
This was particularly cool for me as its the University I graduated from 21 years ago.

https://fb.watch/7O4TPgIZHV/
 
https://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR859222.aspx
 
https://www.wokingham.today/cine-valley-hosts-launch-event-in-shinfield-this-morning/

Edited September 3, 2021 by CallMeMrTibbles

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[8] Essex Motorfest, Chelmsford, Essex, UK
4th September 2021
 
Large family festival with lots of show cars and truck, and live displays. Locals were questioned but we didn't find any rebel spies.

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[9] Essex Motorfest (2nd event), Chelmsford, Essex
5th September 2021

Day 2 of the motorfest weekend (UK Garrison treats each day as a separate event, with separate registrations). Same basic festival as yesterday, with 3 differences: much busier, much hotter weather, and I split the day with costuming in the morning and then crewing/spotting in the afternoon. Another great day.

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[10] Black and Gold Ball - Milton Keynes, UK
10th Septhember 2021

Formal fundraising event for The Henry Allen Trust, an organisation the UKG have supported many times.

We greeted the guests as they arrived for the evening, interacted and posed for photos (while checking for rebel spies), and guarded the dance floor while the Silver Sabers gave a display of lightsaber duelling. A great night.

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[11] Fundraiser in aid of pancreatic cancer - Lichfield, UK
11th September 2021

3 costumes (TK, TX and Jawa), 1 crew and 1 Galactic Academy Cadet (another Jawa) attended a garden centre to give an imperial presence to a small event promoting awareness of pancreatic cancer and a number of small independent stalls. A great, fun day, with a highlight being a young lad (early teens) that was selling prints of digital drawings he'd created. As a TK I pointed out the lack of imperial representation in his portfolio; by mid afternoon he had rectified that situation. A very talented young man.

https://www.facebook.com/Lazukoanimates/


Pic from today, not of the young artist


Love this

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

Funeral for a Star Wars fan - Hoddesdon, UK
16th September 2021
 
An honour to crew to two TKs for this important day

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

Headlines Family Weekend - Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, UK
 
This was a special one. Crewed to a family of four: Dad (tie pilot), Mom (gunner), and boys (Galactic Academy ewoks). Really great to enable them to all costume together, a rare event.
 
The event itself was a residential weekend for kids with maxilofacial conditions and their families. They didn't know we were coming, and the kids (and much of the staff) were thrilled to see us. Would definitely do this troop again if asked.

[baldtrooper[TK]]

On 9/18/2021 at 6:04 PM, CallMeMrTibbles said:

Funeral for a Star Wars fan - Hoddesdon, UK
16th September 2021
 
An honour to crew to two TKs for this important day


 

 

[baldtrooper[TK]]

ONORE

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[12] Let's Rock Norwich - Norwich, UK
25th September 2021
 
80s music festival starring actual 80 music stars. We heard Betty Boo, Hue and Cry, Then Jerico, Big Country, Altered Images and Black Lace (!?); we just missed Kim Wild.
 
A great event (in support of Child Bereavement), although cut short partly because of an overheated wookiee, and partly because of over excited and over grabby ladies after the alcohol started to kick in!

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[13] Ash gig - The Roundhouse, London, UK
25th September 2021
 
A drive from Norwich to London for the second event of the day; we were asked to maintain order by the band Ash at their London gig. I was a fan of Ash back in the day, so couldn't pass up this opportunity. Full AAA passes, and we spent time between acts greeting the queue outside (whilst checking for rebel scum), and had a great time. Spent some time with the band pre gig with the band chatting and getting some pics. A great night.

(If you don't know the band look up Ash on your favourite streaming service. Some great tunes)

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[14] NorCon- Norwich, UK
26th September 2021
 
Back up to Norfolk for NorCon. Another great day mostly spent greeting cosplayers and Joe Public as they came through the gates, followed by some parades through the crowd at the con and some time in front of the orchestra as they played music from the movies. Great fun, and def an event I'd troop again.

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[15] Mil D Con - RAF Mildenhall, Norfolk, UK
2nd October 2021
 
A ComiCon run specifically for US servicemen and women and their families at RAF Mildenhall. It was a really fun day, with lots of great interaction. Several rebels were spotted, but a temporary cease fire ensured a trouble free day. Also, was great to meet Scottish actor James Cosmo; a really friendly guy who almost made me look short.

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[16, 17 and 18] MCM ComiCon London
22nd, 23rd, 24th October 2021
 
My first big ComiCon, and certainly didn't disappoint. Due to covid ticket sales were more limited than previous years, and new owners/management who haven't used 501st before didn't allow us to bring along as many people. But, it was still very busy, and our lower numbers (around 60 costume and 20 crew) meant were we all very busy during long days. Of course it was worth it though.
 




Lots of visitors to our stall which had a death star wall and full size speeder bike (not functioning unfortunately), and photo requests that must've numbered in the hundreds.


 
3 weeks then we do the same event again in Birmingham. Can't wait!


And this was the quiet part of the Con!

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

Just wanted to add a foot note to the London ComiCon I did last weekend. This is something that comes up occasionally and I think it's an important point, especially for new costumers.

 

I was approached at one point by a family, one of which was in costume and wanted a photo with me; of course I obliged.

 

After the pic I was told that a couple years ago his brother was ill and in a wheelchair and he had a lot of pictures taken with UKG at an event and had a lot of fun with us. This guy subsequently died. The meeting with us was a massive highlight at an otherwise very dark time, and it is a bright memory for the family.

 

When I met them at the weekend they really wanted to express their thanks and talked about him and showed photos. I can't tell you how touching it was, and it really shows how we're so much more than just a bunch of plastic spacemen.

 

'Bad guys doing good' is exactly right, and I think we should never underestimate the effect we can have on others even if we don't realise it at the time.

 

Keep up the good work all 

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[19] Trucks and Fireworks, Brands Hatch Racetrack, UK
7th November 2021

My first cold weather troop, and it was really cold. Made the mistake of thinking because it was sunny my thin undersuit would be fine. After lunch I was wearing a tshirt plus my cold and warm weather undersuits, and then I was fine.

The low temperatures didn't deter the crowds though, and it was a great event, with a noisy background of truck racing at the famous Brands Hatch circuit.

No pics yet, but hopefully some to come soon.

[CallMeMrTibbles[501st]]

[20] Funeral for a Star Wars fan, Sheffield, UK
8th November 2021

Honoured to once again attend the funeral for a Star Wars fan. Always a solemn event, but it means a lot to be there, especially knowing how it is to family and friends.

This is the first time for me where we've been specifically asked to remain after the service, and through conversations it was clear how meaningful our presence was.