SMUGGLERS PRESENTS: SUSSEX COMIC CON: AUGUST 8TH 2021

It finally happened! I attended a show to meet Star Wars actors and add some autographs to my collection for the first time since LFCC February 2020!

Smugglers Events are run by Richard Friend and have a send in service organised by GC Signings. Richard started doing events around 2018, so is relatively new to the scene. I have previously been to their Croydon Con in 2019 and really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and time to chat with the guests. Smugglers raise money for charity with their conventions and Sussex Comic Con was raising money for Dom’s Food Mission.

As Sussex Comic Con approached, I wondered “is this really going to happen?” Smugglers have been very transparent in the lead up to the event, they gave notice over Facebook if guests cancelled and replaced any cancellations with new guests.

Here is the latest list with prices that was posted prior to the event.

In the run up to the event I messaged a few collector friends in the UK to find out who was attending, ordered some new pens and started going through my folders pulling out items to add autographs to. I really enjoy the prep, it’s always a good opportunity to look over the folders and reminisce on previous conventions as well as generally check out my collection.

I decided to go up for just the Sunday as most of the Star Wars guests were doing both days. I drove down with my collecting buddy Lewis, it was absolutely hammering down with rain. It took almost 3 hours in total to get from Southampton to Robertsbridge College, which was not to far away from Hastings. It was certainly in the most remote location I’ve attended, and the convention was held in the college sports halls.

We arrived at just gone midday, paid the £10 entry fee on the door, and I asked if we should be wearing a mask or if there was anything to be aware of when approaching the guests. I was told that masks were down to the individual’s preference and to check with the guests. I walked into the first hall, there were your standard stalls selling Funkos and lots of tables displaying and promoting cosplayers, I had tunnel vision (as always) on the Star Wars guests and trying to work out where they were. I spotted David Stone straight away and after a quick look around was surprised to see not many people at all wearing masks, the guests or the public. General first impression is it was quite busy but no where near rammed, which was perfect.

Before I took a step further, I felt a prod in the back and turned round to see my good friend Graham Crawley. Graham was running the send in service for the event and as always was carrying lots of bags, tubes and folders. It was so nice to see Graham, someone who I would always make time to hang out with at cons and get graphs with. I asked about guests using our own pens, this seemed to be fine so over to see David Stone with Graham and Lewis.

At David’s Table I spotted another UK con regular Andy and the four of us chatted with David Stone. David was happy to be back at conventions, signing is a major income for these guys, so he was pleased to be back out there making some money and meeting the fans.

I had my 10×20 Cantina multi to add him to and I had a new Edding gold paint pen to try out, this one was a lot thicker than I have used before and as I warmed it up, I worried about the amount of paint that was coming out of it! I really like paint pens but it’s always a massive risk using them, especially on multis. Turned out very nice, thankfully no blobbing!

I also picked up a black and white table photo of David’s character Wioslea and got that signed with my new red paint pen made by Molotov. I’ve used this pen before and trust it, it’s a nice darker red than other ones I’ve tried and seen.

I then went on to meet Pam Rose, I’ve not met Pam before and she was an absolute delight. We spoke about her involvement with Superman the movie and she signed an image of her in the daily planet. All the daily planet scenes were shot in an office block in Milton Keynes, we spoke about her time on the set and parties that happened outside of filming. Pam told me she went out with Christopher Reeve during the filming of 1 and 2 and spoke very highly of him

Pam was very easy going and was full of cheeky inuendo, in fact quite the flirt I’d say. I really enjoyed meeting Pam, full of beans and seemed genuinely happy to be there and chat to me. As I had remembered to get the camera out to take shots of her signing, I asked if we could have a picture together to which she obliged.

I then bumped into another collector friend, Jamie, who was also down for the day. Whilst we were chatting Trevor Butterfield returned to his table. I always feel a little guilty seeing these guys at there tables and not getting their graphs, Trevor played quite a few characters in ROTJ. Jamie spotted a Celebration 8×10 of the Mon Cals on his table and got one signed. When the pen didn’t work as expected Trevor actually offered him another for free which was nice of him. Trevor was quite up front with not knowing if he was in bridge scene or not, he was saying once the Mon Cal mask was on his head he had no idea which direction people were sending him as he couldn’t see a thing!

Hugh Spight was the next guest to meet and he was finally clear of cameras and two guys filming him. He told me there is a documentary film being made of his life so that’s one to watch out for. We spoke about the Gamorean Guard suit, he said that he was one of the main actors in the scenes in Jabbas Palace, due to his size and his experience on working on the Dark Crystal acting in big suits. I got a few Gammy pieces done.

This one was signed with a silver Edding pen that I brought along, he has a fantastic autograph.

I added Hugh to an 8×10 opx that already had Joe Gibson and Simon Williamson on..

Really pleased with this one, he did a nice big autograph using a blue Edding pen. He really does have penmanship Peter Cushing would have appreciated I think!

Finally I added him to my 10×20 Jabba’s palace multi which I started at the last con I went to.

When I was getting my things out the way so Andy and Jamie could get their pieces done, Hugh kindly waved another 8×10 at me and me a free autograph of him as prune face in the ROTJ rebel briefing room, which was very kind of him.

Hugh was awesome, thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and got some sweet graphs added to the collection.

Next up was Tim Rose. I had noticed Tim had people in front of his table since I got in the room and I soon realised why! Tim would give you a full story between each autograph he signed, an incredible guy who really enjoyed talking about his experiences of making Star Wars films. My friend Lewis was waiting at his table for a considerable time as there were a couple of guys getting about 20 pieces signed – graph , story, graph, story…! At this time there were now four of us collector pals at his table, we patiently waited for him to finish up with the people in front and went about getting pieces signed and talking with Tim.

When Tim signed my bridge shot he told me that director Richard Marquand had instructed him to celebrate the Death Star blowing up in ROTJ. The background actors were all jumping round but he felt that Admiral Ackbar would be relieved the war was over and thinking about all those that were lost in battle. Tim improvised the scene and opted to slump in is chair and take a deep breath in to show this emotion. Amazing that Tim did this and showed the thought that he put into the performance, and also going against what the director wanted as he had a better idea on how to convey Ackbar’s emotions. Next time I watch ROTJ I will be looking out for the slump and deep breath!

Tim then signed my Salicious Crumb celebration shot in a nice blue Edding pen that my friend again sorted me out with, I really like these pens as they are so bright and really pop.

Following the signing of the Salacious Crumb Celebration image Tim then told us the story of Harrison Ford requesting to getting him sacked from ROTJ. Whilst puppeteering Salacious Crumb under the stage Ford took a joke the wrong way and said “Whoever that guy is I want him gone”. The producer said to Tim “I’m sorry you have to go.” Tim asked who was going to do the puppeteering and the producer said the new guy pointing at Tim! As Tim was hidden under the stage Ford had no idea who he was, so from that moment Tim was referred to as the new guy. He then signed the following OPX “the new guy”

Tim Rose is an absolute legend, we spoke in depth about The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi compared to the originals. I must have spent over half an hour at Tim’s table listening to his stories and getting pieces signed along with my collector buddies. I would absolutely recommend any fan to meet him, he is a true gent who’s great with fans and made the convention experience pretty special!

As we left to go back to the other room I realised I’d missed Eileen Roberts, the time had flown by and people were packing up. I just managed to catch Chris Bun and got him on another blank OPX 8×10 which I was happy about, a very brief encounter but got the job done.

Overall, I really enjoyed my first con back. Having worked remotely for the last year and a half, and only recently being able to socialise again. It was submersion back into the world of comic cons and in person Star Wars autographs. Sussex Comic Con was small and relaxed and a great way to dip the toes back into this world.

Meeting some great Star Wars actors, getting some nice additions to my collection and catching up with collector friends was a superb way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

During the 3-hour drive home, Lewis and I reminisced about the experiences we had. I would highly recommend Smugglers events for great Original Trilogy guests and a relaxed atmosphere. I will most certainly be attending their next event at Croydon Saturday 6^th of November.