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Neve McIntosh, Louise Jameson, Sophie Aldred, and Katy Manning Headline Bedford Who Charity Con 10

Bedford Who Charity Con 10 is coming up on Saturday 5th April – and readers of the DWC are, of course, warmly invited!

It’s our tenth anniversary, so we’re looking forward to a very special day. Over the years, Bedford Who has raised £60,000 for charity, thanks to the generosity of the fans, cast, and crew of Doctor Who, and to the businesses who’ve sponsored us. This time, everything we make once we’ve paid off our costs will be going to SMART; they look after the needs of local people who are homeless.

We’ve got a good line-up. So far, it’s Neve McIntosh (Madame Vastra and several other Silurians!), Louise Jameson (Leela), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Katy Manning (Jo), Jill Curzon (Louise in the second Dalek film), Virginia Wetherell (Dyoni in The Daleks/ The Dead Planet; she was also in A Clockwork Orange), and Peter Roy (supporting artist from the William Hartnell to the Peter Davison years). We’re working with agents to secure some more guests soon.

We sold out well before the convention last year; tickets this time are selling more quickly than ever before. So, if you’d like to come, please do buy your tickets as soon as you can!

Colin Baker called Bedford Who ‘the standout fan and guest event of the year’. If you asked me whether Colin’s right and it’s actually worth going to, I’d of course be far too modest to boast, being a shy and retiring sort of chap. I wouldn’t, for example, say that we’ve got a strong reputation for running warm, relaxed, friendly, and welcoming conventions with a lovely atmosphere. No, no, no. That would sound far too much like sales pitch. We’re pretty traditional in style: the day’s a mixture of panel interviews (the audience ask most of the questions), with breaks for autographs, photo opps, and a chance to visit the dealers’ room. Oh, and we have sketches too, performed by the actors, and they go down very well.

[Editor’s note: I went to the last one, and intend to go to this year’s event too, because I had such tremendous fun. The atmosphere was unlike any convention I’ve ever been to. Everyone is so joyous and interesting. It’s a real pleasure. The best convention I’ve ever been to. Please do support Simon if you can!]

If you can’t come but would nevertheless like to make a contribution to the convention’s charity (all of the money will go direct to them), please go to our JustGiving page. Even a couple of pounds makes a real difference: SMART comments that they face rising costs and dwindling funds, so you can be assured that every penny will be wisely spent. And, if you can help, sincere, heartfelt and eternal thanks.

If you run a business (or are associated with one) and would like to consider making a donation to the charity as one of our sponsors, please get in touch with me (Simon) on info@bedfordwhocharitycon.co.uk — business sponsorship considerably boosts the amount we can pass on to SMART; we’re massively grateful to everyone who’s helped in this way.

Bedford’s 50 miles north of London, easily accessible via the M1 and the A1. Train links from north and south (including from London) are good; there are more details about how to get there on our website.

Thanks for reading – and hope to see you in April!

Simon Danes

Neve McIntosh, Louise Jameson, Sophie Aldred, and Katy Manning Headline Bedford Who Charity Con 10

by Simon Danes time to read: 2 min
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