Chalky & Shirt…

…The Mayne Event.

It had been twenty years since Chalky and Shirt had first met and become friends.

“It seems longer !”, mumbled Chalky.

How else to celebrate but to attend a signing, or even better, two signings.

The What Shop, having not had any signings for a while, had announced a signing for the DVD release of Chalky’s favourite ‘Doctor Who’ story, “Delta & The Bannermen”, by Delta herself – Belinda Mayne. On the same day, Seventh Galaxy Events were hosting Lindsay Coulson (from ‘Midnight’), Hugh Walters and Derek Martin. Having met the latter two before, Shirt was only interested in meeting Ms. Coulson for another signature on his Series 4 poster. Chalky having not attended any signings for eighteen months, was pleased to have an excuse to give to Tigger to accompany Shirt.

Meeting at Victoria Station, in the time-honoured place, they made their way into the Underground as they had done so many times before over the past twenty years. Getting to Barking was not going to be difficult, but due to weekend engineering works, the onward journey to East Ham would be tricky, which meant that it was good news that the second signing would now be an hour later. Using the District Line and c2c services, they soon found themselves making their way out of Barking Station and down the High Street, and through the market.

Shirt suddenly stopped at a small door, and opening it, gestured for Chalky to follow him, as they climbed the small staircase and Chalky had his first experience of Barking ‘Social Club’. Hugh Walters had been delayed, but the queue was moving reasonably swiftly for the other two. Paying Mrs. Hamble for one autograph, Shirt joined the queue, whilst Chalky saved him a place at a nearby table.

Five minutes later and Shirt had another signature on his Series 4 poster and joined Chalky at a nearby table.

Ten minutes later, and Hugh Walters arrived just in time for the panel, which progressed along familiar lines – “What was it like working with (name of Doctor) ?”, “You were also in (other classic show), tell us about working on that” – with ‘Eastenders’ being a strong topic due to the panel having a current and past cast member on it. The panel was the longest yet due the enthusiasm of the guests, but after forty minutes came to an end. There was then a long queue for Hugh, but Chalky and Shirt simply made a quick getaway, returning to the Station to catch a Replacement Bus Service. After about five minutes, Shirt realised that they were waiting on the wrong side of the road, and so they crossed over.

A few minutes later, a bus labelled ‘Rail Replacement Service’ arrived at the bus stop, and so they attempted to board, before being told that they had to catch the bus at a stop further back down the road, as the bus was simply dropping off a few less mobile passengers.

The arrival of another bus which seemed to also go to East Ham, meant that the two got on this instead. The packed bus slowly made its way towards East Ham, with Chalky and Shirt becoming separated in the crush. They also got off a stop too soon, and therefore had to walk up the High Street.

Farcical journey completed, and approaching the shop and seeing no queue, Shirt was initially worried that he remembered hearing something about the shop moving, and was concerned that this might have already happened and that they were therefore in the wrong place. However, these fears proved unfounded, and they entered the shop, briefly browsing the shelves before approaching the cashdesk to find out how it was all working. Helen A greeted them as old friends, and it was now Chalky’s turn to be concerned, at the seeming lack of “Delta” DVDs, only photos of Belinda. However, on cue, Helen A produced a large box of DVDs from under the counter.

Chalky purchased one, but refused the offer of a photograph, even at the bargain price of £5. He then chose to tell Helen A about little Mavic Chen, the reason for his frugality. Shirt having no such drain on his finances, bought the DVD and photo. Helen A confirmed that the shop was moving, opening in new premises in Upton Park on 4^th July.

There being no queue outside, and half-an-hour until the signing, Chalky and Shirt decided to wander the streets of East Ham, Shirt buying a copy of the Daily Mirror to get a ‘Doctor Who Adventures Collectors Magazine’. Returning to the shop, they joined a medium-length queue. A few minutes later, a car drew up driven by Joseph C and Ms. Mayne got out, and entered the shop. Ten minutes later, and on time, the signing started.

About fifteen minutes later and they were being beckoned into the shop, and joined the small queue to the signing table.

Chalky was first, getting his DVD cover, video sleeve and novelisation signed.

“Can I have a photo with you ?”, he asked Belinda.

Shirt meanwhile was struggling with his temperamental digital camera.

Posing with Belinda, Chalky looked expectantly at Shirt, who finally managed to take a photo of them.

Thanking Belinda, and doing his usual ‘Delta’ spiel, Chalky moved off.

Shirt then proceeded to get his DVD sleeve, video sleeve, “The Eighties” and photograph signed.

“Do you want a photo with Belinda ?”, Chalky hissed.

“No”, whispered back Shirt, feeling that his camera would not cope with two photos in such quick succession.

Exiting the shop, having been given cards with the shop’s new address on, they made their way back to the High Street, catching a replacement bus which went much quicker on the way back, and was not so crowded. Back at Barking, they retraced their journey to Victoria, and then East Croydon, where they met up with Tigger, Maple and Mavic Chen. On the journey, Chalky asked Shirt to be Mavic Chen’s ‘Faith Guardian’ (a little like the White and Black Guardians, but more religious).

Having browsed the shops, including Naughty Asteroid where Chalky spent the vouchers given to him by Mavic Chen a day early for Father’s Day on Large Endings CDs (one featuring the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa [quelle surprise!], and the other the Sixth Doctor & Charley [Shirt’s influence]).

Having presented Chalky with a commemorative ‘Jay & Silent Bob’ framed picture and film cells, Shirt wended his way home, whilst Chalky returned home with Tigger and Mavic Chen, both thinking about the past twenty years of fun, friendship and fandom !!

[PL]