TOMB RAIDER MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS
Copyright 2001 www.tombraiderchronicles.com

[ November 6th 2001 ]

The stars came out in Birmingham as collectors descended in their thousands for the annual memorabilia show. They included actor Tom Baker, who was one of the most popular incarnations of Dr Who in the 1970s.

He said he was glad to be back in Birmingham as he said he had always had a great time in the city. "Some describe Birmingham as being rather dull but I don't think so. I can't tell you about my great times in a family newspaper! I do remember being chased by a marvellously lecherous old age pensioner with a wooden leg whilst I was in Educating Rita at the Alexandra Theatre."

Valerie Leon, who was a Bond girl to the likes of Roger Moore and Sean Connery, looked as glamorous as on the filmset of Never Say Never Again as she sat signing autographs.

She said: " find this show remarkable in that so many people spend their hard-earned money on memorabilia from old films, it's wonderful. It's very flattering. eople look at you differently when they realise you are a Bond girl. The whole thing was really glamorous. Sean Connery was very professional, Roger Moore was more jokey. It's wonderful to still have a following after nearly 20 years."

Darth Maul and Queen Amidala could be seen walking around the fair as ten-year-olds Patricia Lay and Liam Callanan got into the spirit of the event.

The family had travelled from London especially for the fair. Mum Eibhlis Lay said: "My partner has always been into collecting Star Wars so now my daughter is Star Wars mad too. We have been coming to the show for the last four years."

The show also attracts visitors from overseas. Thomas Seufferle travelled from Hamburg with his huge models from Tomb Raider to exhibit at the show as he says the market for collectables is so much better in the UK.

Coventry University students Miranda O'Brien and Kirsty Hillyer save up their grants to spend on memorabilia. They have come for the past three years to buy toys from their childhood and can blow up pounds 300 each a time.