Attendees at the Blackpool Convention Dinner in 2015 arrived to find a number of folders on each table containing a history of the Convention Dinners. Put together by current Convention co-organiser David Watson in honour of the 30th anniversary of the Film Collectors’ Dinners, they are a fascinating year-by-year record of the event up to 2015, and the people and personalities associated with it. Our thanks go to David for allowing us to reproduce his words and images here.
As David said in the introduction “For those who have been to a lot of the past Convention Dinners, I hope this ‘book’ will will bring back some pleasant memories, and for those that haven’t, I hope it will give some insight to those past Dinners.”
This is a long article with a reading time of approximately 45 minutes. If you wish, you can skip to a decade by clicking or tapping on the links below.
1985
The very first Convention Dinner and a new venue for the Convention itself, the Cliffs Hotel, November 23rd. Around 70 people sat down for a four course dinner at a cost of £7.50. Lots of people had taken advantage of Derann’s hotel package deal and took bed, breakfast and the Convention meal offer, all for £21.00.
Unlike the following years where diners would be seated at numerous circular tables, this first Dinner saw a long top table with five other long tables joined to and at right angles to the top table. After a very nice meal, Derek Simmonds thanked all there for their support with this new venture and said he hoped it would carry on in the future. He continued by telling diners of Derann’s plans for 1986 and about some of their forthcoming releases. Derek then introduced the after-dinner speaker – Movie Maker magazine’s John Wright who entertained those there with his banter, his famously funny stories and his terrible puns.
To conclude the evening, Derann premiered the full-length Super 8 feature THAT’S DANCING. The diners really enjoyed it. Incidentally, this was the one and only time that a full-length Super 8 feature was shown after a Convention Dinner. The diners retired saying what a great night it had been and hoped it would become a regular part of the Blackpool Convention.
1986
The second Convention Dinner, this year saw a large increase in the number of diners, over 160 people, so much of an increase that the Dinner moved into the Cliffs’ largest dining room.
The night began with a procession of Derann staff and the founder of the Blackpool Convention, Les Sidall and his wife, to the top table. After this, all diners were seated, Derek spoke and thanked diners for attending this bigger and better Dinner. He then proceeded to show a Pathe Newsreel with the familiar voice of Bob Danvers-Walker narrating the newsreel scenes. Then the film seemed to develop a sound fault, but all was not lost, as the film narration was taken over by the surprise guest speaker for the night – none other than Bob Danvers-Walker himself, using a microphone. This was the novel way in which Derek introduced the night’s guest; diners gave a round of applause to Mr. Danvers-Walker.
The four-course dinner was then served and all reports say that the diners enjoyed it a lot. Dinner over, Bob Danvers-Walker stood up and gave his speech in which he recounted various stories over his long years with Pathe News and some of the historical moments and events reported by the Pathe Newsreels. After his speech, Bob autographed many of the diners’ menu cards and posed for photos.
The film show to conclude the evening was a 16mm print of MGM’s HOLLYWOOD: THE DREAM FACTORY, a film similar in vein to THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT. Derann tried to get the rights to release this film on Super 8, but unfortunately MGM refused.
1987
We again saw an increase in the number of people at the Dinner, proof that the nights were gaining in popularity. It was hoped to have Carry-On film star Kenneth Williams as the after-dinner speaker, but the cost was prohibitive – it would have increased the cost of a Dinner ticket by £6.00. Fellow Carry-On star Kenneth Connor was willing to come to the Dinner, work permitting, but unfortunately for us a regular part in the BBC comedy Hi-De-Hi came up for him and he couldn’t attend.
However, we did have a guest speaker on the night – Michael Pertwee, a film scriptwriter and brother of Jon Pertwee (the Third Doctor Who and Worzel Gummidge). Mr Pertwee, who has written scripts for films such as LAUGHTER IN PARADISE, and THE MOUSE ON THE MOON, recounted amusing anecdotes of his time in the film industry and some of its well-known stars. Afterwards he signed autographs and posed for photographs with the diners. There was more entertainment – magician and illusionist Harry Nichols who amazed diners with his sleight of hand and card tricks.
Derek brought the evening to an end with his film show of future releases, including THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, THE SECRET OF NIMH and THE JOLSON STORY.
1988
This Convention Dinner was, to many film collectors, the best ever because the after-dinner speaker was none other than stop-motion and film effects genius Ray Harryhausen. Famous for his many sci-fi and fantasy/monster movies such as MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH, THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, CLASH OF THE TITANS and many others.
After a delicious dinner, Derek was about to give his by now traditional speech when the evening was interrupted by two uniformed police officers who had come to arrest Derann staff member John Thompson on a charge of speeding, the offence occurring on his journey to Blackpool that morning. It turned out to be a surprise birthday Strip-O-Gram for John, plotted by Derek. Instead of taking down John’s details, one of the Officers, an attractive ‘Woman Police Constable’ promptly proceeded to take down her own ‘particulars’ and handcuffed John, much to his embarrassment and the amusement of all the diners, including John’s wife.
After the ‘Police Officers’ had left and the laughing subsided, Derek gave his speech and the introduced the night’s special guest, Mr. Ray Harryhausen. Ray began by showing some extracts of several of his films on 16mm. Then he gave a talk about his work – you could have heard a pin drop in the dining room as Ray enthralled diners with his stories and accounts of making his stop-motion films. He had the audience fascinated with his presentation and demonstrations of several of the actual models used in his film productions, including the Skeleton Swordsmen, the Ape Creature and the Moon Men, amongst others.
To end his talk, and the night, the diners were privileged to be shown, on 16mm, MOTHER GOOSE STORIES – enchanting, animated shorts Ray had made in the 1940s in his own garage. The diners gave Ray a tremendous round of applause to show how much they had enjoyed his talk and films.
As the night wound up, Ray kindly signed autographs and posed for photos with many of the delighted diners. I don’t think there will ever be a Convention Dinner to beat this one.
1989
We saw a change at the Convention Dinner this time. For the past three years at the Dinner there had been an after-dinner speaker, all from the film industry – namely Bob Danvers-Walker of Pathe Newsreels; Michael Pertwee, movie scriptwriter; and of course Ray Harryhausen, special effects master. But this year, to complement the premiere of THE AL JOLSON STORY on Super 8 at Sunday’s Film Fair, the after-dinner entertainment was artist Steve King who is an Al Jolson impersonator. Steve sang many of Jolson’s well-known number and was a big hit with the diners.
1989 also saw the first appearance of the Convention Dinner master of ceremonies, the irrepressible and witty David Erskine, keeping the evening buzzing along.
Throughout the evening, the Derann staff went around the many tables selling raffle tickets. Near to the end of the night, the raffle draw took place and the lucky winner received a colour television. All the raffle proceeds – almost £500 – went to BBC charity Children in Need.
Derek’s film show included Disney’s MERBABIES, Tex Avery’s THE ISLAND OF PINGO PONGO, trailers including A STAR IS BORN, and extracts from HIGHLANDER, POLTERGEIST, and ALIENS.
1990
Derann used this year’s Dinner to celebrate 25 years in business.
The night was a fancy dress party, diners coming dressed as various film stars and personalities. On entering the function room, each diner was greeted by Derek and Anne Simmonds and then had their photographs taken with their hosts, alongside a large 25th anniversary cake, which diners later enjoyed with their coffee after the dinner.
During the evening, various people including Keith Wilton, Ian O’Reilly of Perry’s Movies, and Vic Hayes of Rank Laboratories gave speeches congratulating Derann on their 25 years of trading. After the dinner, Derann gave out awards for the best male and best female costumes, and for the funniest costume.
As part of the night’s entertainment, there was a so-called murder night mystery involving a supposed murder of a stuntman, in which diners were to observe and work out clues as to the murderer. It all dragged very tediously and most diners were relieved when it came to an end!
The night picked up again when the cabaret started. Lee Clarke, entertainer and comic had the diners rocking with laughter at his jokes, even if they were rather blue. His musical finale with electric piano went down a storm with everyone.
Lastly, after a long but enjoyable evening, Derek’s film show closed the night with recent and forthcoming releases including trailers to ROMANCING THE STONE and JEWEL OF THE NILE, cartoons from POLKA DOT PUSS, clips from CARRY ON SCREAMING and COCOON, and a long extract from HELLO DOLLY.
1991
This is the year that sticks in many collectors’ memories, diners having taken their seats at respective tables and had a warm welcome from Derek to the seventh Blackpool Convention Dinner. Diners enjoyed the excellent four-course dinner, but what was that board covered in glitzy cloth standing close to the top table for?
Well, after the dinner, the diners found out. Derek stood up and in a loud voice announced “Ladies and Gentlemen…” then with a flash and a bang the glitzy cover was whipped off the board, revealing Disney characters – Aerial and her friends from THE LITTLE MERMAID – and Mickey Mouse etc. from MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL “…Derann are very proud to announce that Disney, via Derann are to re-enter the 8mm market with new releases”. After a moment or two of stunned silence, the diners broke into a deafening round of applause, many people standing up to clap.
With a huge smile on his face, Derek went on to say that after over 12 years of trying, he had persuaded Disney to allow Derann to release their films on Super 8, and incredibly – for the first time ever – their full length features. Working through Disney’s video distribution arm, Derann were to release MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL – a Disney short, and THE LITTLE MERMAID as a full-length feature. To say that collectors at the Dinner were over the moon is an under-statement. Many collectors quickly asked Derek about other Disney titles, but Derek could only tell them that these were the only titles agreed so far, and he would have to wait and see what Disney would allow to be released thereafter.
After all this excitement and chatter from elated diners, the night continued with the night’s entertainer comedian and illusionist Brodie Fry. The finale of his act was to get three diners, including Derek Simmonds, up on the stage. Each person had a chair on which they had to try and sit, but every time they tried they would receive a sharp electric shock making them jump sky high. This had the audience laughing fit to bust; the final pay-off was when Derek grabbed the chair and couldn’t let go – Brodie Fry left Derek stuck to the chair for quite a while, only releasing him in time for the film show.
Eventually we got to the final event of the night: the film show. Along with other films shown, there were the following: trailers to DIE HARD II, GULLIVER’S TRAVELS, WEST SIDE STORY; a Tom & Jerry JERRY’S COUSIN, and another cartoon BASHFUL BUZZARD; and extracts from the following features THE RAILWAY CHILDREN, DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE and, at long last, ALIEN.
The diners left the Dinner with only one topic of conversation – the forthcoming Disneys.
1992
This was probably the best-attended Convention Dinner ever, with a staggering 239 diners, including some collectors all the way from Germany arriving at the last minute, which Derek and the hotel staff managed to squeeze into the Dinner.
The function room was absolutely crammed; I don’t think any more could have been fitted in. This made for a noisy but great atmosphere all night – and a very warm room.
In his speech, Derek thanked a number of people for their efforts on behalf of the collectors, including Anne Simmonds, and Keith Wilton. He went on to tell diners of the success of the Disney releases and other product, and about some of the other releases he hoped to do.
The cabaret artist was Ben Murphy who got three diners, namely Mike Dimmock of Derann, Peter John of Rank Labs, and Charlotte Locke on stage as his victims, the entertainer subjecting them to much mocking, teasing and jokes at their expense. The other diners seemed to find it very funny, but I don’t think his victims did.
The after-dinner film show was one of Derek’s best, with fantastic clips from the new Disneys – i.e. THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER, CINDERELLA, MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL, and also a long extract from THE KING AND I.
At the end of the show, the diners gave a rousing round of applause and even some cheers in appreciation of the new Disneys, at long last available.
1993
On this occasion it was noticed that all the Derann staff were wearing Mickey Mouse ties. Some wag said it was because Derann were a ‘Mickey Mouse’ operation, but the truth was it was Mickey Mouse’s 65th birthday, and also in recognition of the representative from the Walt Disney Company who was a special guest at the Convention Dinner.
As the dinner was served, the film quiz got underway: MC David Erskine asking the questions and throwing in jokes and insults as it went along. At the end, table ‘U’ were the winners, their prize a round of drinks on Derek. John Huntley was on table ‘U’ so you know why they won.
The meal over, Derek gave his speech and then introduced the representative from Disney, a charming young lady called Maggie Allison who talked knowledgeably about the Disney organisation and answering questions from collectors. She told how Disney was happy with the results from Derann’s releasing of their films on Super 8.
When asked about a possible released of the feature FANTASIA, Maggie had to inform collectors that this was not possible – Disney headquarters in America would not allow it, but that other Disney features and shorts would be forthcoming.
After the speeches, Derek got down to showing the night’s film show. Several of the Disney releases of course including clips from THE JUNGLE BOOK, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, MICKEY’S FIRE BRIGADE, then a Tex Avery cartoon COUNTERFEIT CAT, an extract from YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, and other vintage films.
The night ended all too quickly at around 12.30am.
1994
This was the tenth Convention Dinner and sadly the last to be held at the Cliffs Hotel. The Cliffs were moving away from catering for conferences and conventions etc. and concentrating on weekend holiday breaks and so after this year the hotel was no longer available to Derann for the Conventions and Dinners. This last meal was excellent, the diners enjoying four courses, the main course being turkey with all the trimmings.
The film quiz was a little different, some of the questions being asked by MC David Erskine, the others being audio, taken from film soundtracks for the diners to listen to. It caused some confusion but it worked out in the end. Raffle tickets were on sale most of the night with lots of good prizes up for grabs.
After the dinner, Derek stood up and thanked everyone for coming to the Dinner and for continuing to buy films, he of course thanked his wife for again organising the Dinner. He then went on to explain the situation with the Cliffs Hotel and to announce he had just that afternoon managed to secure the Savoy Hotel for future Conventions and Dinners, much to the relief of the diners.
Tommy Mundon, one of Derek’s favourite comedians, made his first appearance at the Dinner and soon had the diners in fits of laughter with his stories and anecdotes.
And so on to the film show which started with the film badly out of rack, with Derek struggling to correct it to the sound of booing and laughter from the audience. Films included Tex Avery’s VENTRILOQUIST CAT, Tom and Jerry in TRAP HAPPY, the trailer to NAKED GUN 33⅓, and a long extract from Derann’s latest feature release of Disney’s greatest film SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.
1995
The first Convention and Dinner at the Savoy Hotel. The Dinners at the Cliffs were very popular and a bit special – would they be the same at the Savoy? The first Dinner was held in the Savoy’s Derby Suite, the two main players Derek Simmonds and MC David Erskine were trying to outdo each other with their very colourful and flamboyant waistcoats, almost as loud as them.
The meal was of good quality, but a bit more on the plate for the main course would have been welcome. The film quiz was as head scratching as any we had at the Cliffs. In the raffle, the good news was that Mr Attwood didn’t win much this year. In his speech, Derek said that although video was making inroads, he fully intended to stay with Super 8.
The cabaret artist was Lee Clarke returning for his second appearance at the Dinner, his comedy and musical numbers again went down well with the diners, giving Lee a big round of applause at the end.
It was about midnight before the film show got underway, with Tom and Jerry in PUSS N’ TOOTS, WOODLAND CAFE, LION KING promo reel with Elton John, and others including clips from THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and Disney’s THE FOX AND THE HOUND. The evening coming to an end around 1am.
1996
One of the things we remember about 1996 was the weather. We had the lot: wind, rain, fog, frost and a fair bit of snow. But this did not put off collectors and around 200 diners sat down for this year’s Convention Dinner. It was a nice meal, but some thought the portions were a bit small.
MC David Erskine was in good form, keeping the jokes and insults flowing all night. He introduced two collectors’ wives – Carol Bryce and Barbara Bartlett – who bravely stood up and gave humorous speeches about their collector husbands and their lives together. Our friends from Germany were again with us, and also collectors from France, Belgium, and of course the regular contingent from Ireland.
We don’t seem to have any record of the raffle, but there was one – but who won? There was no cabaret artist this year, but there was for the first time horse racing films. These went well, especially with those who won on the betting… several diners asked if the racing films could be a regular item each year.
Derek’s film show started a little out of focus – no change there – the drink? He had clips from recent releases such as 101 DALMATIANS, TOY STORY, DIE HARD III, a Tom and Jerry MISSING MOUSE and the latest Advert Reel #26 etc…
1997
The Dinner this year looked back over the past years of the Convention as this year the Convention was 21 years old.
Bob Nicholls gave a little talk about the Convention over its 21 years – its highs and lows, the well-known characters and those sadly no longer with us. He concluded with some ‘silver screen awards’ – he presented Derek Simmonds and Ged Jones with two, extra-large hats for their ‘big heads’, Barry Littlechild won Columnist of the Year award and Maurice Andrews won an award for the only collector to ‘have the film or seen the film or doesn’t want the film’. Their prizes were very large Blackpool rock dummies. Enough said…
The meal itself was judged by most of the 155 diners to be one of the best ever and certainly better than last year’s.
The quiz by Ged and Derek ran, of course, during the meal, as tough as ever. Here’s one of the questions: Who first portrayed Little Lord Fauntleroy on film? No, it wasn’t Freddie Bartholomew, it was in fact Mary Pickford who played two roles in the 1921 film – she played the boy, and his mother.
The raffle was popular as ever, Barry Attwood won the first prize – a colour television. After the meal Derek also reminisced over 21 years of the Blackpool Convention, recalling many facts and amusing stories from those years. Then Derek introduced the night’s entertainment – Tommy Mundon – who had the diners howling with laughter with his Black Country humour and banter.
Derek finished the evening with his film show with clips from recent and new releases – Betty Boop RED HOT MAMA, Tom and Jerry NEAPOLITAN MOUSE, REFLECTIONS, INDEPENDENCE DAY etc…
1998
Derann had hoped to have actress Suzanna Leigh as the celebrity guest and speaker at this year’s Dinner, but work commitments prevented her attending.
Poor Anne Simmonds couldn’t be there either having been in hospital for two hip replacement operations, but this hadn’t stopped her from organising a great Dinner and the hotel rooms. The number at the Convention Dinner was a little down on previous years so the Dinner was held in the smaller Derby Suite, but on the day of the Dinner, 11 people came up to Derek asking for Dinner tickets. Sadly it was just far too late and he had to disappoint all of them. As Derek always said over the years “book early to avoid disappointment”. Seems some people never learn!
Here we go again… Barry Attwood won won the top raffle prize, a video recorder, it’ll go well with the colour television he won last year!
No entertainer this year, but Derek didn’t let the diners down… he presented several horse racing films which the diners loved. They bet on each race causing plenty of excitement and laughs and raised some £326. This went as a donation to Ward 18 of the hospital that had treated and looked after Anne.
The film show included a film of one of Derann’s open days back in 1986 and a promo reel of Derann releases Derek had made up in 1990. The show concluded with an extract from the latest Disney / Derann release THE LADY AND THE TRAMP.
1999
This Convention Dinner was held on 20th November with about 140 diners each paying £17.95 for a Dinner ticket. Diners were heard to say how good the meal was, and they should know – they’d just eaten it. During the meal, Ged’s infamous quiz took place, even Derek was to comment “it was the hardest quiz yet”.
After the meal, Derek gave his speech thanking everyone for their support over the last year, and he also thanked his wife, who made her return to the Dinner this year after missing last year due to her hospital stay, for all her hard work organising the Dinner and hotel rooms. Derek also made a special presentation of a gold watch to Steve Wellings of their 16mm department for his ten years of service with them. After this, Barry Attwood had a surprise presentation for Derek for all his work keeping collectors supplied with new releases – a book entitled The Encyclopaedia of Unusual Sex Practices. This had Derek and the diners creased up with laughter. Anne, his wife, suggested he use it… as a prop under his projector.
Guess what… Barry Attwood won first prize in the raffle… a video recorder… yes, another one.
Derek presented an hour-long Super 8 film show gleaned from the past 30 years of releases including several extracts from various Carry On films, and extracts from the short 100 YEARS OF CINEMA. It all ended a little after midnight.
2000
This was to be Derek Simmonds’ last appearance at the Blackpool Convention and Dinner, but what a way to end – Derek was not only the host at this year’s Dinner, he was also MC, quiz master, projectionist and he ran the raffle draw, as well as giving his usual after dinner speech. He took on all these tasks as sadly our regular MC, David Erskine, had to drop out at the last minute.
This year saw collectors from Germany and Czechoslovakia at the Dinner, Derek as ever made them all feel welcome.
There is no record of which table won Ged’s film quiz, but it is on record that – strangely for him – Barry Attwood did not win a thing in the raffle. The collector whose raffle ticket that was first pulled out of the hat won a very nice colour TV.
Derek’s film show for the Dinner was a little over an hour long. He had put together clips from shorts, newsreels, cartoons, and features all from Derann’s releases from the past 30 years or more.
NOTE: during the Dinner, Bob Nicholls and a friend with a video camera went around all the dinner tables interviewing people about their film interests and film collections. The film was to have been shown at the next year’s Dinner. I wonder what happened to that… because it never appeared?
2001
Of course Derek wasn’t at this year’s Convention Dinner, he was recovering from major surgery. His eldest son Stephen Simmonds gave a speech for his father and relaying a message from Derek and Anne Simmonds saying how sorry they couldn’t be at the Dinner, hoped everybody would have a good night, and looked forward to being there next year.
The ebullient David Erskine had returned as MC, keeping the night bubbling along and amusing the diners with his ready wit.
Ged’s film quiz was amazing, Tony Hutchinson’s table won and earned themselves a round of drinks. Barry Attwood was back to his winning ways in the raffle, gaining the top prize and some others.
For the after-dinner entertainment we saw the return of the very funny Midlands comic Tony Mundon who had the diners doubled over with laughter with his take on everyday life. For the night’s finale, Derek had put together a film show of latest releases including trailers to GREASE, GONE WITH THE WIND, the short THE ELEPHANT NEVER FORGETS, the claymation short CREATURE COMFORTS, FANTASIA 2000, and a long clip from THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT III, amongst other films. All projected this time by Barry Littlechild.
2002
The Convention came shortly after the sad death of ‘The Boss’, Derek Simmonds. But rather it being a sad occasion, Anne and her family and the Derann staff bravely made it a celebration of Derek’s life and achievements.
Anne gave a great speech about Derek and their life together and said the family and the Derann staff would carry on with Derek’s work and business – Anne quelled the silly rumours that Derann was about to be taken over.
During the evening, both Bob Nicholls and Barry Littlechild stood up and gave speeches, paying tributes to Derek and recounting their memories of him. Ged’s film quiz bamboozled just about everyone again. The night included some horse racing films for which there was some brisk betting, resulting in a lot of money being raised for cancer charities. Also during the evening there was a round of stand up bingo, the last one standing winning a prize.
Finally, at the end of the evening a film show with clips from some of Derek’s favourite films, such as INSURANCE with Al Jolson, THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH, HELLO DOLLY, and one of Derek’s favourite cartoon series – a Tom and Jerry. Such was the success of the night, it went on until almost 1.30am.
2003
For some reason there doesn’t seem to be much recorded history of the 2003 Dinner and my memory is a bit of a blank for this particular year also. But this is what we do know, I think: after the dinner, Anne Simmonds gave a speech thanking various people for their help over a trying year and again assured collectors that Derann were determined to carry on with 8mm releases.
Ged’s quiz was even tougher, Patrick Moules’ table, who often do well in the quiz, only came second, Barry Littlechild’s table came almost last. MC David Erskine took great delight in taking the #?#! out of Barry’s table for its very poor score, much to the amusement of other diners.
There was a raffle but it’s not known if Barry Attwood won any prizes, but looking back at other raffles, he probably did.
Bob’s film show had some new releases such as Cine Ads #26, FINDING NEMO trailer, a triple trailer reel with THE ITALIAN JOB, LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER II and TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, then a Pixar cartoon FOR THE BIRDS, and also some older film releases.
2004
The notable event at this year’s Convention Dinner was, after years of trying, Barry Littlechild’s table won Ged’s film quiz, but only after a three-table play-off. Barry was instrumental in his table winning by – for once, and I am quoting him here – “keeping my big mouth shut”. For the winning table, Anne Simmonds had to fork out for a bottle of champagne as the prize.
After the meal there was a series of horse racing films which created a lot of excitement and betting amongst the diners. The betting helped to raise £420 for Cancer Research. The meal itself was judged to be very good, but several people had observed that the Savoy Hotel was starting to look a bit run-down and shabby.
Bob ended the night with an excellent Super 8 scope show.
2005
At the Convention Dinner this year saw Adrian Simmonds giving a good speech to the diners, stating that Derann intended to keep releasing films as and when they found suitable product. At the end of his speech, Adrian made a special presentation to Ged Jones for his thirty years with Derann Film Services – Ged received a top-of-the-range DVD recorder and a collage of photographs of his years at Derann. The diners gave Ged a huge round of applause.
In Ged’s infamous film quiz, Peter Wilson’s table walked away with the prize of a round of drinks for all on the table.
Bob Nicholl’s film show began with an excerpt from Derann’s scope feature MASTER AND COMMANDER, then on to a compilation of films in standard ratio, put together several years earlier by Derek Simmonds. Unfortunately, the scope lens mount was seized and poor Bob was unable to move it, even with the help of some of the Derann staff. During all this there was cat calls and laughter from the audience, much to Bob’s embarrassment, but eventually things were fixed and the show continued.
2006
This was the year when Norman Wanstall, professional sound man, attended the Convention Dinner. He talked about his work in the movies and in particular the Bond movie GOLDFINGER, for which he won an Oscar. He kindly brought his Oscar statuette along with him – diners were allowed to pick up the statuette up and hold it and be photographed with it, which was very generous and trusting of Norman to allow this. How many of us have had the opportunity to do this before?
Also on this occasion, Derann managing director Adrian Simmonds made a presentation to Gary Brocklehurst, Derann’s export manager, for his long service with them. Diners gave Gary a round of applause in recognition of his work.
This time, the popular raffle’s top prize was won by none other than Barry Littlechild.
At the end of the evening, Bob Nicholls presented his Super 8 film show. New releases included FUTURE GENERATIONS, A CHRISTMAS CAPER, excerpt of STORM OF THE SENTINELS and A GRAND DAY OUT.
2007
This year was a bit special as there were three celebrity guests at the Convention Dinner: Darth Vader himself – actor David Prowse, Thunderbird’s Scott Tracy AKA actor Shane Rimmer, and returning from last year, having enjoyed himself so much, sound man Norman Wanstall.
After the meal, each of the guests gave a ten minute talk about their film and TV careers. David Prowse about his STAR WARS and horror film appearances, Shane Rimmer about time as the voices of some of the Thunderbird characters and his roles in the Bond movies, and Norman Wanstall on his career as a sound man on various films including the Bond films, and of course his Oscar award for GOLDFINGER.
Another attraction of the night was several Star Wars enthusiasts dressed in very authentic-looking Star Wars costumes, including Storm Troopers, Sandmen, and a very attractive young lady dressed as Princess Leia in her revealing RETURN OF THE JEDI costume.
Many diners took photographs of them and had their own photos taken with the characters. There was, as always, a raffle and Bob Nicholls put on a film show to conclude the evening… but the night belonged to the celebrity guests.
2008
Following on from the 2007 Dinner again saw two celebrity guests attending the ‘bash’… lovely actresses Caroline Munro and Valerie Leon. These charming and very approachable ladies entered into the fun of the evening, helping with the raffle draw and having a go with all the other diners at Ged’s film quiz. It’s not recorded how they did.
After the dinner, each of the actresses stood up and gave a talk about their careers in film and TV, including the Bond movies, the Carry On movies, sword-and-sandal films and even some of the TV commercials they had appeared in. At the conclusion of the night, the ladies were to chat and pose for photographs with collectors.
Ged’s film quiz was a little different this year as each question came with muliple answers to choose from. It was, as always, a tough quiz.
New film releases were thin on the ground, but Bob Nicholls still had a varied and entertaining film show to conclude the evening.
2009
It was hoped to have well-known actress Ingrid Pitt as this year’s guest and speaker, but unfortunately other work commitments prevented her from attending.
However, we did have a guest, former Derann staff member Mike Dimmock, who was once manager of Derann’s 8mm department. Mike also helped to produce their magazine Film For The Collector, and was responsible for editing some of their Super 8 cut-downs.
In his after-dinner speech, he recounted many amusing stories of his time at Derann’s shop, at the various and numerous film conventions, including the time at Blackpool when he managed to knock down the hotel wall, and of course his time working and travelling around various parts of the world with ‘The Boss’ Derek Simmonds.
Mr Super 8 himself Keith Wilton was at the Dinner – the first time in many years – and commented how much he had enjoyed the night. The next day at the Convention, Keith was demonstrating various 3D films on DVD via a Sony video projector.
The raffle was as ever a success, but it must be reported that Barry Attwood didn’t win much in the draw this year, despite his many tickets. Never mind Barry, there’s always next year. Bob Nicholls ended the evening with his film show – this time it went without a hitch.
2010
This year, although unknown at the time, was to be the last Dinner and Convention that Derann Film Services would organise.
There was no celebrity guest speaker this time, however the Convention meal was up to its usual good standard and the 100 or so diners seemed well satisfied with it.
There was a good raffle as usual, the top prize was a Sony Blu-ray player and was won by Brian Saberton. Of course as has often happened over the years of the Dinner, Barry Attwood won several of the other prizes, but to be fair, Barry did buy an awful lot of raffle tickets.
Ged’s film quiz was just as tough as ever, but there was this year a twist. After the main quiz had finished, diners got the chance to turn the tables on Ged and ask him some film questions. Much to the delight of those present, Ged didn’t manage to get many questions right, even with the help of his colleagues.
Bob Nicholls’ film show had no new releases to show but it had an enjoyable selection of cartoons and shorts – everybody seemed to like the Movietone short about Pinewood Studios’ open day.
This year’s Dinner night must have been the shortest ever, finishing at just 10.40pm.
2011
Of course there was no Derann Convention or Convention Dinner this year sadly, due to Adrian Simmonds having to cancel and refund diners’ money. The reason, of course, being that Derann ceased trading in September of this year.
There was lots of lost souls in Blackpool on that particular Saturday night.
Thank you Derek, Anne and all the Derann staff for all the great Blackpool Conventions and Convention Dinners.
2012
This year saw the return of the Convention Dinner, thanks to the great efforts of Adrian Winchester, well known film collector and a veteran of all of the past Dinners.
The Sunday Convention itself was held at the Cliffs Hotel, but the Cliffs wasn’t available for the Convention Dinner, but the Savoy was, so straight away the Dinner was on familiar ground. Originally the Dinner at the Savoy Hotel was to be held in their basement function room, but a major water leak a few days before the event prevented this. So the 37 diners found themselves in the very same room used for Derann’s Convention Dinners.
Adrian Winchester wanted to make the night similar to the past successful Dinners so during the three course meal, a film quiz was held, but this time, instead of it being a table team-effort it was an individual quiz, and the winner was Peter Wilson who received a prize from Adrian.
After the dinner, in keeping with tradition, a raffle took place, the first lucky winner picked the Super 8 feature GIGI as his prize. Other prizes won included Super 8 shorts, movie books, Thermofilm, whiskey, and wine amongst others.
For the first time in many years at a Convention Dinner we had live entertainment, well-known film maker and collector Lee Mannering entertained diners playing his ukulele and singing George Formby songs , the diners really enjoyed his performance.
As always, the evening finished with a film show, compiled by Adrian Winchester and projected by Bob Nicholls. The films included cartoons, trailers, an early Disney MICKEY’S OPERA and a rare film BAMBI MEETS GODZILLA.
The evening finished around midnight and those present went away saying how much the had enjoyed the restarted Convention Dinner under the new stewardship of Adrian Winchester.
2013
A change of hotel this year, taking both the Convention and the Convention Dinner to the four star Hilton Hotel, a far superior venue than the Savoy and Cliffs hotels used previously. The Convention meal was held in a very comfortable dining room complete with its own bar. The meal itself was of high quality, which you would expect being a four star hotel, and was promptly served by hotel staff.
Adrian Winchester’s film quiz ran during the meal and again went down well, like the meal, with the 36 diners. The quiz was won for a second time in a row by Convention Dinner stalwart Peter Wilson, and was presented with chocolates and a bottle of wine by Adrian.
The raffle was an improvement on last year’s and Mark Norton was the lucky diner who won the top raffle prize – a copy of the Super 8 full-length feature LOGAN’S RUN in scope.
This year’s after-dinner film show was something different from previous years, compiled and presented on 16mm by regular Convention diner Jim Cecil. Film clips ranging from way back to 1896 of street life on London’s Blackfriars Bridge, military personnel assembling and firing an artillery piece, long horn cattle pulling a plough, vintage footage of the maiden flight of the airship R33. Then more modern film items – trailers to THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and ROB ROY, a Sylvester and Tweety cartoon, finishing with a short film about the Singing Postman Allan Smethurst who was something of an offbeat celebrity in the 1960s, writing and singing his own folk type songs such as the forgettable Have you got a Light, Boy?
This short film seemed to cause quite a bit of amusement amongst the diners and comments were also made on how fascinating the 1896 film clips were.
Diners didn’t seem to want the evening to end and sat chatting and drinking for a long time after.
2014
With the success of last year’s Convention Dinner at the new venue, the Hilton Hotel, this year saw an almost 50% rise in the number of diners, to a total of 52. All enjoying a 4 star Hilton quality meal all for £20 – very good value for money when you consider that the last Convention Dinner organised by Derann in 2010 at the 2 star Savoy Hotel cost £27.99.
Adrian Winchester’s quiz this year was a real puzzler, but Eddie Goodwin managed to get every question asked correct and thus winning the prize and also preventing Peter Wilson from scoring his hat trick in winning the quiz.
The dinner over, diners were joined by a good number of fellow collectors on entertainment-only tickets, including six collectors all the way from Norway – perhaps next year our Norwegian friends will join us for the Convention Dinner also.
The raffle was again popular with more prizes than ever, the first winning ticket holder gained a copy of the Super 8 full length scope feature of SUPERGIRL. The money raised in the raffle helps to pay for the Convention dinners.
The after-dinner film show was presented by Simon McConway on Super 8 which, along with showing a Tom and Jerry cartoon, a promotional film for Eumig cine equipment and other commercial films, Simon also presented some of his own home made films showing past Conventions, Derann open days – including Derann’s last day of trading at their shop on Sunday 11th September 2011. At the conclusion of the film show, Simon received a well-deserved round of applause from the appreciative diners.
Diners went home agreeing that of the three Convention Dinners so far organised by Adrian Winchester, this was the best one yet. Well done Adrian.
2015 – The 30th Film Convention Dinner
For the third year we were at the 4 star Hilton Hotel.
This year it was 30 years since the first Convention Dinner and this the 30th Dinner. Really it should have been the 31st Dinner but with the sad closure of Derann Films in September 2011 there was no Convention Dinner that year. So with this year being the 30th Dinner, Adrian and myself decided to try and make the Dinner a 30th celebration. We decided to have an anniversary cake, this was cleverly made for us by Convention Dinner regular Simon McConway’s wife.
The cake was put on display in the dining room before the Dinner, diners paying it many compliments and several of them taking photographs of it. We also decorated the room and tables with 30th anniversary balloons, party crackers, napkins and posters. Adrian also supplied some lovely hand-made chocolates which came in beautiful little boxes tied with ribbon, these were placed at each dinner place for each diner to to eat or to take home with them. We also placed two of these books on each of the seven tables for diners to browse through, looking back at all the past Dinners. At the end of the night the eight people on each table drew lots to see which two of them would keep the books and take them home with them.
This year we had more diners than last year, we had 56 diners, that’s four more than 2014. Amongst this number was Mr Super 8 himself, Keith Wilton. This was the first time Keith had been to the Dinner and Convention for several years.
After the dinner, Keith gave a little talk about what was happening on the collectors’ scene 30 years ago and recalled some of his fond and amusing memories of Derann’s supremo, the late Derek Simmonds. With the diners seated at their respective tables, Adrian Winchester welcomed everyone to the 30th Convention Dinner and then promptly gave out the first of the night’s prizes. Adrian asked the diners to look under their coffee cup and saucer for a silver sticker, the finder of the sticker, a Mr Robert Stoner, was asked to come forward. Adrian presented him with a congratulations card, inside of which was a full refund for the cost of his Convention Dinner.
The meal got underway, the diners enjoyed what many said was the best Convention dinner for many years. As usual, between courses Adrian ran his film quiz. The winner Mr Eddie Goodwin, who had also won the previous year, scored 14 out of 15 – well done Eddie. His prize was chocolates and a bottle of wine.
During the meal, Adrian proposed a toast to the memory of the late Derek Simmonds, proprietor of Derann Films and the man who had started the Convention Dinners 30 years ago, back in 1985. He also proposed a second toast for the recovery of Ged Jones, long-time Derann Films staff member and Derek Simmonds’ right-hand-man. Ged has been rather ill lately and is spending a considerable amount of time in hospital. During the dinner, a get well soon card was passed around the diners for each of them to sign. This was to be sent to the hospital for Ged.
At the end of the three course meal, coffee was served along with after-dinner mints and a nice slice of our delicious anniversary cake.
The meal over, the raffle took place. Raffle prizes included the Super 8 feature THAT’S DANCING. This was the film that Derann premiered full-length after the first Convention Dinner in 1985.
With the recent release of the new James Bond film SPECTRE, several of the raffle prizes had a Bond connection. A large picture frame with numerous stills from previous 007 movies, a DR. NO limited edition collector’s plate, a new Super 8 print of the pre-credit sequence from the Bond film THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, where Bond is fighting on top of a speeding army Land Rover on the Rock of Gibraltar, a Bond clock, Bond film books and other Bond items. Also a complete 16mm print of the Disney cartoon MORRIS THE MIDGET MOOSE, Super 8 cartoons and trailers, DVD box sets, CD box sets of film music, bottles of wine, chocolates, a Blackpool souvenir clock, and items useful to film collectors – projection lamps. 30 prizes in all to commemorate 30 years of Convention Dinners. The raffle generated a lot of excitement and a few laughs during the draw.
The final item of the night was of course the film show, this year compiled by none other than Sunday’s Film Convention organiser Mr. David Guest on 16mm and ably projected by Convention Dinner regulars Mark Norton and Simon McConway using an Elf Xenon projector.
The film show was shown in two parts, the first half of the show consisted of cartoons, trailers, cinema adverts and clips of amazing movie stunts taken from loads of different films. The second half of the show was a complete comedy film from the early 1960s, which was called A HOME OF YOUR OWN. The plot of the film centred around a group of incompetent builders trying to build a house – which they did, very badly. It featured many well-known British film and television stars of that era. It was a very funny film and had the diners laughing out loud. It was also amusing trying to spot and name all the different stars appearing in it.
The film show ended close to 1am, and along with it the 30th Convention Dinner. Diners departed saying how much they had enjoyed it and expressing hopes to be back again next year.
Related
History of the Blackpool Film Collectors’ Convention
Originally known as The Northern Film Collectors’ Convention, the event was first held in Blackpool in 1977. Read more
Blackpool Film Collectors' Convention 