Don't worry, the Dalek's upstairs
- Publication: Express & Star
- Date: 2003-10-21
- Author: John Ogden
- Page:
- Language: English
JOHN OGDEN comes out from behind the sofa to meet the Black Country-based Wolves of Fenric, who are Doctor Who's biggest fans
IT'S fascinating how families react when a Dalek, standing motionless at some sci-fi exhibition, suddenly moves. "It's the parents who jump in fright or turn and run, not the kids," says Suky Khakh, who sometimes gets a Dalek's eye view of life by climbing of the dread machines and trundling round at conventions.
A surprising number of Daleks have found hiding refuge in the Black Country hiding away in the homes of members of the Wolves of Fenric, Britain's premier group of Doctor Who fans who, just like the rebels Wars, co-ordinated pockets of resistance after their hero was frozen in time by the BBC and banished to the barren galaxy of UK Gold.
There's a Dalek in Penn, Wolverhampton, at the home of Clive Evans. But fear not, it's upstairs (they can't go down steps, and even if this one could the banister rail, fitted afterwards, would prevent it from doing because it was a tight fit when they carried it up there). Clive bought the Dalek about bout 12 years ago £1,000 as the crowning glory Doctor Who memorabilia collection.
"A friend of mine, Mick Hall from Luton, was having one made, so asked me if I wanted one too," says Clive. "The who made it was associated with the BBC and had the original moulds, so it's as accurate as it can get. It was quite funny when we collected it, because we had to take transit van down there."
Back in Penn the curtains were twitching as the Dalek was unloaded and taken straight upstairs to Clive's special room full of Doctor
Howling
Another Wolves of Four member, Nigel Parkes, has several Daleks plus a model of their evil leader Davros, a Tardis, K9 the dog robot, a Sea Devil, an Ice Warrior and a Cyberman, according to Suky, who is events organiser for the club.
The Wolves are currently howling with glee at the news that the BBC to resurrect the series, which was viewed by simultaneously terrified and delighted children and adults for more than 30 years. The one person who may have mixed feeling about the good news is their former leader Roger Clark, of Darlaston, a founder member who left the club because of work commitments
If he'd just hung on until the BBC announcement he could have gained mythic status by leaving and telling has flock: "My work here to done."
Suky and the rest of the committee - Adrian Piper, groups baisen, Lee Thacker, events organiser, and David Hughes media and group magazines - still call Roger whenever they need advice and such has been his influence that when other chubs decide to take a big project they contact the Wolves of Fenric for advice.
It all began as a tiny fan club called The Doctor Who Society, but took its new name from a TV adventure called The Curse of Fenric. In one of those strange coincidences which almost makes you believe there are real Time Lords, The Curse of Ferric was released this month on DVD.
Over the years entire fan clubs have joined, plus various Star Trek groups including DSS Phoenix from Willenhall, and the Peterborough X-Files and Babylon 5 groups the UK Dark Shadows group and a Buffy The Slayer society.
In 1995 Fenric launched the Tele-fantastic group in Birmingham (which evolved into Castrovalva) after impressing the city with its Doctor Who Festival in 1993 at the Science Museum.
Running
"The TV series was still running when the club started," says Suky. "There were very few videos then and no DVDs, even when I joined, so we'd get very rough copies to show.
"These days, with so many videos and DVD available, it's more of a social club now. People just turn up to meet other people, and we no concentrate on Doctor Who exclusively. Now it's more of a mixture.
Clive, who began viewing in the reign of the second Doctor, being "gobsmacked when he joined the society and saw some of the old tapes starting the first Doctor William Hartnell. Now his Tardis video cabinet contains every adventure except the one released this month. As for the current series, the group can hardly wait until 2006 but they will not be lobbying the BBC for their own [?] of Doctor.
There are certain people we wouldn't mind having in in theshow, and certain people[?] feel would not beright, but that's just our opinion." Suky "[?] ... They certainly agree with the [?] of Russell T Davies a writer "He has a phenomenal track record and written Dr Who [?]
Captions:
Clive Evans with his collection of Dr Who memorabilia, including the full-size Dalek be had made
Clive and son Zak share the news
Suky Khakh - delight at new series
Look behind you! Dr Who classic being
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- APA 6th ed.: Ogden, John (2003-10-21). Don't worry, the Dalek's upstairs. Express & Star .
- MLA 7th ed.: Ogden, John. "Don't worry, the Dalek's upstairs." Express & Star [add city] 2003-10-21. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Ogden, John. "Don't worry, the Dalek's upstairs." Express & Star, edition, sec., 2003-10-21
- Turabian: Ogden, John. "Don't worry, the Dalek's upstairs." Express & Star, 2003-10-21, section, edition.
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- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Don't worry, the Dalek's upstairs | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Don%27t_worry,_the_Dalek%27s_upstairs | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=14 April 2025}}</ref>
