An event at the Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon will bring a host of intergalactic characters together to raise funds for BBC Children in Need this autumn.
Space Station Pudsey 4 takes place on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th November, featuring a range of sci-fi favourites from Daleks and Cybermen to Darth Vader and Imperial Stormtroopers.
The centre for this year’s event will be The Heart at the Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon, a spacious area resembling the inside of a flying saucer and a perfect location for a space theme fundraiser.
At the core of the action will be a replica TARDIS with functioning blue flashing lights and the familiar sound of the time machine, owned by Doctor Who fan Robert Cowley.
Robert has been a charity fundraiser for many years and says he is looking forward to returning to the Space Station Pudsey.
He said, “The location is perfect for this themed charity event, and we had enormous fun taking part three years ago. It gives families the chance to interact with sci-fi aliens in pleasant surroundings. Where else can you enjoy a cuppa and cake in the company of Daleks?”
Anita Jaynes, Founder of The Business Exchange South West, is one of the co-organisers. She added, “I have been involved in these events for years, and I’m so pleased that once again we are joining forces for BBC Children in Need. We all hope to have a great time and that shoppers will give generously to this important good cause.”
This is the 4th Space Station Pudsey fundraiser, with the original event taking place in 1996 at North Star House in Swindon, then a modern BT office building.
Organised by BT Community Relations Manager Dave Latham, the event transformed the building’s glass atrium into a science fiction spectacular, featuring costumes, props and exhibits inspired by some of the biggest names in sci-fi.
Among the attractions were replicas of the alien from Alien, a robot from Judge Dredd, and two Daleks, which BT Engineer John Chapman built after securing permission from Dalek creator Terry Nation.
National BBC television and radio coverage helped raise the profile of the fundraiser, which became a memorable part of that year’s Children in Need appeal.
Now, 30 years later, a family connection from that first event has helped inspire its return.
When the original fundraiser was held, John Chapman’s newborn daughter Zoe was featured in a BBC television segment alongside former Doctor Who actor Tom Baker. Three decades on, Zoe Rule and her husband Kirby have become well known themselves after their Star Wars-themed wedding near Salisbury on 4th May this year attracted widespread media attention.
The couple, whose wedding guests included a host of characters from the world of science fiction and fantasy, said they are looking forward to seeing Space Station Pudsey return. Many of the costumes used at the wedding were created by Zoe’s father, who has remained closely involved with the event since its beginning.
Zoe said, “I was a baby when I appeared on TV with actor Tom Baker in 1996. Obviously, I was too young to remember that occasion, but photos of that time are very precious to me. When Kirby and I got married this year on Star Wars Day (May the 4th), this moment was very much on our minds. We also felt that 30 years later, wouldn’t it be amazing to celebrate this with Space Station Pudsey 4 and get our family and friends behind it.”
Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon Marketing Manager, Charlotte King, added, “We’re delighted to support Zoe and Kirby’s vision for Space Station Pudsey 4 and to help bring this special fundraising event to life. The event will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to see an incredible collection of handcrafted costumes and models while raising vital funds for BBC Children in Need.”
