Dale-Con bringing the Force and Flash to the North!

Dale-Con, Saturday and Sunday the 18 and 19 June, Rochdale Town Hall

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This year’s Dale-Con event is shaping up to be the biggest event of its kind in Rochdale.

With a takeover of the Town Hall planned on Saturday and Sunday the 18 and 19 June, it already promised to be fun with exclusively bringing Sam J Jones and Melody Anderson to England – Flash Gordon and Dale Arden from the 1980s film, and more recently Sam had a starring role in the ‘Ted’ films with Mark Wahlburg, but the last few weeks of tracking down stars of the big and little screen has added some real quality guests to an already impressive line-up.

No stranger to the Town Hall after filming ‘Murder in Question’ there is John Altman, East Ender’s Nasty Nick and former X-Wing fighter pilot in Return of the Jedi (little known fact) and tying in with the Flash Gordon theme he also helped create the Hawkman look as remembered on Brian Blessed because he modelled the prototype suits for weeks as they were prepared for the film.

Keeping with Flash Gordon, many remember a young actor who had a short cameo in Flash Gordon as Timothy Dalton put him out of his misery after being bitten by the Tree Stump beast – Peter Duncan, star of Blue Peter and Duncan Dares, will be joining us and bringing the monster with him as it was bought and given to him as a present when he left the children’s tv programme.

The first question asked each year is ‘Who’s coming from Red Dwarf?’ Well this year we have the loveable comic, Norman Lovett, who’ll be joining us just for the Sunday but keeps up the record of having a new guest each year from the hit sci-fi television show.

Some great guests from Return of the Jedi.

Alan Flyng and Brian Wheeler return from previous events on crowd demand, and this year are joined by Femi Taylor remembered for being Jabba’s dancing girl Oola, and Amanda Noar, a very rarely seen guest who was also in Jabba’s Palace before more recently coming to our tv screens in the likes of Brookside, Casualty, Corrie and Hollyoaks whilst working heavily in theatre.

Andrew Lawden brings his ever popular Jedi Fight Academy to Rochdale where he teaches the ways of the Jedi to young ‘padawans’ before presenting them with a certificate and send them on their way fully trained – and to think it took yoda two whole films to train Luke!

With other actors being added, you are sure to meet someone you grew up watching on the big screen – and you’ll have the chance to get autographs and photos with them in a stunning setting.

Sam and Melody will be in England in April for the launch of the new documentary film, Life After Flash, but this is the only convention you will get to meet them this year as both have agreed to make Rochdale extra special by making this their only one throughout the summer in the country.

This year’s features to check out at the Town Hall will include Rex, the 14 foot long T-Rex with the Jurassic Park truck and giant gates, there will be Flash Gordon’s Rocket Cycle as recently made re-famous thanks to the scene from Ted with Mark Wahlburg and Sam J Jones.

Over the coming months there will be much more confirmed as we build towards the biggest event ever and for a very good reason too, to help with the repairing of our town centre after the devastating floods at Christmas - the Dale-Con organisers are putting 10% of all tickets sales into the flood appeal for Rochdale with a hope it can help bring something positive back to the town centre.

Tickets can be bought for the event at www.dale-con.co.uk

Further information or questions you can call 01706 521213.

All early bird tickets bought before 1 March will also come with the exclusive convention tee shirt.