It’s been a year of many changes for Fan Force UK as a whole, and for the individual chapters. We have had our fair share of new Chapter representatives and one RSA. Like any social group this is inevitable but sometimes quite sad. Our membership has ebbed and flowed over the months, though it’s nice to see the people who stick with us through thick and thin. Fan Force is after all about making friendships, and it’s why I came here in the first place. And I have made some good friendships on here, ones that will last long after Star Wars and Fan Force will be gone.

Fan Force is a social group, and even though it has a foundation in people’s love of that wonderful space opera, it is also about people meeting to socialise, outside of the bounds of fandom. Chapters that work well build up the social aspect, and the friendships, and I know all the chapters here are doing well on that front. It’s great to see people socialise on the Fan Force UK forums and also in real life, it makes all the hard work by chapter representatives and members worthwhile. We won’t always get it right, but we’ll work at it till we do.

These boards are very much alive and all chapters are making steps to frequent activity – I am more than happy to see Wales, Scotland and the South having meets, and I hope to support them in the coming months and the New Year. The more established chapters of London, Midlands and the North hold frequent meets and their members have firm friendships. What has also been great for Fan Force UK in 2006 is the meets where members from different chapters have come together, I hope to see more of these in 2007. Its not always just about your own local group, it’s about being part of the greater whole, the Fan Force United Kingdom. I hope that 2007 more than any year shows that.

2007 is going to be a huge year for Star Wars fans. It’s the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars IV: A New Hope”, the film that started all this off. Lucasfilm have big plans for the party around this – Los Angeles and Celebration IV, and more importantly for us as a group ... Celebration Europe in London. This is the year that UK and Europe based fans get the recognition we have asked for – our own official convention, and that is something special. Having been to Celebration III in Indianapolis, I am so excited for Star Wars fans here, and even though it will be a different experience to the one in the States, it’s going to be OUR experience, and I can only see good in that. As well as the Celebrations, there will be a big multimedia project for all EU fans to enjoy along with the usual books, comics, and games and the Star Wars roleplaying game will be back, all new and improved.

Fan Force and Jedi Council will continue to support fan creativity of all kinds – art, film, fiction, charity work, costuming and much much more. I hope that chapters wanting to take part in these will do so. I will give as much support and encouragement as I can. We have ideas of our own, some were talked about and shelved for a latter date, and I hope to see in 2007 these reaching some form of fruition – especially the newsletter idea.

Convention-wise, aside for the huge Celebrations in London and Los Angeles, we have UK based Showmasters with venues in Chestnut, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Milton Keynes. Then there is Fantasy Events who usually hold venues in Bristol, Cardiff and Newport but for the 30th anniversary they are planning bigger –

“Our plans for 2007 are a 30th Anniversary Roadshow of sorts visiting around 10 towns and cities in England and Wales.

The events will concentrate on areas that haven't had this kind of show before, and will start in February.

Confirmed dates so far are Newport on Easter Sunday and Cardiff on December 16th.

Guests will once again include a mix of old and new faces.”

Steve, Fantasy Events

Along with numerous Expos in London and Bristol, Memorabilia in Birmingham, the Golden Orbit fairs around the North and Midlands, and other events yet to be discovered ... I think we have a fun filled year ahead of us. That is before any of the smaller Fan Force UK focused social meets. As I said at the start, I think 2007 will be a great year for Fan Force UK and I am glad I am part of this brilliant crowd of fans. Glad to call many of you friends. I wish you all the best for New Year, and look forward to seeing you at meets and conventions throughout 2007.

-- Tim B, Fan Force UK Regional Support Administrator.

It’s been business as usual around the forums so not much to report. The pub is reaching closing time, so a new name needs to be found soon. Once that is done, we’ll open a new pub and if members want, we’ll keep this as a new tradition for the Fan Force UK – a new pub every January.

The New Year will bring with it new competitions – it’s time for a facelift on the boards, especially regional. So we’ll have a banner competition for regional, possibly other chapters too. The winner will “earn” an honorary short-term title.

The official quiz has gone a little quiet, but I’d like to thank Jedi Jimbo for working hard on it, and also Halibut who stepped in for a while. I wish them both best, and will be great to see them both back here when possible. I think we’ll try and do more things like the official quiz, maybe re-bump the newsreader for a day idea, and I’ll be interested to hear what members want.

FF-UK Wales – Welshguy will be replaced by Odj_310388 once he has internet access back. Thanks to Welshguy for his dedication in keeping the Wales forum alive.

FF-UK Midlands – it’s sad to say that Halibut had to recently step down from CRship. I wish him all the best and hope to see him back soon. Congratulations to Jairen who has replaced him, I know the Midlands is in safe hands.

After a successful meet at the Milton Keynes Collectormania 10, South planned several more meets for the end of the year.

9th December - Portsmouth Meet
A fun social meet – a pub visit, some Star Wars shopping, and more chatting back at moosemousse’s flat.



jac37a, CARBONITEKID and marte



moosemousse, Cobranaconda, jac37a and CARBONITEKID

In attendance: jac37a , CARBONITEKID, marte, moosemousse and Cobranaconda.
Check here for more info.

There is also talk of a meet in Bristol or Bath for 2007, possibly at the time of either the Fantasy Events convention or Bristol Expo.
Check here for more info.

Currently two areas of the South have the most members – South West (Portsmouth area) and Milton Keynes. FF-UK South has now taken its first two steps into the wider Fan Force world, and is one meet away from official recognition. After that the chapter will get its own banner, icon and chapter representative. It needs your help to make this happen, so please if you live in the chapter region, don’t be shy and join in with your fellow fans.

“Of all the groups we approached, your one was by far the most friendly.”

Given that it’s Christmas, I thought the sound of our trumpets would be appropriate
The above quote is in fact from a student film-maker who spoke to us at the last Empire Day on Sun 3rd Dec, with whom we helped with their degree project by par-taking in some interviews and a general chat. It’s the perfect way to sum up the year for the London FanForce and indeed the FF-UK, because it’s one of the reasons why we’re here and a pudding of proof that we’re doing our job.

The baton of CR was handed down to me in February, and while there wasn’t a great deal that I changed, I did want to get a consistent amount of meets flowing and thankfully that’s one thing I can tick off the list. We’ve been averaging at least one a month, and they’ve all been pretty varied too.
Needless to say there have been many highlights, but the ones that really strike a chord were meeting Yrol from Canada in May, the theatre meet in June, London Film & Comic Con in July, and the recent Empire Day’s in September and December.
The London FF has also been quite active on the convention scene, hosting tables at two shows and attending many other shows across the land. We have also began embarking on our FanFilm project, which will hopefully go into over-drive next year (when the weather improves).

In terms of recent meet-ups, We had a small group outing to see Casino Royale at Leicester Square which was brill, and on Sunday December 3rd we had a great time at Empire Day in Cheshunt (as mentioned above).

Looking ahead to 2007, next year promises to be a gigantic one too, with a certain event hitting our fine city in July. We hope that Celebration Europe will be the FF-UK’s finest hour (or rather three days) and the London FanForce will be right in the middle. And on top of that things are building up towards London hosting the European FanForce Meet prior to start of CE, so I’d better start moving the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding off my plate to make some more room

A huge thank you to everyone from the London FanForce, Tim and FF-UK for making this a great year, and I shall raise my glass wishing for even greater success next year.

May the Force be with us!

-- Lord Tice, FF-UK London CR

Following on from their first meet at Bristol, Fan Force UK Wales attended the Fantasy Events Star Wars Christmas convention in Cardiff. In attendance were Stevie79, new CR Odj_310388 and UK Garrison costumer / FF-UK Wales member Sakara. Unfortunately new member Wengboi didn’t get to meet up with his fellow Welsh members, but there is always next time. CR and RSA scouted Cardiff for future meets, and there may well be Cardiff-based bowling and cinema meets in future months.



FF-UK Wales members – Stevie79, Sakara, Odj_310388 (FF-UK Wales CR)



The UKG troopers strut their stuff



Cardiff Castle



Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland



FF-UK RSA on top of Cardiff Castle.

FF-UK Wales need only one more meet to become an official chapter, it’ll be a day long remembered

It's been a quiet time for the Midlands.

The last few months have only seen a couple of get togethers, mostly social events around members houses.

They did make a run to Memorabilia this year, in November. A great time was had by all in attendance.

They inducted their first Star Wars actor into the chapter - a fellow Midlander Jeremy Bulloch.



He was very excited about being inducted and loved his certificate and statue.

Midlands have had a hard time with their CRs over the last few months as well, with Chris (HunkyEvil) stepping down to consider joining the army, and Mark (Halibut) having to step down for real world reasons. They hope to see both of them back around soon.

Jairen has now been elected into the position and will pick up where Halibut left off.

A get together took place the weekend before Christmas to catch the Eragon movie, followed by an afternoon Christmas party.

Planning has continued for the 4 Midlanders that are attending CIV next year.

Work has begun on a couple of scripts for a Fan Film venture being undertaken by the Midlands chapter. They are just putting the final touches to the scripts and planning for filming is taking place. Anyone interested in getting involved, please don't hesitate to contact Jairen or go here: http://midlands.ff-uk.org.uk/forums/index.php

Apart from that, just keep an eye out for further get togethers in the New Year.

-- Jairen, FF-UK Midlands CR

Fan Force UK: North, has had a quiet month after their hectic summer schedule, but still managed to fit in two meets, as they prepare for next month’s huge convention at the Manchester GMEX.

21st October 2006.

The real big meet for FFUK: North in October took place at the Leeds Royal Armouries on the 21st of October. A good time was had by all as the group explored the armouries, watched some old-fashioned jousting, played with some swords and then followed proper Northern tradition by going for a curry. Rumours, however, of Ewan McGregor attending a book-signing session at a local Waterstones that day were later proven to be unfounded.

Members in attendance include: Grand_General_Heath, timbolton, Whim_of_the_Whills, Polyhex, spike_thmid, Lord_Ogli, Darth_Frared, Yukiko, suzijedi, Jedi_Padawan_Leigh and edgejedi88.

28st October 2006.

To celebrate Halloween, FFUK: North by Northwest met in Liverpool for the day. Starting the day exploring the Liverpool shopping centres, they later went to the Cavern, a favoured North by NW drop-in point, and then to Liverpool’s Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals, where they experienced a ghostly experience themselves, before recovering and heading to Eddie Rocket’s to round off the day with food of the non-curry variety.

Members in attendance: ForceGhostofCozmic, Whim_of_the_Whills, Polyhex and timbolton.

November and December meets.
Star Wars OT Screening showing at Trillians, Newcastle, Sun 12.11.06

FF-UK: North @ Collectormania Manchester G-Mex - Sat 18th & Sun 19th Nov '06

Star Wars Marathon - all 6 movies! 25 Nov - CR Headquarters, Bishop Auckland

FFUK: North by North-East Christmas Get-together, Newcastle, Saturday 2nd December

FFUK: North by North-West Dr. Who/Xmas Meet-up, Wirral/Birkenhead/Liverpool. Saturday 9th December

Other News
Controversy erupted in the North in late October, when their newly elected CR was caught in bed with, of all people, Natalie Portman. Judging by the silly grin on his face, Spike2002 found himself very satisfied, although, from her expression, Ms. Portman didn’t seem too thrilled by the experience; however Spike2002 assures us that the quizzical look on her face was in reaction to something unseen in the far corner of the room.

-- Spike2002, FF-UK North CR

Fan Force Scotland has had its first meet! Three founding members - JED1, Jonathan_McEnroe, and Tone met with FF-UK RSA Timbolton in Glasgow for an afternoon of chat and sightseeing. Check here for details.



Eager for more social meets, Fan Force UK Scotland will be having an Edinburgh meet in late January, so please feel free to meet the members. It looks like there will be a bigger turn out for Edinburgh. Check here for more details.

After that, Fan Force Scotland needs just one more meet to be official, and then in August there will be a Showmasters convention – Collectormania Glasgow. The future is looking great for FF-UK Scotland. Be part of it...

Thanks to all the CRs who helped write this update