The Closing Ceremony

by Jessica Yates

This was a series of thank-yous, with relief that everything had gone so well. Terry thanked Ops who managed his timetable saying that it was the best-organised convention he had attended. We had the results of the Guild Competition which Jacqueline and her deputies accepted for the Seamstresses (loud cheers).

Before presenting the certificates for the Maskerade, there were two special awards; the first to Davina for her exhibitionism (you had to be there, or maybe not) and the second to Dr. Pat Harkin for his compèring.

Terry praised the Rocky Horror Discworld Show. He had personally obtained the permission from Richard O’Brien for this one-off. “You are the best bunch of loonies there has ever been,” he declared. It was beautifully done, and he would always buy his ice-cream from Beth Warner in future!

Next came a surprise – a non-signed book (joke) from the whole Convention, which Terry vowed not to read! More good news, the charity auction raised over £18,000! After thanking the Hotel staff, and the Guests, Brian requested all his Committee members to parade on stage for their well-deserved applause, which seemed to go on for ever.

Now the announcement we had been waiting for, about the next U.K. Convention! First, we would not have to wait two years for another Discworld Convention as five had already been arranged for 2011: Australia, the Netherlands, North America, Germany and Ireland. But what of our own Convention in 2012? Yes, provisional arrangements had been made for late August to avoid a certain sporting event taking place a little earlier...and maybe in this very hotel. Brian had decided to reprise the role of Chairman (cheers) and Terry had agreed to be Guest of Honour (loud cheers).

And so gradually and reluctantly we began to return to the Roundworld, though there were compensations in my case and probably for everyone else, the DVD of Going Postal and the launch of I shall wear Midnight to keep us cheerful through September.