Legends of classic Doctor Who gathered to pay tribute to Patrick Troughton as a plaque was unveiled in his honour at his former school.
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society, the show’s longest-running fan club, collaborated with Mill Hill School in London to place the plaque at the school’s Patrick Troughton Theatre.
Sylvester McCoy, who played the Seventh Doctor, Sophie Aldred, who played Ace, and Frazer Hines, who played Jamie McCrimmon, were among those pictured in attendance to celebrate the actor, best known as the Second Doctor.
Carole Ann Ford (Susan), actors Hugh Frasers and Michael Jayston, and director Graeme Harper were also among those attending, alongside Troughton’s children Joanna and Michael.
McCoy shared a picture of himself with the plaque, tweeting: “Respect.”
Aldred shared a snap of herself and McCoy, referencing the show’s legacy and writing on Instagram: “Very lovely event celebrating Patrick Troughton, who I sadly never met, but to whom I owe this long career in Dr Who: Without his genius as Doctor no. 2, we wouldn’t still be going!”
Thanks so much to DWAS and Mill School for arranging the Patrick Troughton blue plaque unveiling event. So many lovely friends and colleagues of Dad’s took the time to celebrate with us. pic.twitter.com/i0tcaIQPSo
What a lovely event. I never met Patrick Troughton, but I owe him my Dr Who career; without his brilliance as Dr no2, it would have fizzled out. pic.twitter.com/S0UcR5DkQG
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has just released Pets in Time, a new book supporting the RSPCA, full of both moving and hilarious stories by actors, writers and production crew from the world of Doctor Who, about their own very special pets.
Introduced by Colin Baker, edited by Ian Wheeler, with a cover by Basil Waite (aka Foodoodles), along with the many contributions from actors such as Nicola Bryant, Janet Fielding, Louise Jameson, John Leeson, Katy Manning, Wendy Padbury and Sarah Sutton, the book also features art by Colin Howard, Paul Magrs, Nick Miller, Jey Parks and Raine Szramski.
Doctor Who writers such as Andrew Cartmel and Stephen Gallagher have also contributed, and from the world of comics, creators including me, John Freeman, and Tim Quinn.
Acknowledging the work of all RSPCA staff past and present, Pets in Time is dedicated to the memories of Doctor Who writer Bob Baker, co-creator of K9, who wrote his contribution to Pets in Time shortly before his death last year; and Doctor Who fan Simon Wellings, “both sadly missed”.
“I have benefited from a very early age from the company of animals,” notes Colin Baker in his introduction to Pets in Time. “… In the following seventy or so years of my life we have steadily increased the number of lives that have shared ours for a while.
“Companions are important, as a former Doctor I can attest to that,” he adds, “and I am sure anyone reading this will know what I mean. Animals, I would suggest, often do a lot more for us than we do for them.”
“If you’re considering acquiring a four-legged friend, please think carefully about giving a home to one that has been abandoned or saved from a ghastly life,” urges actress Louise Jameson in her contributions, who, like others, remembers many past pets with fondness. “You’ll never regret it.”
“Animals, especially dogs, have always been such a huge part of my life. I can barely remember a time without one in my life,” says actress Nicola Bryant. “… I cannot imagine why anyone would hurt an animal and so I have the upmost respect for those who work for the RSPCA.”
Alongside stories, and pet memories, we’re also treated to two great items from visual effects artist Mat Irvine and Mike Tucker, revealing some behind the secrets in the making of Doctor Who, including the creation of “Sooty”, the puppet cat featured in the last “classic era” Doctor Who story, Survival.
Colin Howard’s full cover art for Gary Russell’s Missing Adventures novel, Invasion of the Cat-People, is included in Pets in Time.
“As an organisation which investigates and prosecutes people for animal cruelty, we’ll always have enemies, and people’s expectations of us (often, wrongly, thinking of us as the animal police!) will always be far greater than we can realistically deliver,” notes DWAS Publications Manager and RSPCA volunteer Rik Moran in his contribution, outlining the important work of the charity.
“As a charity, the RSPCA have no legal powers and a call comes in every 30 seconds. People often think of the RSPCA – in terms of size – as equivalent to the police force. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The RSPCA has just 287 full-time uniformed officers and inspectors for England and Wales, each one covering on average an area of 172 square miles – compared to the police force, which has a police officer covering an average area of half a square mile – which means that we have to prioritise the animals most in need at the time.”
“One of the positive things to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic is that Doctor Who fans, always generous in nature, have sought to raise money for various charities in various inventive ways,” notes editor Ian Wheeler in his introduction to the collection. “The RSPCA has had a tough time during this difficult period, with its resources stretched to the limit, and I had a hunch that many of the talented folk associated with Doctor Who would love to do something to help. I was not wrong.”
