Organiser Simon Horton has hailed this year’s “Space Invasion of Lichfield” weekend as bigger and better than its debut. What started as a one-off event tied to a Jerry Anderson exhibition in The Hub At St Mary’s, has quickly grown into a must-attend fixture on the city’s calendar.
The sheer scale of this year’s invasion proved to be a logistical nightmare to organise, as Simon recounted the bizarre challenges of managing Stormtroopers and Darth Vader alongside mundane tasks like parking permits and high-vis jackets.
It was a really weird mix of science fiction and fantasy…
This year’s invasion featured a greater presence of Star Wars fans and a wider variety of participants, including Jedi Knight training and Doctor Who enthusiasts. One unique character on the scene was Baron Fell, a Tie Pilot whose costume is a rare sight. His costume was only recently cleared by the UK Garrison to meet the rigorous standards of the 501st Legion.
I am a Tie Pilot, but I’m a specific character called Baron Fell,
Another dedicated member of the UK Garrison, Mark, shared his own journey into the world of costuming. His adventure began with a Stormtrooper helmet his daughter gave him for his 50th birthday, which led to him building his own screen-accurate costume. Mark highlighted the group’s commitment to charity, encapsulating their motto: “Smiles on faces and money in the charity bucket.”
Just makes you feel good, and reveals the best in people.
Mark also explained the meticulous process of costume creation, which can range from armour parties where members help each other build, to the staggering 18-month process of hand-tying a Chewbacca costume. Every costume must be screen-accurate and pass through a work in progress forum and a final clearance by a Garrison Member Liaison (GML) to ensure it meets the Costume Reference Library (CRL).
Beyond the intricate costumes and dedication, a true highlight of the weekend was the collaboration with the Samuel Johnson Birthday Weekend celebrations. The two groups worked together to ensure the costumed characters stayed out of Market Square during the more sombre parts of the birthday festivities, a perfect example of Lichfield’s community spirit.
Everybody works together, people don’t pull against each other. – Simon Horton
After all the hard work, Simon is already looking ahead. Although he joked at a low point that he would never do this again, the overwhelmingly positive public response has quickly changed his mind, and he is optimistic that a third year is on the cards.
