TWO Doctor Who Daleks that were stolen after raising money for Children in Need in Swindon have been reunited with their maker after twenty years to take part in another fundraising event in the town.
In 1996, a gold and a grey Dalek built by volunteer fundraiser and BT worker John Chapman were created for Space Station Pudsey, a Children in Need event in 1996 organised by Dave Latham, who was then the BT Community relations manager in the area.
They re-emerged in 2003 for Space Station Pudsey 2, at the MacArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village in Swindon which was once again organised by Mr Lathum as well as Anita Jaynes, who now runs The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire.
However, after being put back in storage following that event, the two BBC hit-show villains, one of which had been signed by Doctor Who star Tom Baker himself, went missing having been stolen.
Now after being discovered and reunited with their custodian John, the two mischievous aliens invaded the popular shopping centre on Friday, September 29, to announce a Return to Space Station Pudsey event on November 17 for the huge charity effort.
This is the moment two @bbcdoctorwho Daleks, stolen and missing for 20 years, were unveiled at after being miraculously reunited with their maker.
— Daniel Wood (@DanWood_Adver) September 29, 2023
They will be returning to the Outlet Village for a #ChildrenInNeed fundraising event 20 years after they first did so. pic.twitter.com/lRuIj8TN3L
Dave Latham, former Space Station Pudsey 1996 organiser, said: “We are very excited to announce these two wonderful, lost models will make an appearance at this year’s Return to Space Station Pudsey at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon.
"Hopefully the two Daleks will encourage guests and Doctor Who lovers to make a donation to the incredible cause that is BBC Children in Need.”
After discovering that they had been taken, John was devastated.
“They were clearly identified as Children in Need fundraising props, and somebody went to a great deal of effort to snatch them. I reported the models as stolen to Wiltshire Police and realised it was possible I would never see them again," he said.
But then, 18 years later, something quite remarkable happened.
Auctioneers in Scotland were preparing for their 'Works of Art' auction which was due to take place in December 2021. A grey, full-size Dalek was to be included as one of the lots. This, along with a second, gold Dalek had apparently been discovered in a barn, in Avon, earlier in the year.
In order for them to list the Dalek accurately for the auction, John Darley from projectdalek.co.uk was contacted and supplied with photos of both the grey Dalek and the second gold Dalek.
After a bit of research and a few conversations with other Project Dalek members, they managed to identify the Daleks as being those stolen in 2004.
Wiltshire Police went in search of the second lost prop. Thankfully, the police were able to locate the gold Dalek at another location close to Swindon.
Now, the two lost Daleks are back, just in time for the 20th anniversary of Space Station Pudsey 2, and, by coincidence, the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, so the Daleks are being put to good use for their original purpose of fundraising.
As well as meeting the two lost Daleks, members of the public will be able to take part in a raffle to own ther own Dalek and there will be lots of other surprises and things in store at the November 17 event.
Tina Cumpstey, centre manager at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon, said: “The story of the two lost Daleks is unlike any mysteries our local community has seen before. From their disappearance after the Space Station Pudsey 2 at our Centre two decades ago, to their unlikely return, we are thrilled to be supporting BBC Children in Need by hosting the grand Return to Space Station Pudsey.
"We encourage all our guests to visit and witness the two Daleks around the centre and consider supporting the fantastic cause that the Children in Need team has been dedicated to for decades.”
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