A Birthday Night Out

Thursday March 26, 2026.

Sunny intervals with light winds, 10°C to 11°C (50-52°F), with a night-time low of 5°C (41°F).

It was a typical start to a birthday that falls on a weekday. Up and dressed for work, ensuring the girls were awake and getting ready for school. I then headed off on the 12-minute walk to work.

The morning was much like any other day, with my work being completed in my usual efficient manner. My manager, Ann, seeing that I had finished everything that was expected of me, allowed me to leave slightly early, which meant that I wouldn't need to rush to get myself ready for that evening's adventure.

I arrived home in time to see Emma and Keilyn, before they headed off to do a food shop. Keilyn's school had closed for the Easter holidays just after lunch, so she was eager to join mum on her shopping trip.

Emma had bought me two tickets to the Science Museum, where a new Star Trek Warp Trail was being opened to mark the 60th anniversary of Star Trek. My uncle Martin would be joining me for the evening.

Once they had left I set about getting myself ready, showering and picking out my clothes for the evening. I was debating on whether I should wear one of my Star Trek uniforms. I have a Next Generation maroon uniform and a Captain's dress uniform, from Star Trek First Contact. It was this latter uniform that  I wore at my wedding. However, the maroon top was a little too small, by now, and the trousers for the dress uniform were very tight. In the end I decided on black trousers, a black shirt and jacket, with gold Star Trek socks and my Starfleet class ring.

Martin came through the door just after Erin had arrived home from school. So, we sat and had a drink while we waited for Emma and Keilyn to return. When the shopping was packed away, Martin and I headed off, with him driving us to Croxley station from where we would catch our train.

Science Museum: Star Trek Warp Trail

2026 marks 60 years since Star Trek first hit television screens across the world. Although the original series was short-lived, it became a cultural phenomenon spawning an animated television series. Then, in 1979, it hit the big screen with Star Trek The Motion Picture. More films and television series have followed to the present day, making it the largest science fiction franchise in the world.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary, the Science Museum has partnered with Paramount to produce a special season of Star Trek events. 

This includes screenings of all the big screen adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew, while costumes and props from the franchise have been spread across the museum for everyone to discover. 

You can also explore a 360° immersive simulation of the U.S.S. Enterprise bridge, where you can take a selfie. Plus, you can sit in the Captain's chair from Star Trek Discovery.

A special pop-up shop is also selling exclusive Star Trek at 60 merchandise, much of which has been developed by the Science Museum.

You will see a model of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, various costumes from the franchise, medical gadgets, tricorders, comms badges, Tribbles and much more.

Star Trek 60 runs from March 27 until September 8, 

with all of the events and activities being free.

Star Trek Warp Trail

The Star Trek 60 Film Season, which showcases all thirteen big screen outings, 

has special screening dates and requires tickets, with prices starting at £20.

Star Trek 60 Film Season

Destination Star Trek London, 2012: Day 2

Saturday October 20, 2012

DAY 2

Unlike the black suit and blue shirt that I had worn the day before, today I wore my Star Trek Dress Uniform. Not many people noticed, or maybe recognised it, on the train to North Greenwich, but they did when Len and myself walked to the Emirates Air Line Cable Car. You could hear the excited chatter and the click and flash of cameras. As we disembarked the cable car, we spotted a few other uniforms from various alien races, but not too many. It wasn't until we entered the ExCeL Centre itself that we became aware of how many people were in a costume of some kind or another. Some of the costumes were home-made or cheap imitations. Others were of far better quality and some actually fit the person wearing them. And others were out of this World. There were Humans, Bajorans, Andorians, Klingons, Vorta, Romulans, Trill, Omnipotent Beings (such as Q), Mugato, Borg, Ferengi and every style of Starfleet uniform from the TV Series through the films. The only species that I failed to see were Cardassians and Jem'hadar.

The entire place was considerably busier than the previous day, by at least a couple of hundred people, so I was glad that I had taken the opportunity to have my Captain's photos taken on the Friday. As we meandered through the crowds, I was asked to pose for the odd photo by various people in varying uniforms. Len suggested that if this was going to happen all day, I should charge. I saw a Klingon Warrior walking around and so asked for a photo with him, which he happily stood for. As the queues to the Autograph & Photo Sales Area died down, I went and purchased two tickets for the Bridge Photo Shoot. When these were bought we went to look at some of the canvas paintings and limited edition prints. Many of them were autographed and limited to editions of 500 or less. None of them however had a price on them, but signs did tell you to ask for prices. I suggested that if you had to ask the price, then you couldn't afford it. This didn't deter Len from asking the price of a glossy print of all five captain's, with their starships and autographs. The salesman answered £2995.00, without the frame. I was quite surprised that I wasn't picking Len up off the floor, at this point. I had seen a nice canvas of five of the most famous Klingons, with their ships and autographs, which I was informed was £345.00. He then informed us that he accepted all major credit cards. It was at this point that we hit the Klingon Zone for a drink.

After our drink we both headed over to the Bridge Shoot Area and joined the queue. Although the queue was quite long, time flew because striking up a conversation was simple as everyone had something in common. Conversations ranged from best episode from any series to best film to best hero to best villain. A young Starfleet Admiral, in a uniform from Star Trek Deep Space Nine, asked to have his photo taken with me, which I of course obliged. Then we were near the front of the queue and my date with destiny. Unlike the photo shoot with William Shatner or Avery Brooks, you were given time to get comfortable and work out your pose. I opted for sitting in the Captain's chair with a small smile, as if to say, 'It doesn't get better than this!' Len opted for a more laid back shot of himself in the chair, which looks really cool. (This was the second USS Enterprise bridge that I have now had my photo taken on. The other was at Star Trek Adventure Hyde Park in 2003, when I got to sit on the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D).

With our photographs in our hands, Len was concerned that we had no way of keeping them from getting damaged. We could have bought a plastic sleeve for £1.00 but I decided that we needed proper frames to display this moment of history. So, two Destination Star Trek London frames were purchased. I had purchased two identical frames the day before to hold my captain's photos. Another wander around and another photo was requested. This time from a Starfleet officer, with green hair, in an Original series dress.

There was a Stormtrooper, from the Star Wars franchise, seen wandering around, but we avoided him like the plague. However, seeing a character from 'Galaxy Quest' was great.

Hopefully some of these photographs will appear on the Internet at some point, so that I can see them for myself. I was then asked to pose with a Bajoran Cleric and Seven-of-nine. This time I managed to get a photo of the three of us when a passerby offered to take the photographs for all of us.

After this we wandered over to the Main Stage, where a Star Trek Auction was going on. We watched from the side as various prints, memorabilia and props went under the hammer. Some went for surprising little, while others saw them raise thousands. We then went around the various Autograph Areas, so that I could try and get some more photographs of the people that I had grown up watching on TV and in the Cinema, Then, with time getting on, we decided to have one last look around before having one last drink in the Federation Zone. Unfortunately, we didn't drink our last drinks in the Federation Zone for reasons that I shall now explain;

THE FEDERATION ZONE: The Federation Zone consisted of a small bar selling tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer, pasties and pies, crisps and Romulan Ale. The seating area was made up of small round tables with chairs and looked like a relaxation zone, made even more clear by the six or seven Starfleet women in uniforms of the Sciences division giving out free 10-minute massages. There was also a massive set of 'Holodeck' doors and a 'Transporter' wall to have photographs taken against. The entire area was clean and reeked of Federation goodness. Yuk!

THE KLINGON ZONE: The Klingon Zone consisted of a small bar selling tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer, pasties and pies, crisps and Klingon Bloodwine. The seating area was made up of long wooden benches and tables covered in bearskins. The centrepiece of the area was nine-foot tall Klingon Warrior Statue, while around the sides was a Klingon Gong for "hitting not tickling", as one of the resident Klingons pointed out to a young Starfleet Cadet, who proceeded to make the gong ring out louder than a Klingon Targ at breakfast. There was also a Throne to have your photograph taken on. Basically, this was the place to be. Qapla!

So, we bought our drinks at the Federation Zone and took them to the Klingon Zone. Perfect! Soaking up the atmosphere, we sipped our drinks and talked about the last few days. We both agreed that this had been an experience that we both happy to have been a part of.

Until next time...

Live long and prosper.

Star Trek: The Adventure

Sunday February 23, 2003.

Star Trek: The Adventure landed in Hyde Park on December 2, 2002 and was due to end on January 31st, but it was extended due to its popularity. Luckily myself and some friends managed to get some tickets, following the extension, so off we went.

My ticket.

The exhibition consisted of a massive climate-controlled exhibit, which covered over 7,000 square feet, making it the largest exhibition in Hyde Park, since the Great Exhibition of 1851. The exhibit consisted of props and memorabilia, worth over £20 million, covering the five Star Trek series and ten movies and was also the venue for the after-show party, following the premiere of Star Trek Nemesis.

Star Trek: The Adventure.

As we passed along the covered walkway, on your way in to the massive, hangar-like, building, banners hung from the roof, with a different Star Trek character on each of them. Then, as we entered the hall proper, we were greeted by an enormous model of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A). She was intricately detailed and truly majestic as she hung at a slight angle from the ceiling. There were also models of the USS Excelsior (NCC-2000), the Negh'Var, a type-15 shuttlepod and a Borg Cube, which was 1.5 metres in size. There was also a Scorpion, that had survived the destruction of the Scimitar, in Star Trek Nemesis,

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A

IKS Negh'Var.

My friend Keda, with a Scorpion from Star Trek: Nemesis.