140 Glasgow Science Centre, Halloween Party 2023 – 20th October 2023

	Location
	Science Centre, Glasgow 18:00 – 21:00
	Mission Report
	Due to a clash of diaries the first night of the annual GSC Halloween event ended up somewhat sparsely attended this year. Ironically it did rather mean that those who were in attendance probably got more attention from the public with a lack of named characters. As trying to use the lift in the building is always a load of nonsense the reduced numbers actually made getting around slightly easier and meant there weren’t 20-odd characters milling around the same space all night! Although I was flying solo as a GB there was a surfeit of willing apprentices, both wearing their mini flight suits and otherwise seasonally attired, especially once word got round that replica “Rookie” name badges were being handed out with the occasional double-dipper trying to chance their arm too. Curiously it was the adults that needed an explanation of what the gifts were, the kids got it straight off the bat (a pun I wish I’d planned in advance) which resulted in an elaborate explanatory mime to one group who spoke no English… Contrary to my complaints of previous years, the music was much reduced, certainly in volume and perhaps even in venue, which would have made the event much appropriate for the pack sounds had I wired them up, which I hadn’t because… music… and more pleasant in general were I not breaking in a new pair of boots during the proceedings. Nonetheless the evening proceeded at a rapid clip, the three hours punctuated with an equal number of breaks certainly didn’t outstay its welcome. During the evening it became apparent that some members of the public had assumed that, like them, I was an attendee! While discussing why this might be it was commented upon that it could be because I was standing somewhat removed from the rest of the costumers. To me there was nothing remarkable about this and I explained confidently that to the best of my knowledge franchise mixing was somewhat frowned upon and indeed at larger events the mingling of different trilogy costumes is generally a thing to be avoided. In retrospect though I had my doubts about my claim and wasn’t sure this is still adhered to, but looking at the photos of the senior club it still does seem to be an aspiration if nothing else.
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131 Glasgow Science Centre, Halloween Party 2022 – 28th October 2022

	Location
	Science Centre, Glasgow 18:00 – 21:00
	Mission Report
	Quality aside there’s not much variation in these GSC events, wander about trying to find the least warm area to stand in, pose for photos and interact with the public. It’s the last of these which make the events memorable or otherwise and fortunately this one fell into the former category. The night started as they often do (except when we’re hideously late getting kitted up or they admit the public early) with a wander down to the ticket desks, past the admission queues and outside to the entrance to greet the later arrivals. Almost straight off the bat Doctor Thompson and I spy a pair of creepy twin girls dressed as a pair of creepy twin girls and make a mental note to avoid them for the rest of the night at all costs. While keeping a side-eye on them to ensure they maintained their distance an older woman walks up to us and opens with the gambit “I’ve left my kids on the bus…” Mutually assuming for a second she’s mistaken our flight suits for janitors’ overalls, we begin to try to clarify that we’re not GSC staff and can’t really be of assistance locating her missing toddlers on public transport when she blindsides us with clarification that the kids are in fact 18 and 25 and she’s left them on a nearby parked minibus while she has come over to ask for a photo with the Ghostbusters even though she’s not attending the Halloween event. Moving inside to avoid further random encounters we laugh uproariously at the assembled troopers waiting for the large lift to complete its complex random floor and direction journey and arrive at the ground to allow them to embark, walk past and take the escalators to the first floor. Apon our completion of a circuit of the western half of the building, the lift contingent finally arrived to join us. Part way through the repeated perambulation that followed a young girl approached my fellow paranormal investigator and me for a photograph. She was dressed and wore make-up somewhat reminiscent of a character from Disneys Coco so I made a comment that “it was fine, skeletons aren’t our department” which led her to say she’d seen a couple of ghost costume that evening. “It’s specifically Invisible Ghosts we’re on the lookup for”, I replied as she statred to walk off, “if you see any please let us know…” Stopping and turning she asked how, if they were invisible, she would be able to see them. “They clap their hands, so you know they’re nearby…” I responded and off she walked… Continuing our tour of the upper floors, whereby we spend longer waiting for the lift to arrive and deposit us on a given level than we do on the level itself and we’re blindsided by the creepy twins: “Do you want to play with us?” they sing-song in unison. “No thank you”, we reply equally in unison. While returning to the changing facilities we pass the room set aside for a disco. We’ve passed it each time we’ve left and returning to the meeting room the GSC set aside for us to use, both during this year’s events and in years past with nary a second glance or toe ventured inside but at this exact moment they’re reaching the middle eight of the Ghostbusters theme tune. Doctor Thompson and I venture inside, wandering through the throngs pumping our fists in the air each time the trademark is shouted as the crowd point in our direction as the song winds to its close. And then it starts again. Fearing the DJ has the 12″ remix to hand, we make like undercover News of The World journalists offered goods and services against the law, we make our excuses and left at that point. As the clock neared 20:30 the ground floor of the venue began to quieten down and we elected to call it a night. Thanks to the ISG for the invite and the patches we were presented with, although next time they could stand to unplug the speakers on their rolling barrel shaped plastic PA system before the stage that people are trying to have post event conversations as nobody was interested in the dreadful cacophony being emitted by it or its owner…
	Personnel

130 Glasgow Science Centre, Halloween Party 2022 – 21st October 2022

	Location
	Science Centre, Glasgow 18:00 – 21:00
	Mission Report
	I was quite surprised at how long it had been since I attended this event in the Batsuit, 2016 in fact, so inadvertently having trotted out each costume for an encore in this first year back trooping since the before-fore times ended had an additional unintended benefit.   Although possibly quite by accident the ongoing refurbishment work of the GSC seems to have meant that the overwhelming music loop previously used at these events was substantially reduced if not missing altogether on the night, which meant that you could actually have conversations with the younger attendees such as answering their questions about where Robin is (past his bedtime), Batman’s greatest fears (Jokers and skeletons) and throughout the night with such a bizarre frequency I thought it must be some TikTok based practical joke that was on trend with the youths these days, whether Batman can fly (obviously he can, but only in a plane)…   The refurbishment appears to have had no impact on the stifling heat though with each successive floor guaranteed* to add another 30 degrees to the ambient temperature.  Indeed, in a less pleasant change since last visit, the cafe has temporarily(?) been relocated near the main entrance meaning that in the event of rain, as we had, the last respite for cooling down near the doors has been replaced by an odd sauna cum amphitheatre cum soft play combination such was the heat, noise and e-number inspired commutation of the assembled bodies.  And really…  provision of lightsabre style candy canes?  Who never saw that trouble coming?   Events at the GSC can vacillate between quiet/tedious and very busy/blur, although the Halloween outings usually fall into the second camp, and such was the case here so it’s curious that the second part on the 28th is predicted to be equally sold out.  Perhaps an outfit with more airflow, though…?     *Not a science guarantee
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124 Science Lates – Sound and Screen – 21st February 2020

Location
Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow 08:00 – 22:30

Personnel

DRDA-0000	Doug Inman	Dalek
GB-6275	Mark McCreadie	Ghostbuster
ID-15233	Fraser Boyd	Line Officer
SL-77314	Alan Dalgleish	Darth Vader
TA-7240	Julie Sword	AT-AT Pilot
TB-89909	Jenn Mair	Biker Scout
TI-91810	Lynn McDavid	Stormtrooper
TK-18910	Brian McDavid	Stormtrooper
UK-0000	Jamie Hall	Spotter
UK-6084	Stuart Thompson	Spotter

Mission Report
You have to admire the persistence of the Glasgow Science Centre in continuing with these Science Late events as they never seem to have an attendance that would justify the staffing costs.  I suppose we’re equally culpable, we keep turning up to them too although the attendees rarely have any interest in our presence, but although very, very, quiet this was ironically one of the instances better attended by the public.

I struggled to think why it had been marked an induction, until I realised that jokes about the size of Frasers trousers were a clue it was technically his first troop.  He’s been a fixture at events for such long time now between his Mando and RL attendances I just assumed his officer had been cleared months ago, sans branding a quick handshake had to suffice as his welcome to the 501st.

As is normal we started the evening out in the atrium to welcome those visitors that the persistent rain hadn’t kept away but the shorter walk from the car park to the cinema entrance meant that many of them bypassed those of us near the main doors entirely.  Taking the lift to the higher floors revealed them to be practically empty, bar areas aside, and we even ventured to the third floor which is pretty much unheard of as the heat up there is oppressive for anyone in costume when the building is busier.

Looking down from this vantage point showed that the cafeteria was fairly well occupied so after a break some of the troopers elected to take a wander around there.  The mixture of alcohol and voices muffled by helmets seemed to cause some slight aggravation though so it was a visit quickly curtailed.

The most interesting part of the night for me was a journey down the ramp towards the base of the tower.  I’ve never actually been in that area before, as per the long standing local joke the tower itself seems to have been closed due to structural problems/weather/lift being broken for the majority of the time since it’s construction, but being able to see the base and foundations and the explanation of the engineering behind it was as fascinating as the loud AT-AT Walker alike noises of its movement in the wind.

Knowing that a live band was due to start performing in the atrium at 21:00 we took a last tour of this area ahead of time to bid farewell to anyone departing early, but it had long passed the stage where the attendees had started to get slightly grab-y towards the costumes and it was relief to call the night quits…

Visual Archive

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116 Glasgow Science Centre, Halloween Party 2019 – 25th October 2019

Location
Science Center, Glasgow 18:00 – 21:30

Personnel

GB-6275	Mark McCreadie	Ghostbuster
ID-56984	Kenny Crawford	Grand Moff Tarkin
SL-77314	Alan Dalgleish	Darth Vader
TA-7240	Julie Sword	AT-AT Pilot
TB-89909	Jenn Mair	Biker Scout
TK-6084	Stuart Thompson	Stormtooper ANH Stunt
TK-19767	Douglas Mullen	Stormtooper ANH Stunt
UKG-29578	Sheraz Khwaja	Spotter

Mission Report
Having overdosed on retro-Ghostbusters in the last month or so with the 35th Anniversary cinema visit and the house at Halloween Horror Nights, I was quite excited about wearing the costume again after four years of avoiding it at the Glasgow Science Centre. Unfortunately I was on my own this time round as my fellow local GB is in the middle of an extensive pack rebuild and with a couple of the costumers dropping out in advance, I ended up the sole Reel Icons banana in the trooping bunch.

Not to say there wasn’t much fun to be had; I got into an extended conversation with two teenage girls as to the exact nature of my costume which contrary to their opinion, I kept claiming was a school janitor and there were sufficient seasonal decorations dotted around the building for kids to regularly point me in the direction of various ghosts which I could pointedly avoid. I’m not sure I believe that there was actually a 25 foot inflatable skeleton waiting to get me somewhere in the building as one boy told me, but the parents seemed amused by the concept and the jury will have to remain out on that one…

I’ve previously lamented that these GSC event are effectively over for those trooping after the first hour as our presence at the entrance means that people get all the photos they want on the way in and have no real interest in us afterwards. This time it was inadvertently mitigated by us being rather late to emerge and missing largely missing them on entry and at the end of the evening by the coincidental timing of the exodus from the Marvel Superheroes Live show on at the Hydro the same night, bringing a new audience to us.

Visual Archive

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