(More pictures below...)
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I stand here today accused of being a visionary, a dreamer, a sci-fi freak, a jumped-up filofax and a scientific nuisance. This is my case for the defense.
I've always used my creative ability in every field I've worked in, and one of the things I've done with that ability is to create an alternative reality, a reality in which life is better, longer. more exciting. Those of you who play role-playing games will be familiar with this concept. One of those realities is called Starship, and the notes on your tables refer to some of the species out of Starship. But lately, the real world has begun to merge with this reality. My dreams are starting to come true. My life is suddenly like a movie.
So, I'd like to welcome you to the premier of that movie - Starship: The Motion Picture, and I'd like to thank a few of the people who were involved with the making of that movie. First of all, I'd like to thank the production team, Joyce and Peter Baker, for producing Jill all those years ago, without whom this movie would have been impossible.
Actually, Joyce and Peter have been quite prolific in their production of daughters. They have four of them. Theirs was the kind of house where, some years ago, teenage boys would hang about in the garden and dribble. And when I first met Jill, I was unaware, at that time, of her sense of humor. She told me she had three sisters, and I was interested in this, because I don't have any sisters. I didn't know what sisters are like. "Yes", she said, "And they're all named after radio stations. One's called Caroline, and the other two are Luxembourg and Classic FM". And I'd like to thank Classic FM, aka Wendy, for being our cheif bridesmaid today.
Next I'd like to thank the screenplay and dialogue co-writers, Anakin, Emrys and Jill, without whom there would not have been so much humor or learning in this movie, and indeed in the original series.
But most of all, I'd like to thank you, because every person in this room has in some way changed my life. Your friendship and your advice, your arguments, your actions and words, have all changed me in some way. You have all been a part of this movie. Thank you all.
Two of the biggest influences on my life are unable to be with us tonight, due to having passed on, and I'd like to send a belated round of applause to them, and a thank you. The first person is someone whom I think would like to be remembered as Biker Tetty.
And the second one is still having an influence on me today. Dez Willard.
I've often been told to face up to reality, to stop living in a fantasy world, but I stand here today and I plead guilty to everything I am charged with, but with the mitigating circumstances that my dreams are coming true. Humans are fired and inspired by imagination, by vision, and by the realisation of dreams, and Jill and I are very good at doing that together. So, as to the idea that I should wake up to reality and stop living in a fantasy world, if I were human, my response to that would be "Go to hell". If I were human.
And so I propose a toast. To the humans - straight on to the first star and don't stop 'til morning.
