Geeks weekend the best supported yet
THE Big Geekend dominated proceedings at Guernsey Museum and Candie Gardens over the weekend.
Taking place for the fifth year running, the event is geared for those with profound interests and quirky collections.
Members of the Guernsey Wargames Club did battle over the two days, while the Guernsey Amateur Radio Society also had a presence.
Vikki Gray, 27, who works at the museum, took on the persona of fictional superhero Captain America. As a cosplayer, she was giving people the chance to discover the Japanese pastime of dressing up as your favourite characters for fun.
‘We do it at fancy dress, at comic book conventions in the UK, and socially with friends,’ she said.
‘It’s creative and I enjoy making the costumes and showing off my favourite characters.’
As a member of the Guernsey Model Engineering Society, Chris Unitt, 73, was showing off two of his steam locomotives – one powered by gas the other by coal. He said he had 100ft track in the garden of his home.
‘I build everything apart from the locomotives,’ he said. ‘All the carriages, track and railway station have been built by me.’
Mr Unitt has lived in the Channel Islands for 45 years.
‘I’ve no idea where my interest in steam trains came from but we all have to have an interest in something,’ he said.
Chris Murphy, 33, was showing off his spray-painting skills. He said he mainly did the planets and sci-fi themed works.
‘I just get an idea and go for it,’ he said. ‘I start with designing a planet colour scheme and then decide what would best go with it. It starts with an idea which I throw paint at. The nice thing about spray paint art is that if it goes wrong you can spray over it and start again.’
Guernsey Museums’ access and learning manager, Jo Dowding, said the event was the biggest so far.
‘I think word had been spreading and the theme is a very broad one,’ she said. ‘It’s about hobbies and just about everybody has one.’
