The Doctor Who Appreciation Society, 50 years young, celebrated its Golden Anniversary with a star-packed Capitol event at the Crowne Plaza, London-Gatwick, that also saw the presentation of several awards, including the annual Terrance Dicks Award for writers.
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society was formed in 1976 and the weekend-long event was the centrepiece of their festivities.
Screenwriter, director, and executive producer Pete McTighe received the 2026 Terrance Dicks Award at The Capitol Fifty Years of DWAS from Terrance’s sons, Jonathan and Oliver. In front of a packed auditorium, a surprised but delighted, Pete told how the first book he ever read as a four-year-old was Doctor Who and the Abominable Snowmen, which was given to him by his Nan.
In later years he was delighted to get Terrance’s autograph on this and other beloved Target novels.
The Terrance Dicks Award was inaugurated in 2022 by the Society in conjunction with the Dicks family, and honours writers whose work has contributed to and enhanced the worlds of Doctor Who.
Legendary Producer Philip Hinchcliffe was a surprise guest at The Capitol Fifty Years of DWAS, too, collecting the Best Ever Story award for Genesis of the Daleks. Philip beamed with delight as he paid tribute to those involved both in front of and behind the scenes during the making of the 1975 epic.
Musician Mark Ayres was presented with a “Outstanding Contribution to Doctor Who” Award as part of The Capitol Fifty Years of DWAS Celebration. In a career spanning forty years Mark has written music for the programme, been a vital part of the restoration team and even played at Glastonbury and the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Radiophonic Workshop.
An emotional Colin Howard was also with its “Outstanding Contribution Award”, an artist whose amazing work has delighted Doctor Who fans for decades, and, as we previously reported, is in the process preparing a new Timeslides collection.
Colin has worked extensively in the worlds of Doctor Who, his credits including no less than thirty-three covers for the BBC Video range in the 1990s.
Accompanied by his wife Michelle, Colin received the award, describing it as “a fantastic unexpected honour”, from Tasha Achilleos, wife of legendary artist Chris Achilleos.
Commenting later, Michelle said: “Ever since I met Colin, he had a drawing implement in his hand. As a fan of all things sci fi and especially Doctor Who, he wanted to emulate his art icons and create covers for the series. He then spent the past four decades or so doing just that. From independent books, Virgin books, comic strips, the BBC VHS covers, Doctor Who Magazine, then segueing into children’s books, natural history, album art (Tony Christie’s number one album cover, of all things!) to his credit, and private commissions; and then working with a fabulous team as part of the Doctor Who animations.
“As a human who is naturally self deprecating and has never held himself in any high regard this award has blown him away and it goes without saying how very proud I am of him.
“I just want to say a huge huge heart felt thank you to the whole DWAS team who are all so kind and supportive and to Tony Jordan for recognising Col’s contribution and for being so generous, kind and creating such a wonderful space for people from all over the world to connect and come together.”
The event also marked an end to Tony Jordan‘s 40-year involvement with the society, stepping down as Co-Ordinator and Events Organiser. His work, I’m sure, is appreciated by many fans and he has received much deserved thanks for his role in shaping the Society.
We wish Tony all the best on his “retirement”!
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society (DWAS), has nearly 30 thousand followers across the globe. It offers a free online quarterly magazine ‘Celestial Toyroom’ which itself is the longest running Doctor Who magazine currently in existence, and everyone is welcome to contribute.
They regularly offer publications and DWAS organised conventions and events, but be aware that they can sell out very quickly – the upcoming Projection in Time – Black & White & Silver at London’s Riverside Studios on Saturday 20th June, celebrating 60 years of the Cybermen, sold out in just five minutes!
• The Doctor Who Appreciation Society is online at dwasonline.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | X
• Read our review of Timeslides by Colin Howard
Images by Andy Richards, with thanks to Tony Jordan
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds, Science Fiction, Television
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