{{Short description|Appreciation society}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox organization | image = Fanderson.jpg | formation = {{Start date|1981|08|20|df=y}} | type = Not-for-profit | purpose = Official appreciation society for the works of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson | location = United Kingdom | products = Members-only magazine and merchandise; events and services | leader_title = Chairman | leader_name = Nick Williams (since 2007) | key_people = Gerry Anderson (honorary president) | website = {{URL|www.fanderson.org.uk}} }} '''Fanderson''' is the official appreciation society for the works of British film and television producers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Based in the United Kingdom, but with an international membership, it is a not-for-profit organisation run by a small committee of volunteers.<ref name=faq>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=446|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019090321/http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=446|archive-date=19 October 2014|title=Fanderson FAQs|website=fanderson.org.uk|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The club is endorsed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, ITC Entertainment Group, The Indestructible Production Company, Anderson Entertainment and the family of Sylvia Anderson.
==Activities== The club was formed on 20 August 1981 at a meeting convened by ITC and Gerry Anderson. Previously, ITC had supported the various clubs and societies that followed Anderson's work; in 1981, it requested that these groups merge and, in exchange, promised to give its full backing (except financial support) to the new organisation.<ref name=faq/>
In the early 1990s, the club had approximately 1,600 members.<ref>''Supermarionation Classics'', p. 284.</ref> By 1996, it had about 2,000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/50-years-and-counting-1312086.html|title=50 Years and Counting|author=Nelson, Sue|author-link=Sue Nelson|date=30 August 1996|newspaper=The Independent|publisher=Independent Print|location=London, UK|access-date=27 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423235343/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/50-years-and-counting-1312086.html|archive-date=23 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson was the club's honorary president until his death in 2012.
Paid members receive a subscription to the club magazine, ''FAB''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://downthetubes.net/tag/fanderson/|first=John|last=Freeman|author-link=John Freeman (editor)|website=downthetubes.net|access-date=8 January 2025|title=Fanderson|year=2022}}</ref> (which is published three times a year – usually in March, July and November), as well as access to exclusive merchandise such as books, DVDs and soundtrack CDs.<ref name=faq/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sci-fi-online.com/00_revs/r2009/music/09-05-07_stingray.html|title=''Stingray: Original Television Soundtrack'' – Soundtrack Review|last1=Clark|first1=Anthony|work=sci-fi-online.com|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027043633/http://www.sci-fi-online.com/00_revs/r2009/music/09-05-07_stingray.html|archive-date=27 October 2014|url-status=live|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref><ref>''Supermarionation Classics'', p. 188.</ref> The club has also held conventions featuring guest appearances by actors and crew from the Anderson productions.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.starburstmagazine.com/issues/starburstissue156.pdf|title=Fantasia|author=Clark, Stuart|date=August 1991|journal=Starburst|volume=13|issue=12|publisher=Visual Imagination|location=London, UK|editor=Payne, Stephen|issn=0955-114X|page=11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225212327/http://www.starburstmagazine.com/issues/StarburstIssue156.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3619953/Wilson-talked-of-technology-and-along-came-Thunderbirds.html|title=Wilson talked of technology – and along came ''Thunderbirds''|author=White, Jim|author-link=Jim White (journalist)|date=26 September 2005|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London, UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423234710/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3619953/Wilson-talked-of-technology-and-along-came-Thunderbirds.html|archive-date=23 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/maidenhead/121899/fanderson-convention-celebrates-50-years-of-captain-scarlet.html|title=Fanderson Convention Celebrates 50 Years of ''Captain Scarlet''|first1=Tara|last1=O'Connor|date=2 October 2017|newspaper=Maidenhead Advertiser|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018222323/https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/maidenhead/121899/fanderson-convention-celebrates-50-years-of-captain-scarlet.html|archive-date=18 October 2020|url-status=live|access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref>
In March 2014, the club severed ties with production company Anderson Entertainment (run by Anderson's widow, Mary, and their son, Jamie), stating, among other claims, that it was pursuing a "commercial agenda that is at odds with Fanderson".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fanderson.org.uk/gerryandersonnews/2014/03/letter-from-nick-williams-fandersons-relationship-with-anderson-entertainment/|title=Chairman's Letter: Fanderson's Relationship with Anderson Entertainment|author=Williams, Nick|date=24 March 2014|work=fanderson.org.uk|location=Bradford, UK|access-date=27 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026223631/http://fanderson.org.uk/gerryandersonnews/2014/03/letter-from-nick-williams-fandersons-relationship-with-anderson-entertainment/|archive-date=26 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson Entertainment called the allegations "demonstrably false".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anderson-entertainment.co.uk/response-fandersons-open-letter/|title=Response to Fanderson's Open Letter|date=26 March 2014|website=anderson-entertainment.co.uk|access-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330080453/http://www.anderson-entertainment.co.uk/response-fandersons-open-letter/|archive-date=30 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Works cited=== * {{Cite book | last1 = Rogers | first1 = Dave | last2 = Marriott | first2 = John | last3 = Drake | first3 = Chris | last4 = Bassett | first4 = Graeme | title = Supermarionation Classics: Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons | year = 1993 | publisher = Boxtree | location = London, UK | isbn = 978-1-85283-900-0}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.fanderson.org.uk}} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141026220216/http://www.thenicerooms.com/room-6 Interview with Ian Fryer]}}, Fanderson committee member * {{discogs label|Fanderson}}
{{Gerry Anderson}}
Category:Gerry Anderson Category:1981 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Film fan clubs Category:ITC Entertainment Category:Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom Category:Organisations based in Bradford Category:Organizations established in 1981 Category:Television fan clubs