The group was founded in 2009 when several of the online builders realized they were not the only builders in the UK. Our first event was at Milton Keynes, Don's Stadium with an attendance of around 5 builders. Since that event, every year more and more builder have emerged as have the number of events. We are now attending many events a year in the UK and even a few in Europe.
The Club Founders
Founder: Stuart
Stuart began construction of his first droid in 2009 with the intention of having his R2 as a static model. After a local event, he saw Kenny Baker attending, Stuart began talking on .net to other UK droid builders who were also planning on coming to the same convention. From that first-ever meet, Stuart helped to form the UK chapter of the R2 Builders Club. As one of the original founders in the UK, Stuart has been involved in many charity events, shows, including a TV advert, movie work, and two European Premiers. Stuart has seen the Club grow from a small band of friends to a Club that is recognized worldwide by other established Clubs, Disney and Lucasfilm.
Founder: Mike
Mike first started building in 2006 with one of the U.K’s first aluminium droids and spent many years in construction until finally being completed. After many hours chatting with fellow builders on .net Mike and 2 other builders decided to form a UK centric R2 Builders Club which originally existed within .net until he constructed in secret the UK R2 Builders forum and revealed to the surprise of UK Builders.
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Founder: Simon
To Be Updated...
Meet The Team - Current Committee Members
Chairman: Lee T
Lee started building his first Astromech in 2007 which he completed two years later in 2009 as R2D2. Lees R2 has been used for a lot of events including, Charity Events, Conventions & Official LucasFilm work. Lee became a member when this club was created in 2011 and has watched it grow from strength to strength. Thanks partly to this Club he has now gone on to work in the CFX Department for LucasFilm at Pinewood Studios, working on a number of Star Wars Films. As Chairman, he is putting as much of his spare time as possible into helping this club grow with its members.
Web Forum Officer / Founder: Mike
Mike first started building in 2006 with an aluminium R2 that was not R20D2!
Since then his duties are committee member, webmaster for the forum, and webpage and graphical overview. Through the club, he has also been lucky enough on occasion to work for the CFX Department at Pinewood Studios on several of the new Star Wars movies.
M.O.T Commander: Darren
Darren has been a lifelong tinkerer/maker, always making things. Some of his earliest memories are him using a soldering iron to take radios apart. After a visit to Milton Keynes Collectormania back in 2013 and meeting the UK R2D2 Builders Club there his partner suggested that he should build one. From there the research began and eventually after about 4 years he had a fully working R2D2. Since then he has been active in the club, attending as many events as possible, and becoming an MOT officer to help keep the safety standards in the club acceptable. His highlight so far has been to have the honour of taking part in the Dreamflight sendoff events.
Club Liason / Event Assistant : Oliver
Oliver completed his R2D2 just after Celebration Europe in London 2007 and has been a member of the builders club since 1999. Since joining the club he has attended 9 of the Star Wars Celebrations around the world and from his work with the club is one of the Worldwide Builder Council members responsible for dealing with the Worldwide club. Via his work with the Club and Lucasfilm he has been part of the Star Wars movie franchise and multiple adverts/press events. A side line is researching the history of R2D2, interviewing original prop builders and the history of each droid built.
Club Liason / Event Assistant : Sam
Sam started his R2 building adventure in April 2016 while looking for a new hobby, after finding the UK R2D2 builders club on Facebook and being added to Oliver Steeples friends list Sam was hooked on building droids and has become somewhat of an addiction.
Sam currently has 3 x R series droids, a C1-10P, and has recently started working on the track style droid as featured in the Star Wars Solo film. Sam works closely with the 501st UK Garrison co-ordinating the R2 builders group for large comic cons.
He is also an MOT officer.
Merchandise Officer: Giles
Giles met Lee and his droid in 2011 at Marlow Zoo, where he found his autistic son interacting with R2, this started the long journey of research and building. Two years later he completed R2JZero and in May 2013 they attended their first event, in the same place he first met Lee. R2JZero can be seen at many South Coast events including hospitals children's wards and small charity events. Giles joined the club in 2011 and has been an active member since then and even clocked up 29 events in 2012. As Merchandise Officer not only does he oversees the amazing clothing line and patches, but also has a keen interest in promoting the charity side of the group.
Jon became a member of the club after a chance visit to a sci-fi show in 2011. He began building his droid (R2-4L) shortly after and is still working on it now! He is constantly reminded his droid is the longest build in history by other members. As the Treasurer he looks after the clubs funds and with the other committee members ensure they are put to use for the best interests of the club
M.O.T OFFICERS
Mark - Northern Events
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Nik - Graphic Design |
