• WHEN: Saturday September 30, 2006
• WHERE: Shedden Hall Hotel, Torquay, United Kingdom
• TIME: Timings sent out to paid member approximate two weeks before the con.
• Guests of Honour: Bob & Marianne Eggleton. Man & wife, they're both great artists. Bob has done at least 90% of my TOR Books covers -- and he loves doing little original skulls in folks' books.
• Other Attendees of Note: Dave Kendall (The Ginger Wookie, Necroscope Comic Artist among many other projects). Nick Austin (Editor-Extraordinaire) & Keith Grant-Evans (The Lupine Lord).

For all of you who attended the past five cons, you will all be familiar with most of the information below and how to proceed.

As any relevant information becomes available you’ll find it posted on the MessageBoard in Brian Lumley's Aerie/KeoghCon. Previous members are on a Con mailing list so you'll receive info as appropriate. As any new attendees pay their membership fee, they will be added to the Con mailing list.

• Programs will be given out at the con.
• Tickets will be hand delivered at the hotel.
• Costumes are not mandatory but if you wish to come in fancy dress it must be one of Brian's characters from any one of his books. There are always a few folks who like to come in fancy dress. (But do remember … certain areas of the body must be clothed ... and you know what they are! No excuses.)
• Brian will do two readings.
• Brian will sign books throughout the con. Usually at the bar gatherings.
• There will be two or three discussion panels. Or two panels and an interview. Topics to be decided closer to the time.
• Also, any attendee staying at the hotel Friday or Sunday night (or both) is welcome to join in for a social session just like the previous cons.
• Preliminary programming will be emailed to attendees approximately 1 to 2 weeks before the con.
• New members need not feel left out. You'll we warmly welcomed and before long you'll be just one of the ever increasing KeoghCon family.

Once again we plan on having a whole day event. We plan on organizing discussion panels during the day. Later a post will go on the MessageBoard with panel subjects and we'll ask for volunteers for the panels. The panels will consist of five panelists and one moderator. Each panel will last for 45 minutes. There'll be several topics to choose from. KCV's panels were very enlightening and I know more folks will be interested now that they have seen how panels operate.

The daytime programming will be two panels and the evening programming will have an interview with Bob Eggleton by our own Paul Calvin Wilson. There'll be two readings, one in the afternoon programming and the other in the evening programming. Short breaks will be inserted so folks can have a chance to do whatever they need to do without missing out on anything. When the afternoon panels are finished we'll close the room down in order to set up for the evening events. In the evening will be a reading, buffet, money goes behind the bar for free drinks.

Due to the adult nature of the convention and volume of alcohol being consumed, this is for adults only. No one under the age of 18 may attend.

Membership is limited to 50 paid attendees only. You can apply for your membership now. Note to regular attendees: in order to avoid disappointment be sure to get your fee paid  ASAP. 

Membership Fee: £30.00 per person.

Membership includes the Saturday evening buffet, at least two free drinks at the bar, and all programming on Saturday.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Membership fees are non-refundable and must be received by August 19, 2006. At this time we have to let the hotel know the numbers ... once we give the numbers we are required to pay.

(Note: At the World Fantasy and World Horror Cons, as well as other conventions ... once you pay your membership fee, that's it.)

For membership contact the tickets address through the link in the Contact section -- you will then receive further details.

Method of Payment: Within UK: Cash, Check or Postal Money Order, or PayPal.*

Outside UK: Any US attendees will be given a US address to send their money to. Cash or Money Order. Or you may alternatively use PayPal.* You will be given PayPal* details upon request and you will receive notification of your payment being received.

PLEASE DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY SEND FEES.

*Membership fee online via PayPal. It's fast, secure and you don't even have to move from the computer ... it's also more convenient to pay from the US! Please note that membership fees for paying online are £31.50 (UK). The slight increase is to cover the charges made to Goth Girl by PayPal (incorrect memberships fees will be rejected). NOTE: All attendees are requested to pay in Pounds Sterling which is very easy to do now with PayPal. Makes it much easier at our end.

To send your membership fees via PayPal, please contact Goth Girl first at the tickets address and she will then send you payment details. 

All payments must be received by August 19, 2006.

If sending cash, please get proof of postage. Goth Girl will not be held responsible for non-delivered post.

ALL fees must be received no later than Saturday August 19, 2006.

Note: As mentioned above. Tickets will be handed out at the hotel. They are no longer posted.

In the main lounge you get a great view of Tor Abbey Sands beach and across the bay to Paignton and Brixham. 

The rooms are standard ... but comfortable. There are coffee/tea making facilities in all rooms as well as a TV and hair dryer.

There is a small room with a pool table for those of you who decide to stay up until the wee small hours of the morning.

And there is free parking for hotel guests.

NOTE: You need to contact me (Silky Lumley) personally for the rates and to book your room. The hotel WILL NOT take any bookings, they will refer you to me. Use con info address in the contact section below. Please use the SUBJECT: KeoghCon VI Hotel.

If you have not attended before, a flat rate of £25.00 deposit is required per room which is non-refundable. And, naturally, this will be deducted from your total amount of stay. Room rates are on a single and double per person rate which will include breakfast if you so desire it.

Note of Importance: It is suggested that if you know you are definitely attending book your room as quickly as possible! The sooner you book the sooner we can claim the hotel as our own as we did for KCV. You all know how great it was having the entire hotel to ourselves. In the event that the hotel fills up ... alternate accommodation will be given at that time.

So ... unfortunately, if you snooze ... you may lose and we don't want that to happen. You don't want to end up in a bed and brecky half a mile away.

The hotel sits nicely atop a hill with a great view of Torbay. Everything is within walking distance of the hotel.

Walk outside the hotel and make a left and you've a 10 minute walk (or two minute drive) to the multi-storey car park. Take the lift down to ground floor, you'll see the back of McDonalds on one corner and The Whitehart Pub on the other. Walk up that little street and you are there. You've got Bitz, S-Mart, BHS, SuperDrug, Spar, Three Cooks, McDonalds and the Sandwich Cafe and Boots.

Right across the street from Mickey Dees (McDonalds) are two bus stops. Several buses will take you all the way down to The Strand/Seafront. It only takes me 15 minutes to walk down.

As we continue on down, in the Union Street Arcade, you've got Peacocks, QS, Shaul's Bakery, Stokes fruit and veg, Iceland and Somerfield. Walking further on down to the pedestrianized section of Union street, you've got a few more eateries, Primark, Woolworths, W. H. Smith and The Hogs Head Pub on the corner. Even further on down, which is now Fleet Walk, you'll find numerous shops (too many to name) and there's a Whimpy, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut. Keep on walking and you're at The Strand/Seafront where you'll find load of shops and cafes to eat and drink.

Walk outside the hotel and make a right. First off: a one minute walk (or 45 paces for Silky) takes you next door to The Heritage Hotel which houses Appleby's (open 11A to 11P) American style restaurant and pub. Second: a five minute walk across the street and on the seafront is the huge Mojo Cafe . And there are several fish & chip shops along the promenade. If you keep following the seafront trail past the Princess Theatre you'll go past the Amusement Arcade at Cary/Vaughn Parade. Here you'll find more shops, pubs and eateries. At the seafront you'll find The London Inn (a J. D. Witherspoons) and Cafe Mambo.

Down at the far end of the seafront is Torbay's newest attraction Living Coasts. And just before Coasts is the huge Brewer's Fayre restaurant. And if you really want a classy place to eat you've got The Marina Restaurant, which has really good food, with good views and nice atmosphere.

Everything comes full circle. Either right turn or left turn if you keep walking you'll end up back at the hotel. You won't miss out on anything. And if you aren't up to walking ... everything's just a short taxi ride away.

(click for full size image)

Town Center Map

Torquay town center. Convenient little map I found. The black circle is our hotel, approximately. And it shows some of the shops I mentioned.

(click for full size image)

Seafront Map

This is to the left of the town center map. And once again you'll see our hotel circled. If you notice all the way down in the left hand bottom corner is the Torquay railway station. You'll see two little folks standing there with a suitcase.

By Air: There are two local airports ... Plymouth and Exeter but it will will involve a one hour taxi ride.

By Air from the USA: Gatwick and Heathrow Airports are the best to use. You can contact Silky at the contact address below for explicit instructions... It is advisable that you get a flight that arrives into either airport no later than 9:30 as once you get to Paddington Train Station you have a 2-1/2 hour train ride to the Southwest.

Heathrow Airport: Although a gigantic airport it may be ... it's the least amount of traveling. Once you get out of customs and immigration all you have to do is follow the signs that lead you to the Heathrow Express which will bring you to Paddington Train station, there you'll take a train down to the Southwest. The Heathrow Express services all terminals. The Express runs every 15 minutes and the duration of the ride is 15 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on the train. Best to buy a return trip.

Gatwick Airport: A smaller airport but very well signed. (We personally use this one all the time.) It is advised that you get a flight into the South Terminal. This will save you some time as this is where you need to catch The Gatwick Express which will take you to Victoria Train Station. There you will take a taxi to Paddington Train station. The Gatwick Express runs every 30 minutes and the duration of the ride is 30 minutes. (If you fly into the North Terminal you will need to take a monorail ride to the South Terminal to catch the Express.) Tickets can be purchased on the train. Best to buy a return trip.

Bus: National Express runs a coach service from London Victoria Station right down to the Lymington Road Coach station in Torquay. http://www.nationalexpress.com. The 501 service has 6 direct runs from Victoria to Torquay and 6 runs from Torquay back to Victoria Station, London, daily. I believe they also run a service direct from Heathrow and Gatwick airports and that will be available on their web site. It is only a 5 to 10 minute taxi ride from the coach station to the hotel.

By Car: If you haven't driven here before I would guess your best bet is The AA route planner:   http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp I checked this out and from the Greater London area to Torquay they state 218.2 miles and 3 hours 58 minutes drive time. About the same time as taking a train. But ... depending on the speed you drive...

By Train: You can contact: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk and plan your trip. We use First Great Western that leaves from Paddington. http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk you can plan your trip on this site as well. I do know that certain times of the day on outward and return journeys that they do have a train that comes direct to Torquay. Otherwise, you have to get off at Newton Abbot station and catch a commuter to Torquay or a taxi. The First Great Western ticket office is between platforms 3 and 4. You must purchase a ticket before you board the train. Those arriving from the USA ... when you contact me I can give you train times. 

SMOKING IS PERMITTED IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY. (For anyone who may growl at this ... the owners are smokers and this is at their request.) We haven't had any problems in the past.

Be Warned! There will be no gate crashing! No fee – no entry. No disruptions to the bash will be tolerated.

Please to save time, contact the appropriate address for your queries.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the vast amount of spam/junk mail ... be sure to mention "KeoghCon VI" in the SUBJECT line. If you don't you risk being overlooked if your e-mail looks like spam. Subject lines of "hi," "hello," etc. are definitely at risk of being ignored.

For any information relating to UK travel arrangements, membership fees and tickets contact Goth Girl  at this address  

For any information pertaining to the con itself, hotel and programming contact Silky at this address.  Any attendees arriving in UK from the USA, do not hesitate to contact me for travel arrangements down to Torquay. I can give you specific instructions to Torquay from Heathrow and Gatwick airports