Star Wars fan Simon loving life on the Dark Side

Star Wars fanatic Simon dresses up as a Stormtrooper to raise money for charity at sci-fi conventions across the UK.

Simon first got hooked on donning the icnonic white armour and helmet when he went to a Comic-Con event in Preston with his son Lucas - named after Star Wars creator George Lucas.

Now he regularly spends his weekends as a member of Darth Vader’s evil Imperial army. Just last Saturday he was one of 30 Stormtroopers entertaining crowds at the Trafford Centre in Manchester. He will also be appearing at cinemas across the country at launch events held to mark the release this week of the new Star Wars film The Force Awakens.

Simon, 40, was just two years old when the first Star Wars film came out in 1977. But he remembers queuing to see the sequel The Empire Strikes Back at the old King Street cinema in Lancaster as a schoolboy. He also still has his childhood collection of Star Wars action figures and spaceships - and even a lightsaber. “It’s a bit of fun,” said Simon, from Lancaster, who is part of a costumed group called the 99th Garrison.

“Our group gets asked to attend many events. We also have a Darth Vader, a C3PO and an R2D2. But the Stormtroopers are really popular because there are a lot of us. There’s not much demand for 10 Darth Vaders turning up.”

Dad of five Simon is really looking forward to the long-awaited release of The Force Awakens and has booked himself and wife Lisa tickets for an IMAX screening of the film in Manchester on Thursday - even though he admits his unusual hobby “drives my missus bonkers!”