A 22ft Ectomobile and proton packs to Ghostbuster characters, a ghost containment unit and a ‘training academy’ complete with laboratory, will be at Ghostbusters HQ in Ramsgate this June, raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The immersive event will be held at Radford House – Ramsgate’s former fire station – on June 29th from 11am to 4pm.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Ghostbusters movie, released in 1984, telling the story of Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz and Egon Spengler who lose their jobs as scientists so start Ghostbusters to fight the evil ghosts lurking in New York City. The movie starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis as the scientists.
The Ramsgate event has been organised by Ghostbusters enthusiast and photographer Fern Sherratt-Wells, from Manston.
Fern, who runs her photography business with husband Martin and an event prop hire firm with relatives, has brought together some 19 Ghostbuster groups from around the south of the country to help on the day and has also gained donations of props and collectibles to be used at the event and for raffle prizes.
The 51-year-old says she has been a massive fan since childhood. She said: “I was 11 when the original film came out in 1984. Even before then, I was obsessed with ghosts and the paranormal. I was that weird kid that wasn’t into Sindy.”
Fern says she watched the film six times when it was first released and has been hooked ever since.
Two years ago Martin bought Fern her own Ghostbusters outfit and proton pack and rather than keep them as pristine showpieces, Fern was determined to share the fun.
She said: “There are franchises of Ghostbuster groups all over the world. We go out in groups and do events to raise money for charities, visit children who are sick and brighten their day, and people absolutely love it. Just to see someone smile and be happy, especially with the car – a couple of friends have 1959 replica Ectomobiles- and people smile or shout out ‘who you gonna call’ is great.”
Fern says she has stepped back from the Kent Ghostbuster group while she organises this event after a visit to Radford House sparked her imagination.
She said: “I went there to look for studio space but when I went in I just stopped, the drill hall feels like you have walked into a Ghostbusters set. It has the green tiles and is just like the Ghostbusters firehouse.”
Fern decided it was the perfect location for a 40th anniversary celebration, raising charity funds and bringing Ghostbusters fun to even more people.
An Ectomobile will be parked inside the building, there will be a ‘Janine’ character on reception to sign people in, a host of Ghostbusters as well as characters such as the Slimer, Muncher, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man and more.
Fern said: “We don’t think anything like this has been done in the UK before as an immersive event in a firehouse.
“As it is the 40th anniversary, what better time to do it. We are also having a training academy on the day and slots for that have filled already. In it we will be showing how to use proton packs and work the traps and containment unit.
“There will be lots of gadgets and we will go to the lab to study the ghosts. At the end we will give out certificates and a badge with the Ghostbusters logo and Ramsgate in slime writing.
“There has been a lot of thought put into it and I want it to be as immersive as possible so kids think they have been to the real Ghostbusters HQ in Ramsgate.”
The event will also feature special guests including Bill Murray’s body double from Frozen Empire Ghostbusters film and some film extras who will sign autographs and tell stories from their time on set. There will also be some other franchise fun, such as a DeLorean car from Back to the Future and stalls with collectibles from series such as Stranger Things, Marvel and other Sci-fi favourites.
Funds are going to GOSH as many people from the Ghostbusters community have experienced the hospitals help either directly or indirectly, including one of the Ectomobile owners whose little one was born with Spina Bifida.
Fern said: “Some of the children coming along are on borrowed time and have a bucket list with seeing the Ghostbusters being one of the things on that list.
“If we can fulfil that dream, even for just two or three kids, then it is job done.”
The Ghostbusters Experience takes place at Radford House in Effingham Street, on June 29 from 11am to 4pm.
Entry is a minimum £2 donation with all proceeds going to GOSH.
