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Dr Who fan shares his house with 225 Daleks
THEY brought terror to his Saturday tea-times but 37 years on Robert Hull is happy to be surrounded by his arch-enemy.
From hiding behind the sofa to escape their evil clutches, Robert is now happy to decorate his own living room from floor to ceiling with . . . Daleks!
Robert has an amazing 225 models of the menacing robots in his north Doncaster front room - and the last thing the avid collector wants to do is exterminate them.
The B&Q worker became fascinated by Dr Who as an eight-year-old and, despite his fear, always wanted a Dalek but was never allowed one.
Twenty years ago he spotted a newspaper ad offering the iconic baddies for sale - and his collection began to take shape.
He recalled: "I just started collecting them about 20 years ago.
"I remember when I was little I always wanted a dalek. I haven't a clue what the collection's worth but it must be a lot. Most of them are limited editions and rarities.
"I was always terrified of them, but they're just an iconic character," he explained.
Robert's daleks come in all sizes but pride of place in the dad-of-three's collection goes to a life-size Dalek that cost him over 2,000 from a specialist website.
But the ultimate exterminator has earned its keep - by entertaining crowds outside Asda on Bawtry Road last weekend to raise 436 for Children in Need.
Robert, 45, whose favourite doctor was short-lived Christopher Eccleston, has ensured that his children Philip, 18, who now collects the latest Dr Who models, Becky 12 and Bradley, ten, share his passion -by insisting that they all sit down and watch the shows together!
But one person remains unconvinced - wife Dawn who said: "I am not that keen on them. I'd rather they were not there, I'd rather have them in the garage. They think I'm crackers but it's his hobby."
* Children in Need four-page picture special starts on page 43 of this week's Free Press.
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Weather for Doncaster
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
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