Doctor Who superfan seeks 'good home' for Dalek after 26 years

David Kirkwood and his dalek
Image caption,

Davie Kirkwood's Dalek sits in the front window of his house in Dumfries

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A Doctor Who superfan is preparing to part with his beloved Dalek after 26 years - as long as he can find it a good home.

Davie Kirkwood says he would give away the life-sized replica of the timelord's oldest enemy to the right person, in exchange for a donation to charity.

"I've had my fun with it," the retired car salesman from Dumfries said. "I want someone to get the enjoyment I got out of it."

The 5ft 7in (1.7m) Dalek, made from wood, metal, sink plungers and lights from a Morris Minor car, has become something of a landmark in Dumfries.

Image source, Davie Kirkwood
Image caption,

At one point, the Dalek sat in the front window of Davie's home, alongside a Tom Baker model and a replica K9

It sits in the front window of his house in the town and regularly attracts attention from passers-by.

Davie estimates that two to three hundred people have knocked on his door, asking to see the handmade model.

He has spotted people looking at it from the street and invited them in to have their photograph taken with it.

And when his children were young, they would hide inside it and use the inner voice distorter to give guests a fright.

It's just part of a huge amount of Doctor Who memorabilia Davie has collected over the years.

He has a replica life-size K9, autographs, books, videos and DVDs, and a cardboard cut-out of former Doctor Who star Tom Baker. His car once had the number plate D8 WHO.

Image caption,

David's kitchen cupboard door is painted like the Tardis

But now Davie has sold his house and is preparing to move to Stranraer, he is looking to slim down his collection and part with his beloved Dalek.

He has put it up for sale with an asking price of £1,250 but he admitted he would give it to the right person who has space to accommodate it.

Ideally, they would also make a donation to a Parkinson's charity in memory of his late father.

"I'm at the age now, I'm 60 and I'm moving to a house - the house has enough space to put it in to be honest but I don't need it anymore," he said.

"I've had my fun with it, the kids have grown up, they wouldn't want it. But if someone came along, the right person, I would be quite happy to give them it.

"Even if they gave me £500 and I gave the money to charity.

"As long as it goes somewhere. I don't want to give it to someone and then they sell it, that's the big thing. I want someone to get the enjoyment I got out of it."

Image source, David Kirkwood
Image caption,

Davie dressed as Tom Baker

In the long-running BBC TV series, the Daleks are one of the doctors' most feared enemies.

They are said to be mutants encased inside an armoured polycarbide shell, bent on universal domination.

Davie's model is based on a 1970s Dalek and was one of three made by a model maker in England called Andy Shaw.

He said he acquired it from a local photographer friend who was given it in lieu of payment for a job in the 1990s.

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