Trekkies donned their Starfleet suits and beamed down to a galaxy not so far away for the official launch of Oxfordshire's only Star Trek club.

Witney now has its own 'ship', the USS Gallant, made up of 32 members, after this weekend's commissioning by the UK's chief trekkie, Admiral Stuart McNair. Stuart is used to flying objects - when he is not chief of staff of Starfleet Command, he is a Metropolitan policeman looking after high risk VIPs at Heathrow.

On arrival at Ceewood Hall on the Smith's estate, a sign advised visitors they had arrived at Docking Bay One. A bespectacled Starfleet crew member was outside dragging on a cigarette.

Inside, First Officer Nick Buckle, 24, a bus driver in daily life, explained the club was now officially an Intrepid Class ship, which matched the USS Voyager on the TV programme.

He said: "It's run like a ship and we all have departments and ranks. There's a science department that makes things, a security department which sets up the displays of memorabilia, and a medical department who are more knowledgeable about first aid." Around the edges of the hall, all sorts of Star Trek related objects were on display, including miniature figures of Commander Riker which barked 'Red Alert' when you pressed a button on the back. A replica 'control bridge' from Classic Star Trek was at the front of the hall.

Lt Commander David Naylor, 27, chief communications officer, stressed the club was for anyone who was interested in science fiction, not just Star Trek.

And David, a chef during the working week, added that the club was for fun-loving people who had that common interest.

He said: "People get bad press for liking Star Trek. Others don't look at people funny if they enjoy another television programme, or if they like a certain sport.

"We were in Witney yesterday in our uniforms handing out leaflets and we were getting some funny looks. I don't know why people think we're odd just because we enjoy something that's not real. It could be a good thing if it were.

"People wear football shirts and no-one thinks anything of it."

The club meets on the fourth Sunday of every month at Ceewood Hall in Witney. For details call 01993 213305.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.