Peterborough woman hosts James Bond themed 50th birthday party as nod to late dad who was an extra in Octopussy

A Peterborough woman celebrated her 50th birthday in style by hosting a James Bond themed party on the 60th anniversary of the 007 film franchise.

Karen Pauls, 50, from Eye, said her late dad, Malc Fletcher, who passed away in January 2020, “would’ve loved” the party, as he featured as an extra in the 1983 movie Octopussy.

“It was his little story that he would tell – that he met Roger Moore,” Karen said.

“My dad was the chairman of Peterborough Angling Club and when they were looking for fisherman to be in the scene where the car comes off into the river at Wansford they came to him to find some fisherman.

“He worked at Perkins Engines and he would finish his night shift at seven in the morning to do the extra work, which he did for three days.

“He had an official Octopussy sticker in his car that would allow him to get onto the site where they were filming. A few years later, he sold his car and the man who bought it came back to him to say that although the car was worthless he had sold the sticker alone for £800.”

More than 80 guest attended the party at 1498 The Spice Affair, in Priestgate, on the evening of October 8.

The night included performances of classic James Bond theme songs from local singers Nicole Lawrence and Jordon Poole; fortune telling from tarot card reader Mandy on the Moon; magic from magician Roman Armstrong; and dancing from The Vegas Show Girls.

Each table was decorated in the theme of a different 007 movie, with mixologists making guests the spy’s iconic martini – shaken, not stirred.

“It was all people I’ve known throughout my life who have meant something to me,” Karen said.

"I went as the Octopussy in a red sequin dress and with curls in my hair, but the best costume of the night was Blofeld. He had a scar on his face, wore a bald cap and had a white Persian cat.”

In attendance was actor and presenter Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha – who is a friend of Karen’s.