It’s not every day you get to speak to a living legend and the excitement generated amongst my, mainly male, friends upon learning I was to interview Thunderbird’s creator, Gerry Anderson, bordered on hysteria.

“Ask him who was the voice of the Mysterons?” said one fan.

“What’s Parker up to these days?” questioned another.

“I’d kill for five minutes with that guy,” let slip one rather over excited devotee.

The fans’ of Anderson, or ‘Fandersons,’ as they are known in cyber space, have a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of TV history by attending an auction of his office memorabilia at the Battersea Arts Centre on February 7.

Anderson’s top secret new project (all he would let slip was that it is a CGI feature film for cinema or TV) involves a large production team and his Pinewood offices were too small, hence the team moving to a new location.

“I probably had one of the best offices in Pinewood,” admits Anderson. “It had its own conference room, kitchen and toilet and was mahogany panneled - it was wonderful! I was sad to leave but we all have to move around.”

Everything that wasn’t nailed to Pinewood’s floor and walls is on sale, from office desks and chairs, to Captain Scarlet puppet casts to a unique Derek Meddings’ cartoon of the cast and crew of Stingray, expected to fetch between £3000-£5000.

Why is Anderson parting with so much history that surely evokes many memories for him?

“I cannot emphasise how much I am not a hoarder,” he says. “I’m selling everything because I haven’t got room for it and I’ve decided to have a clean sweep. I’ve kept my awards but that’s about all.

The auction will attract international interest and maybe some famous faces.

“Peter Jackson is a friend of mine and a collector, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was on the end of the phone bidding for something,” says Anderson.

After the auction, the names of 30 winning bidders will be drawn out of a hat and the lucky collectors presented their lots by the puppet master himself.

“I will sign anything, even the furniture that I’ve sat on over the years, although that might make it decrease in value,” laughs Anderson.

As the creator of series as beloved as Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet, Anderson hopes future generations will enjoy the original shows and not the 2004 big screen version.

“Thunderbirds the film was the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever seen in my life. It was made by an American company who didn’t know anything. They offered me £750 000 to go to the premiere and I refused.”

So just who was the voice of the Mysterons Gerry?

“It was someone who worked on the show. He had a deep voice and we slowed it down to make it more mysterious. But to be honest, I can’t remember his name!”

Comet Miniatures presents the Gerry Anderson Office Memorabilia Auction. Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill. February 7. 10.30-17.30. Visit comet-miniatures.com for more information and to order a catalogue.