Lockdown in Moray: Caution! These premises are guarded by an intergalactic terrorist
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Dr Who's arch enemies are not usually known for their sense of humour – but Dave the Dufftown Dalek is no ordinary extraterrestrial super-villain.
Dave is currently busy standing guard while the Dufftown Glassworks coffee shop and gallery remains closed due to lockdown.
His creator is Mark Williams who owns and runs the premises on Conval Street.
The 54-year-old, who's married to Alison, says: "The whole family are huge fans of the TV show.
"I started making Dave in 2013, but life sort of got in the way and I never finished him.
"He just sat in a garage for about five years until we moved up to Dufftown in 2018.
"Then he sat around a bit more until the beginning of lockdown.
"I don't handle boredom very well, so it just seemed like the perfect time to get him finished."
Dave has been constructed by Mark out of everything from plywood to MDF and plastic.
His powerful Dalek gunstick was fabricated out of aluminium by Standfast Precision Engineering in Craigellachie.
Mark recalls: "I think they were a bit surprised to receive the order."
Happily, though, Dave has not yet been forced to EXTERMINATE anyone in Dufftown.
Mark says: "He's been raising quite a few smiles.
"I saw a guy walk past with two kids the other day, and you could see from his face how excited he was.
"The Whisky Shop has also joined in as well.
"They have a cardboard cut-out of the Tardis in their window.
"Dr Who has been running for so long that people are passing on their love of the show to their kids and grandkids.
"And anything that spreads a little happiness at the moment has got to be a good thing."
