Author
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Topic: 4/1: Astronaut Dick Gordon in Pontefract (UK)
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-03-2011 04:16 PM
Ken Willoughby has asked me to post notification of an evening with Gemini 11 and Apollo 12 astronaut Dick Gordon on April 1st at St Wilfrids school, Pontefract.Tickets are just £30 each (less than his current signing fee). Under 16s tickets are £15. Details have yet to be confirmed but it is hoped the format will be similar to other excellent events run by Ken i.e. an evening lecture with the opportunity for an autograph and possibly a photo shoot. More details to follow just as soon as I get them. UPDATE: Dinner with Capt. Gordon at the Wentbridge House Hotel, Thursday, March 31st at 7.30pm. Tickets for the dinner £60 and cheques made payable to K. Willoughby. Tickets for the public lecture made payable to "Apollo 13". - Paypal NOT an option. Sorry! In both cases please send payment and SAE to: Ken Willoughby, 11 Hardistry Drive, Pontefract WF8 4BU. Please include e-mail address and telephone number. Prompt payment is recommended to avoid disappointment. In the event of the dinner and/or lecture being cancelled a full refund is assured. |
icarkie Member Posts: 618 From: BURTON ON TRENT /England Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 02-04-2011 11:48 AM
That's great news. That's made my weekend. |
bruce Member Posts: 916 From: Fort Mill, SC, USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-04-2011 02:23 PM
I must say to my friends across the pond that the attendees of this function are in for a very special and rare treat! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-04-2011 03:03 PM
As has been eluded to already in posts about Autographica, these guys are finding it tougher to make long haul trips to the UK.I urge everybody within striking distance to make the effort to meet Dick in Pontefract. Who knows, it may be the last time he agrees to come over... |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-05-2011 06:49 AM
The 'posse' and I are almost certainly going to be there: but it's a shame it's not Friday / Saturday: as alluded to above, it's a great opportunity that many who live in the soft south will miss because of work commitments.... |
Tykeanaut Member Posts: 2212 From: Worcestershire, England, UK. Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-05-2011 09:34 AM
Is this the school that's actually in Featherstone, nr. Pontefract? |
Steve Procter Member Posts: 1031 From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-05-2011 10:30 AM
Yes - St Wilfs. It's the newish school near Featherstone, where Ed Mitchell was. |
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3120 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-05-2011 05:06 PM
Although I won't be able to make it, I'm delighted to see that Dick Gordon is willing and able to cross the Atlantic after his health concerns last year. |
Steve Procter Member Posts: 1031 From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-05-2011 05:23 PM
My thoughts exactly Geoffrey... |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-05-2011 11:34 PM
Yes indeed! This is why the 'Paul Posse' (of which I am an honorary member!) is committed to attend!I really hope Ken gets enough takers: like the Autographica team, he works hard to organise these events. It'd be heartbreaking if he were forced to cancel again... |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-06-2011 12:59 PM
Update; Ken tells me under 16s tickets for the Dick Gordon lecture are only £15. |
paulushumungus Member Posts: 466 From: Burton, Derbyshire, England Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 02-07-2011 02:49 PM
The Paul posse is all booked up for the dinner and the talk. |
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3120 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-07-2011 04:27 PM
What...ALL of them? Scary. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-09-2011 11:37 AM
Tickets for this event are now for sale through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. |
paulushumungus Member Posts: 466 From: Burton, Derbyshire, England Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 02-09-2011 02:13 PM
quote: Originally posted by Blackarrow: What...ALL of them? Scary.
Yes - Even the one that looks like an alien. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-09-2011 04:26 PM
UPDATE: Dick Gordon event gets better and better. £85 for a combo ticket that includes the dinner (and associated photo op, autograph and ASF Silent Auction opportunity) plus the lecture the next day.Under 16s remember only £15 and you can now buy the tickets online. For those wishing to go please get payment to Ken asap. |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-10-2011 12:00 PM
quote: Originally posted by paulushumungus: Yes - Even the one that looks like an alien.
How pleased do you reckon he'll be when he reads this? LOL! |
paulushumungus Member Posts: 466 From: Burton, Derbyshire, England Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 02-13-2011 11:38 AM
I noticed that there is a special rate for dinner and lecture of £85 (ie £5 saving). Since there are two separate specified names for cheques to be made payable to, which of the cheques does the £5 come off of? |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-13-2011 02:09 PM
Ken would like to make the following comments on the back of the ASF advertisement for the Richard Gordon event; the wording of the advertisement is a tad ambiguous.Autographs after the talk are £20. Photo shaking hands with Gordon will be available at a small cost payable to photographer. On the evening of the meal a photo with Gordon is £20 and will be signed free after the meal. Combo tickets: dinner and meal are £85 payable to Ken Willoughby. |
moorouge Member Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 02-14-2011 02:01 AM
Rick - a clarification for those of us having an increasing number of senior moments. Do I understand that the lecture is £30. The lecture plus an autograph is £50? Why is this when Ed Mitchell signed for free? |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-14-2011 04:54 AM
Don't shoot the messenger. I am not privy to the negotiations between Ken and the astronauts. Each sets their own conditions for attending and increasingly, they are becoming aware of the commercial value of autographs at such events.Yes, the lecture is £30 and an autograph is an additional £20 if you want one. At the dinner on the Thursday evening, the professionally taken photo with Dick is £20 and he will sign it for free on the night. To put that in to perspective, if my memory serves me right, Dick was charging £30 for an autograph when he first attended Autographica in 1999 and there was no lecture! For what it's worth, Jim Lovell was due to attend a year or so back and his lecture ticket price was £60... and he was prepared to sign only his book. I did not go to Ken's show with Buzz Aldrin but didn't he charge £100 a pop for a signature on the night? At least Dick's signature fee in Pontefract is considerably less than his fee at Spacefest or the likes. As has been eluded to on posts relating to Autographica, these visits will get fewer are farther between going forward so make the most of them while you can... |
crash Member Posts: 318 From: West Sussex, England Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-14-2011 06:25 AM
I would dearly love to make the most of this one but I just cannot make it due to work. I envy everyone who can make it along. I think it might be quite an interesting evening.Have fun. |
Tykeanaut Member Posts: 2212 From: Worcestershire, England, UK. Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-14-2011 03:05 PM
I don't think the additional £20 for an autograph is really the issue here. I think it's the fact that many people have already purchased their tickets for the lecture before this information became known. Obviously without this prior info it was assumed that the autograph was included as on all the other astronaut visits, with the exception of Buzz Aldrin. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-14-2011 04:00 PM
It is my understanding that Ken was still finalising details as recently as this morning which might explain some of the confusion but given the short time frame before the event it was felt necessary to get out the information to hand...For what it's worth, Ken is already working on his guest for October. He is not telling me who that guest is and I am not prepared to even speculate, but he expects demand for tickets to be very high; people buying tickets for Dick Gordon will get priority come October. |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-14-2011 04:17 PM
I have to say: I'm in the 'Tykeanaut Camp': having bought the dinner tickets AND the talk tickets it does seem a little 'off' that we have to pay for photographs / autographs that were originally promoted as part of the package, Bear in mind two nights accommodation and £100-worth of petrol too and this starts to become an expensive couple of days! |
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3120 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-14-2011 05:03 PM
quote: Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn: For what it's worth, Ken is already working on his guest for October. He is not telling me who that guest is and I am not prepared to even speculate, but he expects demand for tickets to be very high;
I wonder if this person is coming to the north of England to apologise in person for the thieving activities of his ancestors? |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-14-2011 05:29 PM
Oooooooooh you tease, Blackarrow! LOL!Serious point: as far as I know, Ken makes nothing out of these events personally: he really does deserve our support, I reckon... |
Steve Procter Member Posts: 1031 From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-14-2011 05:35 PM
I think I have made my point in the past that as a descendant of Cumbrian border folk a certain person making restitution starts with me... |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-14-2011 06:08 PM
quote: Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn: He is not telling me who that guest is and I am not prepared to even speculate
As I stated earlier, I am not prepared to speculate but let's not get carried away here gentlemen. Before we know it the rumour mill will have Elvis attending in October, riding Shergar with Lord Lucan for company... quote: Originally posted by David Bryant: Serious point: as far as I know, Ken makes nothing out of these events personally: he really does deserve our support, I reckon...
Could not agree with you more David, and if I may adopt your own observation, the added cost of the autograph on the night (while disappointing compared with previous events put on by Ken), still works out at around a fifth a tank of gas. Now I wonder... 10 or 15 years from now who in the UK would not give the cost of a fifth of a tank of gas (at today's prices) to meet an Apollo astronaut? |
crash Member Posts: 318 From: West Sussex, England Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-15-2011 06:37 AM
Well, it's my birthday in October so I will await the appropriate date from Ken. As I said above I would love to go and see Dick Gordon but it's just not feasible. I don't really mind who makes an appearance as they are all worth seeing/meeting/hearing.'post edited to say that I had received an e-mail notifying me of this event' |
Ade74 Member Posts: 47 From: Peterborough, England Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 02-15-2011 07:25 AM
Could I just clarify (me being simple)... is the cost for the autograph and picture to be paid at the lecture in cash or do I need to send another cheque to Ken (have already paid the £30 for the lecture)? |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-15-2011 07:30 AM
My understanding is there will be an opportunity to have your photo taken with Dick on the evening of the lecture (and you will need to pay the photographer on the night) and will need to pay for an autograph at the time you get to the signing table; I'd imagine Dick would have a "handler" for that kind of thing. Cash payment required in each case.All being well, Ken should have a longer lead time for the event in October; that should afford him the time to firm up all the details before going public. If I hear any different from Ken I will post the update here... |
Tykeanaut Member Posts: 2212 From: Worcestershire, England, UK. Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-15-2011 07:30 AM
I would assume it will be a pay at the event as I believe was the case when Buzz Aldrin visited? |
Apollonut New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 02-17-2011 06:47 AM
Come on guys, what is all the fuss about? We lost Autographica and as a kind of compensation we now have the Dick Gordon event. To be honest, so what it we have to pay £20 for a signature? Is is still alot cheaper than it would be at Autographica and as has been mentioned in the past, these opportunities will get fewer and fewer. People will have far more to moan about when these guys aren't able to come over at all! Thank you Ken for all the effort you have made. |
Tykeanaut Member Posts: 2212 From: Worcestershire, England, UK. Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-17-2011 08:30 AM
I'm pretty sure we all agree with you. The issue I believe was more about lack of initial communication regarding the details. Like you, I appreciate all the effort put into these 'God's County' events. |
paulushumungus Member Posts: 466 From: Burton, Derbyshire, England Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 02-18-2011 02:43 PM
My tickets for the dinner and lecture arrived today. Ken turned them around with amazing speed. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-19-2011 06:35 PM
I would urge anybody considering going to the Dick Gordon event book their tickets as quickly as possible The success or otherwise of the event is dependent upon the sale of tickets. Ticket sales pay for the event when all is said and done. To paraphrase a famous quote "No bucks no Dick Gordon." The "big name" planned for October will only happen if this event is a success. A year or two ago, Ken was forced to canel an event with Jim Lovell because of poor ticket sales. But then the tickets were £60 a pop as I recall. |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-20-2011 02:51 AM
Obvious point to make I guess: on other forums (fora?) people have been moaning for weeks about: - The cancellation of 'another show' this Spring
- The fact that most astronaut meet opportunities seem to be in the South
Right: here's your chance! This HAS to be a good deal: don't force Ken to cancel through lack of support. £30 is less than a couple of rounds of drinks (even in Norwich!) |
stevezodiac New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 02-20-2011 05:57 AM
Following a bleak start to the year, astronautically speaking, and a growing feeling that the "Golden Age" of MGA era personalities here in the UK was drawing to a close, we can now all look forward to a cracking line up of events.If you want to get up close and personal with these genuine superstars 2011 is the year to do it! Three great opportunities - nicely "spaced out" across the land - for the Boys and Girls Space Club to meet. Thanks to Ken for bringing Dick Gordon to Pontefract, Aileen for masterminding Al Worden's visit to Glasgow and the Autographica people for staying in the game. |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-20-2011 06:40 AM
Well said, Steve-o! |