posted 03-03-2011 08:14 AM               

If the case of who may or may not be attending in October has over shadowed the Dick Gordon event I must take responsibility and apologise for over stating the case.

posted 03-08-2011 05:16 AM               

Yep, even we Yorkies haven't found a way yet!

posted 03-10-2011 05:23 AM               

Carl has clearly frequented the Jean Brody finishing school for young ladies.

posted 03-10-2011 04:40 PM               

Ticket sales picking up the closer we get to the event with just a couple of tickets remaining for the Thursday evening dinner.

posted 03-11-2011 03:07 AM               

Many thanks to Ken and all others involved in making this event possible.

posted 03-13-2011 01:48 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by crash:
Many thanks to Ken and all others involved in making this event possible.

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posted 03-27-2011 11:08 AM               

Anybody not going to the Dick Gordon event in Pontefract at the end of the week... still has time to purchase tickets for Dick's only UK appearance for the foreseeable future.

posted 04-01-2011 05:41 AM               

Only an hour or so to go before I jump in the car and head off to distant parts of this land where only the bold will go!!

I'll be the one fast asleep in his car after having got to the school way too early.

Be seeing you.

posted 04-02-2011 01:10 PM               

Dick was on cracking form, ALSO he looked well for saying he's been ill not so long ago.

posted 04-02-2011 01:17 PM               

Thought the Q&A was especially good! Particularly liked his answer to the question "how great was Pete Conrad?" ...answer "no greater than me" ...class!

posted 04-02-2011 01:21 PM               

Previous astronaut encounters in Pontefract have taught me that modesty and a self-effacing demeanour is an essential prerequisite of an Apollo astronaut's Right Stuff; Dick had these qualities in spades but they were accompanied by a wicked sense of humour that resulted in a warm handshake, a one liner or a funny anecdote, a wink and a sparkle in his eye whenever ANYBODY came within his orbit... not just the ladies!

This endeared Dick to the hundreds of students he talked to over the two days. He had a knack of putting the pupils at ease. Ranging in age from 7 years to 17 it was a knack that in no small part contributed to excellent Q&As that followed each session.

Prior to the Thursday evening dinner Ken laid on the services of a professional photographer for guest wanting their portraits taken with Dick. Shot against a green screen backdrop the super quality photos emerged after the dinner but now resplendent with an impressive lunar background that incorporated the Apollo 12 mission emblem and the Lunar Module.

It was these photos that Dick happily signed as the evening wore on.

Numbers were down slightly on previous dinners which I am sure did nothing for Ken's hair-line not to mention his bank manager's, but the smaller number made for a more intimate evening. Everybody who brought their photos up to be signed was afforded as much time as they wanted for a chat, a photo, ask questions or share a joke... usually one of Dick's. It was arguably the best dinner encounter Ken has put on to date.

The introduction of a post dinner auction brought even greater levity and added funding though I have to confess the butch, hairy "eye candy" parading the items around the room left a bit to be desired! What the "lovelies" lacked in glamour however they more than made up for with enthusiasm.

The public lecture on April 1st was once again held at St. Wilfreds School all be it in a slightly smaller room. The reception for Dick however was no less warm and the queue for autographs at the end of the evening, even with the modest fee, was as big as any I had seen previously.

For me personally, the most telling observation about Dick came in response to a question from the Friday evening audience. He was asked if his flight had changed him any way? Clearly recalling his Apollo adventure he responded (with evident emotion) that the biggest impact for him personally was having the opportunity to share such a memorable experience with his two best friends.

When asked the same question the previous day at Carlton Community High School his response was the same. But when asked soon after if he was lonely while orbiting the moon solo he typically answered "Heck no, if you had flown with Pete Conrad and Alan Bean you be glad to be rid of them for a while."

It was great to meet some fresh new faces for the first time and many of the usual... not so fresh faces.

Glad I caught up with "Crash" aka Paul for the first time but apologies for Tykeanaut aka Chris; I spotted your T-shirt in the queue as I tried to keep out of the way of the throng but then lost you as the queue diminished.

Ken asked me to thank everybody for their support. The post dinner auction, the photo opportunities, the Friday evening raffle and the modest signing fee appeared to make the event economically viable. Rest assured, any monies left over from this event (if any) will not be going in to Ken's back pocket, rather the back pocket of the next astronaut visitor to West Yorkshire's own "Astronaut Central." Ken does it not for personal gain, rather the opportunity to meet his heroes and "spread the word". It also allows Ken to introduce brave and inspiring pioneers to kids and a general public all too often distracted with hoax nonsense; long may he continue doing so.

posted 04-02-2011 01:30 PM               

As Ian mentioned it was great to see Dick again and after his recent health problems looking so well. His talk and Q and A were as you would expect full of good humour and for anyone who was unable to attend, all I can say is you missed a treat.

I was unable to think of what to get signed and then remembered I had an original 1969 Apollo 12 Press Kit. Dick was interested to see it and as he glanced through the pages quipped 'Did we do all this...?'

Nice to see old friends and some new ones which is always a bonus at these events.

We quizzed Ken as to the identity of his next guest but despite threats of torture and hefty bribes we couldn't get him to crack (just kidding Ken!).