posted 10-20-2012 04:31 PM               

I think Ken was surprised at just how well the whole thing went.

Around 90 people attended the luncheon. Everybody appeared to have a good time with excellent food and even better company in a very nice venue.

The only fly in the ointment was that Charlie did not feel too well and did not have the opportunity to autograph the professional photos taken prior to the meal.

But last I heard, those wanting their photos signed either took them to the public lecture that evening or left them with Ken who had Charlie sign them prior to the lecture.

The new lecture theatre at Carleton is very new and very nice. Charlie commented several times of just how impressive it was; he is well placed to do so having seen the old building several years ago.

Charlie's talk to the school kids on Friday was a definite hit. Maybe they have seen the LRO images disproving the landing conspiracy losers. Maybe it was the recent passing of Neil Armstrong but there was an enthusiasm and appreciation both at the school lecture and the public lecture that surpassed anything I have seen previously in Pontefract.

TV coverage on the Friday evening certainly helped.

Judging by the number of young ladies in particular wanting their pictures taken with Charlie it is safe to say the Apollo magic remains; Charlie was Cool!

I believe the theatre seats around 400; Ken told me this afternoon he had sold around 350 tickets but when I arrived 2 hours before the talk there were people at the gate wanting to buy tickets.

From where I was sitting the auditorium looked packed; I did not see any empty seats; there was even a handful of people standing in the doorway. Charlie was on form which coupled with the full house led inevitably to a HUGE queue of people wanting autographs following the talk, Q&A session, the auction and prize raffle.

As is usually the case with such events the company made the whole experience all the more enjoyable.

Mike, Tracy, Alan and Lynn to name just a few of Ken's friends are great company and Collectspace was well represented with Gurbir, Aileen, Robert, Steve Proctor, CRASH, Tykenaut, Moorouge, Mr and Mrs OWL, Buel, Nick and Bryar Deakin.

Steve told me he had been painting his house today. Judging by the state of his hands I can highly recommend somebody else... anybody else... should you need the same.

My apologies for not hanging around following the event. The M62 motorway that covers 2/3rds of my journey home was due to close for major refurbishment and I had less that 30 minutes to navigate my way through the 25 mile section before closure directed me on the the banjo plucking back waters of Barnsley and Huddersfield.

I sure have a pretty mouth and want to keep it that way!

Ken has plans for further events next year. A keen topic of conversation was the dwindling number of similar opportunities in the future as one by one these heroes rightly take it easy. Charlie has had a very busy year and he can be forgiven for visibly tiring.

I fear this show and last weeks Autographica are the beginning of the end in the UK at least. The days of Apollo astronaut visits are numbered which makes your support all the more invaluable for Ken's next show.

Who that will be remains to be seen but I'll be sure to keep everybody posted.

I would like to that Ken for affording me the opportunity to photograph much of Charlie's visit and Paul Barrier (aka CRASH) for being such good company.

posted 10-20-2012 05:01 PM               

I took my dad to the event- he loved it...his first but hopefully not the last if Ken can pull more strings to get astronauts over!!

posted 10-20-2012 05:49 PM            

I'll say first off that I very much enjoyed Charlie's presentation. Hearing him talk about people that I've only seen on TV or video completely blew me away.

His video segment was good, and I saw some bits I hadn't seen before (his comment about blowing dust off the cameras was great) - I did find myself mentally picking out the bits that weren't actually Apollo 16 footage, but the point was to show the mission process so I guess you show what you need to illustrate that.

I think my main issue was my arriving just before the time stated on the ticket - I had no programme of events, and like a fool I didn't check the website to see when photos were being taken. As a result I missed my chance for a photo, and I'm deeply disappointed by that.

I also didn't know that there would be people selling stuff - I'd have liked to have browsed a bit but had to get straight in.

It was great that there was a Q&A session afterwards, but I am disappointed with a couple of the questions asked. "Who would you like to have dinner with?". Really? A guy who has walked on the moon and was capcom for the first giant leap? Nothing personal, but I thought that was a wasted opportunity. Why not ask him where he expects to be in 5 years time, or what his favourite colour is?

The queue for autographs was a bit of organised chaos and was it slow progress at times. By the time I got to him the poor man was a bit rabbit in the headlights - I felt sorry for the guy.

I would have liked a quick chance for a photo to make up for not getting one earlier, but the next guy in line seemed to be in a hurry and Charlie dutifully carried on signing so I missed my chance. It can't be easy for a gentleman his age to keep it going that long, and I do appreciate the signature I now have on a picture of the LM he is flying.

posted 10-21-2012 06:49 AM               

I managed to drive down from Glasgow and arrived at 1630 to find many people already there. Joined an ever increasing queue for the photo opportunity and shared the time with a very nice chap from Leeds area called Dave. The queue moved quickly once photos started and it was a great pleasure to shake Mr Duke's hand and have the photo as a wonderful memory.

I was very impressed by the school's lecture theatre, time's have certainly changed since I was at school in the eighties!

What an enthralling speech he gave, with some wonderful anecdotes tied in with his video of Apollo 16 mission.

I must now say a big thanks to Aileen Malone (Apolloaileen) for helping me get Charlie's autograph at the end. I have to use portable oxygen to get around due to health issues and after 3 hours was starting to run low on my 4 hour tank, and don't think even Mission Control would have been able to help! I therefore wouldn't have been able to stand in line and wait my turn, and boy was it a big line.

She was a star and sorted it for me. Having only met her this week at Dick Gordon event, she went out of her way to help - so thank you.

posted 10-21-2012 09:59 AM               

To be fair to David from Carleton this was the first major event to be held in the new theatre venue and as such there were some things that could perhaps be improved upon next time.

I think the guy who won 2 prizes in the draw did get both. For what it is worth, one of the organisers won a very nice signed Apollo 16 plate during the afternoon luncheon prize raffle and he gave it back to be auctioned to raise funds for the next show.

The mixed nature of the audience (space fans, children, casual followers) inevitably resulted in a mixed caibre of Q&A questions. But Charlie was vsibly moved when asked who his heroes were (heroes from his father's generation who served their country). Any Q&A that moved the guy that much can't have been all bad.

David did explain to the audience how the autographing process would unfold but I think next time he may consider a nudge or a prod with a big stick to keep people in line.

I know Charlie was disappointed that he did not have the opportunity to personalise signed items or pose with folk at the signing table but I know Ken and others took a bit of a gulp when we saw the numbers wanting autographs and the "rabbit in the headlights" approach was the best way under the circumstances to make sure everybody got an autograph.

The start time for the lecture was listed on Ken's website as were the times for the photo shoot.

And an earlier post from myself had indicated that Nick & Bryar Deakin would be on hand with photos and other Charlie memorabilia.

Judging by the number of Nick and Bryar's items I saw in the theatre last eveving I suspect you will find them somewhere on a yacht off the Jamaican coast right about now. Either that or a canal somewhere near Wolverhampton.

posted 10-21-2012 10:19 AM               

Ed Mitchell inscribed a photograph, which my daughters presented to their school at a special assembly which I mentioned on cS.

However some UK cS members felt this was not the case and no one give a hoot...

posted 10-21-2012 12:01 PM            

My twelve year old grandson accompanied me and I know, like many other youngsters present, that he was so impressed with the whole event. It was nice to have our photo taken with Charlie together, and signed, and I hope he will treasure it until he is as old as me, so that's a long time!

It was good to meet Tykenaut, Apolloaileen (what a busy week she has had), and Robert S again and for the first time Moorouge and Buel. I did try to get Gurbir's attention when sitting in the theatre but he did not notice and apologies to Ken's helper who twice now I have mistaken for Rick Mulheirn.

posted 10-21-2012 03:50 PM               

Firstly, I, too, enjoyed Charlie's talk, it was an extended version of the 30 minute one he gave at Autographica. What a cool guy he really is!! He actually wanted to use the Powerpoint presentation at Autographica but they didn't have the facility, even though he asked (it did seem that they didn't care either, if I'm honest). I particularly liked the part where he explained how he tried to blow the dust through his visor. Very funny.

Secondly, I agree that it was lovely to put a face to a name so was great to meet Moorouge, Rick, Kite, Tykeanaut and any more U have forgotten (so much information to take in).

I was slightly disappointed that robert_l didn't ask Charlie a question as he was full of really interesting questions at Autographica. He, like the rest of you, are far ahead of me in your knowledge.

Thirdly, who was the auctioneer/wannabe comedian? I wasn't really keen how he upped some people's bids by, sometimes, £50 when it had previously been increments of £25. Also how someone who won a prize was stopped from picking up his second prize because the auctioneer didn't seem to think it was fair (surely if you have winning tickets, you have winning tickets?)

Also, whilst Charlie was giving his answers during the Q and A, the auctioneer, who was stood next to him, was pulling all sorts of faces, pointing, raising eyebrows, basically taking the attention slightly away from Charlie.

Fourth, what a shame that the autograph signing was a bit of a shambles. I would have thought that this eventuality would have been prepared for? I mean who wouldn't want a free autograph?

Fifth, it was particularly nice meeting Moorouge, what a great bloke he is. We were getting on really well and he happened to ask who I was on collectSPACE, I replied that I was 'Buel', imagine my shame when he explained that 'We have crossed swords before now'!!! Doh!! How embarassing.

Finally, what a great night, thank you Ken. Bring on the next one eh?

posted 10-21-2012 04:11 PM               

Carleton is a fantastic new venue and without David's help it would not be available to us. He is a scouser so unless you want to find your car on bricks the next time you are up here it is advisable to keep on his good side.

That said Buel, for the next event he wants 100 lines and you are to see him after the event for a one hour detention.

Kite; so it was you who got the Tom Cruise/George Clooney lookalike mixed up for me.

posted 10-21-2012 06:07 PM               

I did not ask Charlie a question as did not want to hog him so to give others a chance as the questions where limited. I did get to see him before the talk and was telling him about what Dick Gordon was telling me that Gemini had no hot water on board. Charlie told me unlike the CM the LEM did not have hot water either! So no hot drinks!

I also asked him if he found the lunar EVA tiring as astronauts in space have. He said yes it was because of the limitations of moving in the suit.

posted 10-22-2012 01:44 AM               

Yes, it made the evening all the more pleasant meeting and talking to Tykenaut, Kite and, in particular, Buel. Also being able briefly to rib Rick. As someone said elsewhere - "All done in the best possible taste!"

Incidentally Buel, the book I mentioned is "Packing for Mars" by Mary Roach.

I was interested in comparing the talk given by Charlie with that given by Ed Mitchell. It brought home that the astronauts were a very mixed bunch and though all very professional nevertheless had greatly different personalities. Charlie was very ebullient whilst Ed seemed more studious and serious in his approach.

The other thing about the evening was that a younger member of the audience did ask the question that, according to Robert P., is always asked. It saved me from asking it as I wanted to confirm my assertion elsewhere on cS that, in these circumstances, we'd get what I call a 'lie for children'. I was not disappointed and Charlie's answer makes me still maintain that the general public have little idea of the full horrors of dealing with body waste in space and that if they were fully aware then most would decide that following from ground level was for them.

My thanks too go to all concerned for an evening where the 'custard of time' was very runny and it was all over far too quickly.

posted 10-22-2012 12:27 PM               

I've just read the posts above and I can't say any more thats not already been said.
Great to see Paul (H), Proc (the decorator) Tykeanaut and a nice chat with a guy from Lincoln area who sat in front of us...

posted 10-23-2012 12:28 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Tykeanaut:
I really thought they had it sorted this time though when we were told to queue up row-by-row.

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posted 10-23-2012 01:29 PM               

Charles Duke is an amazing draw, crowd puller and pleaser. People travelled from far and wide to this event, up from Surrey, across from Liverpool, and down from Bonnie Scotland and judging by some of the accents from overseas too.

I saw Charlie last time at Pontefract he was a hit then and again now seven years later.

We didn't make the Caribbean Rick or even our barge in Wolverhampton (we haven't got one, nice thought though, the barge not Wolverhampton) but business was brisk.

It was back to work with a bump yesterday from a week long astronaut high. Thanks to Ken and all at Carleton school who make these things happen. Thanks too to an enthusiastic public and despite a queue for autographs that must have been well into the hundreds everyone was upbeat and enthused.

posted 10-23-2012 04:26 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by johnpslater:
So who's fault was the stampede when they were told to queue row by row?

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posted 10-24-2012 02:10 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by johnpslater:
Why can't the English behave in an orderly manner like the rest of Europeans?

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What part of Europe are you referring to? It's only the English that queue. You obviously haven't been in a French scrum for service in their local shops.

On edit - perhaps we're more integrated into the EU than we thought.

posted 10-24-2012 03:08 AM               

I too was concerned for Charlie, it must have been a long week? Perhaps instead of having to sit through the protracted auction he should have been allowed to pre-sign the photos some of us had taken with him?

posted 10-24-2012 10:17 AM               

However, full marks to whoever asked him where the proceeds were going to? Next scene: Dave squirms and utters something about it 'Keeping this place going'. I had to smile.

posted 10-24-2012 11:58 AM               

In response about the queue, (by the way, I thought the new fixture and layout at the school were great) I think one of the faults lay in the retractable seating.

As I remember at the Al Bean visit a few year back (which had just as many people there), the retractable seating wasn't as near to the stage as last Saturday and normal chairs was used near the front. If I remember rightly the queue to meet Alan was a single file line that went round the outer edge of the room due to the fact that there was more room in the hall... It was only (in my opinion) that the seating was so close to the stage that really there wasn't much room to get it as well organised with the numbers that were there.

posted 10-24-2012 01:10 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Buel:
However, full marks to whoever asked him where the proceeds were going to? Next scene: Dave squirms and utters something about it 'Keeping this place going'. I had to smile.

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posted 10-24-2012 01:27 PM               

I know Ken is a shy guy.

posted 10-24-2012 04:18 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
Just for the record guys these events are self funding. All the proceeds from the auction and prize raffle are ploughed in to bringing the next guest over.

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posted 10-25-2012 02:06 PM               

He has asked me to pass on his thanks to everybody who attended the meal and the lecture for making the event an outstanding success.