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Author
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Topic: 10/11-12: Alan Bean dinner and talk (Pontefract)
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Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-23-2013 03:47 AM
   
Once again guys, my apologies if I am muddying the waters here.A ticket to the dinner entitles the holder to one free autograph. A ticket for the lecture entitles the holder to one free autograph. Spend an additional £20 on a professionally taken portrait photo at the dinner or the lecture ...and Alan will sign that also. The "Golden" ticket at £110 (for the dinner and the lecture)... plus an additional £20 for the photo at either the dinner or the lecture will result in three signatures. Al's Spacefest base signature fee remember is currently £135! If anybody requires further clarification please mail me directly. I had intended asking Ken to prolong the Q&A that follows the lecture; a quick five or so questions does not do justice to the event in my opinion but I realise this may not be feasible given that Al is potentially signing more than one photo per person on the night. To clarify that point further, Al will sign two items following the lecture only if the second item is the professionally taken portrait photo taken on the night or at the dinner. It is worth pointing out that the dinner is a very relaxed affair. Guests will have the opportunity to talk with Al, ask their own questions and I'd imagine, pose for candid photos. The food and the company are particularly good too! As for queue control I am sure this is something Ken will discuss with Carleton. Alternately, I am a big guy; I could just give people a thick ear if they try and disrupt an orderly event.  |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-23-2013 05:10 AM
Correct! We are a nation of "queuer's", but some like to circumvent the line. It's this that causes annoyance not the queue and yes, I have witnessed it happen. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-30-2013 06:45 AM
I stumbled across this recent and interesting interview with Al Bean.Something to wet your appetites. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-30-2013 04:42 PM
With 6 months still to go 150 tickets sold for the lecture and 61 for the dinner.At this rate the dinner will sell out in pretty short measure. |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 06-01-2013 04:35 PM
Just noticed that Autographica have announced that capt. bean is going there in March next year. I find this strange they have organised something before their next show in October which is still months away and hope this does not affect the one in Pontefract. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-02-2013 04:55 AM
Autographica and Pontefract are two different types of astronaut encounter in my opinion.For the most part Autographica is an opportunity to pay Alan for an autograph or a quick photo with little opportunity for interaction with the guy.... unless you buy the VIP pass. Looking back to the bleak pre Autographica days when astronaut encounters in the UK were rarer than hens teeth I welcomed these opportunities and continue to do so. For considerably less in Pontefract however, you have a more intimate encounter (dinner and the lecture), a personal portrait and tw0 autographs thrown in for good measure.... and the drinks are considerably cheaper too.  Both have their merits but in this particular instance I know which I prefer from a personal standpoint. |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 06-02-2013 12:08 PM
Well now Rick: not entirely true!If you pay £30 for the weekend pass at Autographica, you get admission to the Friday night drinks reception. In the past, this has allowed me and others to spend most of the night (until 3.00am in a couple of cases!) in the most relaxed company of the astronauts. Often this will be ALL of the main guests. It's fascinating to watch them interact after a few bevvies! And as many unstaged photos as you like! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-02-2013 02:20 PM
"Both have their merits but in this particular instance I know which I prefer from a personal standpoint."
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-02-2013 02:54 PM
Astronaut appearances aren't in competition, or if they are, they shouldn't be. Attend one, attend both, attend none — it's all a personal decision.No astronaut is exclusive to any event (at least not to my knowledge) and those that appear at multiple events clearly have no issue in doing so. So, let's keep this thread focused on the event in Pontefract, and the topic devoted to Autographica focus on that event. There's absolutely no need to be pitting one against the other. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-03-2013 06:09 PM
Professor Brian Cox has tweeted Al Bean's visit to Pontefract. 600 hits on the Space Lectures website followed. Thanks Brian! |
OWL
Member Posts: 175
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 06-10-2013 03:14 AM
It is good to see Professor Cox taking a interest in all the good work Ken does. The outreach to schools enabling our children to meet true heroes not to mention our chance to meet these icons in a relaxed friendly environment with unfettered access to them.We are currently working on some special items for the auction and raffle for both the dinner and lecture. Tickets are selling very well and we have updated the website. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-10-2013 05:58 PM
I plan on throwing a few modest collectibles in to the auction/raffle pot also. |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 06-11-2013 06:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
Professor Brian Cox has tweeted Al Bean's visit to Pontefract. 600 hits on the Space Lectures website followed. Thanks Brian!
How many of these have applied for tickets? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-11-2013 06:47 PM
To date, not many. When Prof. Cox tweeted about the Schmitt event planned for last year there were a similar number of enquiries but they translated into only 50 ticket orders. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-16-2013 05:18 PM
Over 200 tickets sold for the lecture and 80 for the dinner to date. |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 617
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted 06-19-2013 02:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
I was wondering what site, event or place would members recommend as a possible additional treat for Al Bean on his visit to Yorkshire in October?
How about Woolsthorpe Manor, home of Sir Isaac Newton and site of many of his important works on optics and gravitation including that famous ~400 year old Flower of Kent Apple Tree?It's a straight 90 minute drive down the A1 from Pontefract to Woolsthorpe-By-Colsterworth (a few miles past Grantham, Lincolnshire). Get the timing right and you could visit both RAF Coningsby and Woolsthorpe Manor on the same day. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-20-2013 03:55 AM
Excellent suggestion Yankee Clipper.I know the event organisers read this thread so any further suggestions would be more than welcome. |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 617
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted 06-20-2013 10:12 AM
During the plague years 1665-1666, Newton left Cambridge University and returned to Woolsthorpe where, in his creative prime, he conceived his method of fluxions (differential calculus), laid the foundations for his theory of light and color, and achieved significant insight into the problem of planetary motion, insights that eventually led to the publication of his Principia. In 1669 he became Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge.300 years later, in 1969, the astronaut crew of Apollo 12 gave the world a masterclass demonstration of the principles of Newtonian Mechanics and Gravitation when they executed a pinpoint accurate manned lunar landing and return. I don't know if any Apollo moonwalker has ever visited Woolsthorpe Manor, but it would make for a fascinating and unique moment in history. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-20-2013 04:40 PM
You make a very persuasive case. |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 617
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted 06-20-2013 11:17 PM
Just to whet your appetite, upon checking the National Trust events calendar for Woolsthorpe, it so happens that Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October 2013 are Apple Days (apple tasting, apple tree sales, and apple science) at the Manor from 11:00 to 17:00.The onsite shop and restaurant are quite small so it's best to get there early, although the National Trust might be able to accommodate an out-of-hours visit for a VIP visitor. Prospective visitors should bear in mind that the interior of the house has limited lighting, steps, period sloping floors, and that local sunset will occur on those dates at ~18:15 BST. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 06-21-2013 12:17 AM
Just to add to the above - entry is £6.04 for adults and £3.04 for children. (Free entry if a member of the National Trust.)Postcode address for satnavs is Water Lane, nr Grantham, NG33 5PD. There is free parking 50 yards from the site, but coaches need to be booked in advance. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 06-21-2013 02:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by YankeeClipper:
During the plague years 1665-1666, Newton... laid the foundations for his theory of light and color... 300 years later, in 1969, the astronaut crew of Apollo 12 gave the world a masterclass demonstration...
I thought you were going to draw a connection between Newton's work and the lunar surface color camera videography of the Apollo 12 LMP. |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 617
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted 06-21-2013 06:26 PM
In the mid-1660s, Newton became so fascinated by the nature of light and vision that he seriously risked blinding himself by staring at the sun.So I guess the LMP's 1969 camera "experiment" was just paying hommage to the great man of Opticks!  |
michael thomas
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Registered:
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posted 06-24-2013 06:03 PM
I have never been to Pontefract (and never met Bean) before but it seems excellent value to me and I want my grandchildren to meet him.I think I will go to Pontefract. |
robert_l
Member Posts: 168
From: Dundee,Scotland
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 06-26-2013 05:55 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Glint:
I thought you were going to draw a connection between Newton's work and the lunar surface color camera videography of the Apollo 12 LMP.
It's not Newton's work, it's Baird. The frame sequential system used on Apollo was originally invented by the inventor of television John Logie Baird in 1928. He produced the world's first mechanical colour television system by 1945 he was using an electromechanical system using a monochrome tube and filter wheel. His friend Goldmark introduced the system to CBS in 1948 but it was dropped for the all electronic colour picture tube, which was also another first with the Baird telechrome in about 1946. In the 60s, an electronic colour camera was too big to fit in Apollo so they developed the colour filter wheel electro mechanical system. The prototype Apollo moon camera is in the royal Scottish museum in Edinburgh. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-05-2013 05:48 PM
Tickets continue to sell well. A local school has also made a sizeable donation to the event. Looking good. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-09-2013 03:39 PM
A note from Ken regarding tickets sales for Alan Bean in October: "Admission to both events is strictly ticket only and no payment on door."Tickets are going well so don't leave it to the last minute. |
robert_l
Member Posts: 168
From: Dundee,Scotland
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 07-09-2013 06:39 PM
Went today to get measured for the Apollo 12 kilt. Finally they have got the tartan woven and the colours right, which are: gray background for the moon, green from the gordon and blue from Aberdeen where Dick's ancestors came from, and red from the Bean Tartan. The astronauts are getting "Trews" made. I am getting a kilt. Once this is done, there could be material left to make ties. Will have this on at Pontefract and also plan to wear it at Autographica. It will take a few weeks due to holidays so hope to have it in August. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 07-10-2013 12:46 AM
Robert, look forward to seeing you in the Apollo 12 tartan. Is there an official body where new tartans have to be registered? |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 07-10-2013 02:57 AM
That's a good question. I look forward to seeing it at Autographica. |
robert_l
Member Posts: 168
From: Dundee,Scotland
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 07-10-2013 05:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by moorouge:
Is there an official body where new tartans have to be registered?
New tartans are registered with the Scottish tartan authority.
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michael thomas
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posted 07-12-2013 04:48 PM
Unfortunately at the moment my grandchildren can't attend the event in Pontefract but I have got a fantastic deal from Ken! I cannot believe how generous he is when it comes to children! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-16-2013 07:20 PM
It is my understanding that two groups of school children will now hear Alan Bean talk as part of has visit.In an age of plastic celebrities famous only for scratching their arse on "reality tv"... exposure to real heroes has always been a primary motivation for Ken. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-26-2013 07:56 AM
The Wentbridge House Hotel... venue for the dinner with Alan Bean have kindly placed a nice advert for the event on their website. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-31-2013 03:50 AM
Film Director and notable space fan Ron Howard no less has tweeted Al Bean's event in Pontefract. Cool! "@Space_Lectures: Moonwalker, Skylab Artist #AlanBean #Apollo12 - Yorkshire UK Fri11/Sat12th Oct space-lectures.com" Al is so gr8 2 meet |
OWL
Member Posts: 175
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 07-31-2013 12:25 PM
That is some coverage Rick. Space Lectures are going global. The comment from Ron Howard is very complimentary about Al Bean and I am sure all the guests at the events will see what a huge personality Al is. Onwards and upwards! |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-31-2013 04:43 PM
Rick, you seem to be in the know? I have heard there could be some 'guests' at the events? Any truth to the rumours? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 08-01-2013 06:54 AM
You have me at a disadvantage James. I have not heard of any "guests" but I'll be sure to post here if I do.Ken would make a good poker player; he plays his cards close to his chest. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 08-02-2013 01:10 AM
I'll be there. Don't I count as a guest?  |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 08-02-2013 02:10 PM
I forgot about Eddie. Apologies - Just keep him away from the beer.
The British Interplanertary Society have now tweeted the Alan Bean event; Please RT Book Now! Moonwalker, Skylab 3 Commander, Artist #AlanBean #Apollo12 In Pontefract UK Fri11/Sat12th Oct space-lectures.com |
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