posted 03-21-2015 07:39 AM               

A few tickets remain for the lecture. I am not sure what if anything remains for the dinner. Please email Ken for confirmation on both.

posted 03-28-2015 06:57 PM               

All tickets for the Eileen Collins event have been posted to those who supplied an stamped addressed enveloped or £1 extra if paid by BACS. Those who didn't can pick them up on the day.

posted 04-03-2015 03:16 PM               

We learned from the Fred Haise event in October that despite the best of intentions, such requests were/are simply too time consuming.

We had also hoped at this stage to post pictures of some of the auction lots. I doubt we will be able to do this not least because the framer is a new Dad and has his hands full what with one thing or another.

posted 04-10-2015 03:32 AM               

Might I suggest that late ticket orders e-mail Ken accordingly and bring his mailed response, or personal ID when collecting their tickets.

We will have a good selection of Sharpie pens for the signing but if anybody has anything a tad more exotic in mind as a signing medium it might be an idea to bring it with you, i.e. "paint pens."

posted 04-13-2015 02:02 PM               

I was afforded a sneak preview last weekend of one 16x20 signed item that had just arrived (due entirely to the efforts of Mrs OWL - Julie McDermott). All being well this will be framed and ready for the Eileen Collins' post dinner auction.

I'm told Doug Wheelock is one of the toughest Shuttle astronauts autographs to acquire.

Thanks Doug. Much appreciated.

posted 04-15-2015 01:05 PM               

The two items posted represent only a small proportion of the auction items available on the night. A taster of what is to come. Bring your cheque books...

posted 04-25-2015 06:32 PM               

That perspective coloured my response when Ken Willoughby told me that Space Lectures was bringing Eileen Collins to Pontefract. To be honest, I was disappointed. And the absence of a handful of regulars at these events would suggest I was not alone in feeling that way. But boy... am I glad I went!

Eileen Collins is something of a conundrum. The kind of steely eyed test pilot/astronaut that we have become accustomed to meeting, but wrapped up in a persona all together softer and more approachable that endeared her to everybody.

Don't get me wrong, all of Space Lectures' speakers have been great. Fred Haise for instance was an absolute delight but Eileen is on a different plane.

Immediately likeable, with an uncanny knack for putting people at ease... instantly! It was probably something to do with the warm hand shake and the "Hi, I'm Eileen. It's lovely to meet you." She talked readily to everybody. To describe Eileen as a chatterbox would do her a disservice. Every conversation was concise, authoritative and deliberate with nothing unnecessary or superfluous, coupled with a charming delivery.

With Eileen Collins what you see is what you get. Humble to a fault with no hidden agenda or ego. Very professional with evident commander credentials. Remarkably likeable, genuine and down to earth; someone who is comfortable to be around.

That might explain the answer when I asked Eileen what her USAF call sign had been. Half expecting something with "Top Gun" chauvinist connotations such as "Maverick" or "Ice lady" the reality was "Mom" — clearly I was not alone in feeling comfortable being around Eileen Collins.

Eileen is a good sport too with a gentle sense of humour. Anxious to please and go the extra mile I would often hear her respond to the occasional request from her minder Andrew McDermott (OWL) with "Sure, whatever you want me to do I'm happy to do." When we arrived back at the hotel on Friday afternoon from Wakefield Girls High School, Eileen was keen to get a few photos in the hotel grounds. Perhaps a little hungry and "stiff" I asked her to "relax and be cool." She immediately put on her shades and threw me a pose. Move over Madonna!

Eileen arrived in Yorkshire on Wednesday and took a day out to rest before speaking to 2,000+ students at three schools in two towns over two days. She brought with her a 20 minute "home movie" from her STS-114 mission compiled by her crew. She provided the commentary and then followed with a series of earth observation photos and a Q&A. The same format used at the public lecture on the Saturday.

I sensed empathy between Eileen and the students. Younger than our previous guest speakers and from a working class background Eileen was the first to admit, she did not excel at school. But she knew she wanted to fly so worked hard and applied herself. As you might expect every astronaut encourages youngsters to do of their best and "Aim High", but Eileen personifies that mantra which struck a chord with all of her audiences.

The photo shoot and dinner on Friday evening went well. For those present who may have been unaware, the photo shoot was extended by thirty minutes and the dinner delayed when we got word of a series incident on the nearby M62 motorway. The decision was made to delay things to give folk, perhaps stuck in the traffic, more time to arrive. Both the hotel and Eileen were more than happy to accommodate.

The post dinner raffle and auction were both well received. As was Eileen who took it upon herself to go around each table thanking everybody for coming and taking time to chat with guests. If Eileen had had her way, she would have continued chatting until midnight so a gentle nudge was needed to shorten a few of the table interactions so the signing could proceed.

Carleton Community High School was buzzing on the Saturday. Ken's team are getting the hang of these events. Ever keen to make each one better than the last, more refreshments were on tap and for longer. While Eileen gave interviews in a side room I mingled with the masses and got a good feel for how things were going.

Thank you "Sergeant Major" Moorouge (Eddie) for overseeing the queue for the photo shoot. And a big thank you to "Cycleroadie" (Lloyd) for providing the winning green screen back drop for the whole weekend. Eileen loved it as did the photographer; James from Proffoto was keen to know whether we would be doing something similar for the Lovell event in October; that is our intention.

As promised Lloyd a signed bespoke photo of Eileen, with your back drop, will be on its way to you shortly courtesy of Space Lectures.

Eileen's lecture went down a storm. None of the technical hitches that had accompanied Fred Haise last October. And conscious that the audience was pretty "space savvy" Eileen expertly struck the right balance for the space nerd and space novice alike.

Around 380 people attended the lecture and the signing was probably our best yet. OWL facilitated while I stood by looking glamorous, helping with larger posters and such. Lasting around an hour the signing did not feel rushed. Something of a perfectionist Eileen carefully considered pen colour and placement with everybody, routinely returning to check that each "i" had been dotted. Eileen responded to everybody and typically closed each interaction by thanking them for coming.

As Eileen signed, and anxious to learn from each event OWL often asked the next person in the queue their opinion of the afternoon. I did not hear a single complaint or gripe. Quite the contrary. Superlatives were coming thick and fast, the most common being "This was the best one yet!"

That was the general consensus amongst the Space Lectures team as we gathered for the traditional post event "Splashdown" party. Ever the sport, Eileen led the inevitable chorus of "Happy Birthday" that rang out for Howard (one of Ken's elderly sponsors) as he blew out space shuttle shaped candles on an impromptu birthday cake. As commander, it was fitting that Eileen took control of the pumps at the bar. She pulls a mean pint and quickly developed a taste for "Strongbow" cider.

What delighted me most about my encounter with Eileen was her response. She is a busy lady with fingers in many a pie; she rarely does public events and was genuinely nervous on occasion but she confided that she had loved every minute of it. That'll do me!

posted 04-26-2015 09:11 AM               

I'm not the most outgoing of people, but right from the go and my turn to be photographed with Eileen, she was warm and welcoming, and whilst a photo opportunity is only a fleeting encounter, in that very short time and with the few words spoken, I walked away feeling relaxed and privileged to have met her.

The lecture was excellent, well paced and packed with things I didn't know.

posted 04-26-2015 01:24 PM               

Thanks to all for another great 'Ponte experience'.

posted 04-27-2015 02:24 AM            

Many thanks to Ken and his team for another tremendous event, and of course to Eileen for taking the time to come over. Looking at the above photos it seems Eileen enjoyed herself as much as we enjoyed meeting her.

She is such a wonderful person who looked genuinely pleased to meet everyone. It's a small thing but the way she took a few steps towards you at the photo shoot, took your hand and thanked you for coming really did impress me.

Also a big thanks to cycleroadie for designing the photo shoot backdrop. It is the best one we have had.

posted 04-27-2015 05:44 AM               

She is one of my personal heroes from the manned spaceflight program and was thrilled when her attendance was announced.

Disarmingly friendly, I was momentarily thrown when during my photo opportunity she asked my name. She came across as a genuinely warm, gregarious person. After I plucked up courage to ask her about the STS-93 ascent during the Q&A, she gave such a detailed response. To hear about it from the CDR herself was a true highlight.

I too was one of those people during the signing session who said it was the best one yet. A weekend that will live with me forever.

posted 04-27-2015 07:16 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
I am a mere (and somewhat over weight)... cog!

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posted 04-28-2015 01:32 PM               

Yes, it was tough to say goodbye! What can I say? I worry sometimes that people may not get what they expected.., but I am so glad it all worked out well. You were the greatest hosts, and made my trip a wonderful event with the best memories. I really enjoyed the schools and children, they were so well behaved. England is beautiful! I have been showing the photos to my friends back here (especially the yellow flowers and the Sheffield school).

I am so glad I made the trip!

Thanks again, and …. Reach For The Stars!

posted 05-03-2015 06:20 AM            

I was one of the 'regulars' who didn't go, and not out of any lack of interest in modern space programmes or Eileen Collins (clearly a remarkable person, never mind her gender).