Author
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Topic: 6/24: Space Lectures Alexei Leonov (UK)
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-27-2017 12:31 PM
Space Lectures is proud to confirm that retired Soviet-era cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, a writer and an artist, will be joining us for a special lecture and dinner on Saturday, June 24, 2017. Alexei Leonov opened the airlock to his Voskhod 2 spacecraft while orbiting Earth and stepped into the history books. For 12 minutes, the cosmonaut floated in the vacuum of space, tethered to his ship by a 16 foot cable. In doing so, Leonov became the first person to walk in space. The two events will take place as follows: - Lecture (£55 per ticket)
Saturday, 24 June 2017 St. Wilfrid's Catholic High School Featherstone, UK Photo shoot: 10:30 to 11:45 Lecture: 12:00 to 13:00 Autographs: 13:30 to 15:00 - Dinner (£120 per ticket)
Saturday, 24 June 2017 King's Croft Hotel Pontefract, UK Photo shoot is 18:00 to 18:45 Dinner 19:00 to 21:00 Raffle/Auction: 21:00 to 21:30 Autographs: 21:30 to 22:30 One signature per ticket purchased. Space Lectures is unable to accept mailed in autograph requests. There will be no combination ticket for this event. Photo shoot pictures are £30 per photo regardless of how many people are in the photo.Please be sure to include a self-addressed envelope with cheque payments, or an extra £1 if paying by BACS to cover postage and packing for the tickets. For those attending the Scott Altman event next weekend I think Ken will be accepting payments and issuing tickets for the June event in person, but please mail him in advance to be sure. Thank you. |
One Big Monkey Member Posts: 169 From: West Yorkshire, UK Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 02-28-2017 04:22 AM
Noooo!!! I'll be at Glastonbury!! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-28-2017 04:45 AM
Glastonbury comes around every year. Ken had to choose June 24 because it was a now or never opportunity. |
18blue78 Member Posts: 126 From: UK Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 02-28-2017 02:37 PM
Is this an extra event or is it replacing the normal October event? |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-28-2017 03:10 PM
From what Ken Willoughby has told me he had tried to persuade Leonov to come in October but that was not an option. Ken is actively looking into another guest for our usual event later in the year, probably November. |
robert_l Member Posts: 168 From: Dundee,Scotland Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 03-01-2017 07:16 AM
Holiday's now booked for June's event! Is the hotel in Pontefract? |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-01-2017 07:38 AM
Kings Croft is just outside Pontefract: a similar distance from the Wentbridge but in a different direction. But I think there is a wedding on that weekend so the hotel is booked up. Wentbridge too is full. Not ideal I'm afraid and a consequence of having to fit the event around our guest's schedule.There are plenty of alternate hotels in close proximity i.e. Premier Inn, Travelodge to name but two and then there are the B&Bs. |
moorouge Member Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 03-01-2017 08:03 AM
There are hotels with striking distance of Kings Croft, but it seems that Pontefract at the end of June is the place to be as accomodation is in short supply. Therefore, if you are intending to make a weekend of the occasion I would suggest that you make your hotel booking now as later might be too late.I suppose this is only to be expected with Space Lectures royalty in town. |
crash Member Posts: 318 From: West Sussex, England Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 03-01-2017 03:46 PM
The Premier Inn at Escape X is the closest and does have rooms at the moment. Pontefract North is full. One of the smaller establishments close to the Kings Croft does not read well on TripAdvisor. |
Yusuf New Member Posts: 8 From: Huddersfield, England Registered: Oct 2014
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posted 03-02-2017 03:54 AM
Thinking about hotels, you can always look at Leeds, which is a short train/taxi ride away and will have a good selection. Failing that Wakefield has a decent hotel or two... |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-02-2017 04:45 AM
A hotel called the Tower House comes recommended. |
crash Member Posts: 318 From: West Sussex, England Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 03-02-2017 02:35 PM
Looks good but check-in at Tower House is after 5pm which is tight if trying to make the dinner. This thread is turning into TripAdvisor. |
robert_l Member Posts: 168 From: Dundee,Scotland Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 03-06-2017 05:30 AM
Have booked the Travelodge Ferrybridge where I normally go to. Signed up for alert to book train tickets. Looking forward to this! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-17-2017 11:31 AM
Ken already has 100 reservations for the dinner and 300 for the lecture but please remember, tickets/seats will only be allocated when payment has been made. |
jemmy Member Posts: 176 From: Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 03-23-2017 04:31 AM
I have booked my flights. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-23-2017 03:14 PM
Ken is now accepting payment for June and he will allocate seats and tickets upon receipt of payment though it is likely tickets will be sent out after the Altman event.Can people please remember to include a self-addressed envelope with cheque payments or add £1 to bacs payments to cover postage and packing? Thank you. |
AlpinaB10S Member Posts: 20 From: Sheffield, UK Registered: Apr 2014
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posted 03-24-2017 05:25 AM
Payment sent! |
gareth89 Member Posts: 298 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 03-24-2017 06:56 AM
Woop woop! |
NeilPearson Member Posts: 147 From: UK Registered: May 2013
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posted 03-24-2017 09:43 AM
Damn, so gutted this is now all being held on the 24. I could have made it on the 25th! This will be another really interesting event. Enjoy, you lucky people! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-24-2017 10:29 AM
Sorry Neil, it had always been Ken's intention to hold the Leonov event over two days as usual, but circumstances changed and it was either both events on the Saturday... or no event at all. |
NeilPearson Member Posts: 147 From: UK Registered: May 2013
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posted 03-24-2017 12:40 PM
No apology needed Rick, but thank you!
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Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 03-24-2017 03:58 PM
Wonderful choice. Yet another great guest to join the very impressive list brought to us by Ken and his team.I have been fortunate to have met Alexei Leonov twice and he is an amazing character. Can't wait to see his lecture. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-26-2017 06:36 PM
The lead time for the Leonov event in June is much shorter than usual.Deposits need to be paid and flights booked in short order so can everybody that has requested tickets please send payment as soon as possible: seats will only be allocated after payment has been received. Thank you. |
gareth89 Member Posts: 298 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 03-28-2017 08:31 AM
I'm really excited about this. Has Leonov requested a blackboard for the lecture by any chance? I'd love to see him sketching up some diagrams of the Voshkod capsule and his spacewalk. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-28-2017 10:51 AM
Yes... and a flipchart. |
gareth89 Member Posts: 298 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 03-28-2017 11:27 AM
Excellent!!! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-28-2017 03:51 PM
Ken has begun to mail tickets out for June. |
Tykeanaut Member Posts: 2212 From: Worcestershire, England, UK. Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 04-03-2017 04:02 AM
Will his lecture be in Russian and translated into English by an interpreter? |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-03-2017 05:40 AM
All being well Chris, the lecture will be in Russian with the English translation provided by Alexei's daughter. But I'm sure Alexei will throw in a bit of English from time to time: he has been known to. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-20-2017 04:04 AM
I don't have a current number for tickets sold to date but as of two weeks ago around 10 dinner tickets remained and lectures ticket sales were very strong.It would be wise to inquire with Ken about availability before making any payments, and please remember that tickets/seats are allocated with payment.
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-23-2017 05:22 PM
Less than 40 tickets remain for the Leonov lecture in June. But not all of those requested to date have sent payment.It is likely that tickets bought and paid for this week will be seated nearer the front of the theatre than some who requested tickets months ago.Flights need to be booked and deposits paid so can those who requested tickets please settle up with Ken. Thank you in advance. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-05-2017 03:56 AM
UPDATE: Ken would like to announce a competition for the forthcoming Alexei Leonov event: something a bit different to makes things interesting.Anybody who buys, or has already bought tickets for the public lecture will be entered in to a separate prize draw. On entry to the auditorium hand your tickets to team members on the door. During the afternoon's proceedings a draw will take place and the winner will receive two dinner tickets (worth £240) for the next Space Lectures event planned for Friday, Nov. 3. The winners will be seated on the astronaut's table next to the astronaut him or herself. If you have bought tickets you are already in with a chance of winning. If you haven't, you know what to do. But be quick as few lecture tickets remain. Good luck! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-08-2017 05:20 AM
We are at that stage for the Leonov event when deposits need to be paid, flights booked etc. If any member has yet to pay for their Leonov tickets can they please settle up with Ken now. Thank you in advance. |
Ironman Member Posts: 66 From: England Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 05-09-2017 05:36 PM
What an awesome prize draw! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-13-2017 05:40 PM
Ken has been having intermittent internet issues over the last week or so but now all seems to be working fine.Anybody who has made enquiries over the last ten days but has heard nothing back, should re e-mail Ken or perhaps ring him directly. If your phone uses a witheld number Ken will usually let it go to answer machine... but if you leave your number he will call back. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-24-2017 04:38 AM
It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform everybody that the Alexei Leonov event in June has been postponed. Alexei has been hospitalized for more than a week and this morning Ken received the following statement from his agent. Sorry to say this but we decided to cancel this trip in June. Leonov's health does not permit it. Let's hope it will be possible later. We are all terribly disappointed at this turn of events. None more so than Ken who had been working on this one for more than 8 months, but these gentlemen are not getting any younger and there is always this kind of risk when inviting heroes from the pioneering days of manned spaceflight.It is hoped that Alexei will be able to make the trip in the not too distant future and I am sure that if this is possible, Ken will make it happen. Naturally we wish Alexei a speedy recovery and hope it is not too long before we see him fit and well in Pontefract. There is certainly good will on the part of his agent to make this happen in the future if at all possible. I can confirm that we do have a guest already lined up for November. The intention was to make an announcement at the Leonov lecture. Ken I'm sure will be in contact with tickets holders shortly regarding refunds or the possible switching of tickets to November's event. It is my understanding at this time that ticket prices for November will be the same as for the Leonov event. Pending confirmation from Ken tickets bought for Leonov will be good for November's guest so there will be no need to re-issue tickets. I hope to be able to announce November's guest soon. You will understand that Ken now has a lot on his plate at this moment in time. If you do not hear from him directly please give him a few days before getting in touch. |
crash Member Posts: 318 From: West Sussex, England Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 05-24-2017 05:59 AM
This a great pity but we all have to appreciate and understand that the pioneers of space exploration are no longer spring chickens. We are all desperate to meet these people and have to deal with the risks that come with it. Let's all wish him a speedy recovery and to make sure he keeps Space Lectures firmly on his horizon. I am sure that everyone would agree that he would have had, and will get in the future, the warmest welcome he will ever experience once he gets to Pontefract.I will most definitely be switching my tickets to the November event and look forward to it with eager anticipation. The weekends never fail to wow and impress, and they are just getting better and better. |
Buel Member Posts: 649 From: UK Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 05-24-2017 06:28 AM
This is a great shame but I'm more than happy to switch tickets to the November event. I would hope/imagine that most of us feel the same.... I feel we owe the Pontefract 'crew' that, at least. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-24-2017 06:45 PM
Thanks for the support guys. Naturally, Ken and the rest of the team feel pretty despondent at the moment and concerned for Alexei, so your continued support is much appreciated.Just to reiterate, the next Space Lectures event will be Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday Nov. 4 in the usual locations, i.e. Wentbridge House Hotel and Carleton Community High School; details to follow shortly. There is now no event in June of any kind. While we could have pressed ahead with an alternate for Alexei (as was the case when General Stafford stepped in for Gene Cernan in April 2016) we were not confident, for operational reasons, of offering the usual calibre of event, so on reflection thought better of it. Ken has mailed everybody that ordered tickets to see Alexei but if they so choose, tickets for June can be carried over to the November event: same tickets, same seats and a partial refund. Alternately a full refund. Tickets for November's guest I am told are a tad cheaper so e-mail Ken to arrange but please; give him a day or two to respond. His internet connection has chosen this moment to play up: It's probably "overheating"! Time to re-group and fashion November's encounter! Get well soon Alexei. |
moorouge Member Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 05-26-2017 01:41 AM
Might I suggest that rather than ask Ken for a partial refund on tickets carried over to November you tell him — as I have done — to donate the excess to one of his charities?In view of recent events it would be an appropriate gesture. |