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Author
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Topic: 10/19-20: Harrison Schmitt in Pontefract (UK)
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Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-26-2012 05:45 PM
   
Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 (7:00 p.m.) and Saturday, Oct. 20 (6:00 p.m.) Ken Willoughby will play host to Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt; Apollo 17 Lunar Module Pilot and the only geologist to have walked on the moon. The event will comprise two public lectures to be held at Carlton Community High School, Pontefract, which all being well will be newly built and open by then. Tickets will be £60 pound each and cheques should be made out to "Apollo 13". They will not be banked until June 1st so please date the cheques accordingly. Please send payment and a SAE to: Ken Willoughby, 11 Hardistry Drive, Pontefract WF8 4BU. 01977 795535. e-mail ken.willoughby@btinternet.com Please be sure to include an e-mail address and contact phone number. Indicate on which date you wish to attend as seats are limited for both nights and you should be prepared to accept the alternative night if your chosen one is fully booked. Details have yet to be finalised regarding signing, photo ops and the likes but I will update members just as soon as Ken has those details. Please do not make any payments via Paypal. If any members have already sent payment for the Walt Cunningham event and wish to switch payment making up the balance, I am sure an e-mail to Ken will make this a viable option. Schmitt's fee is substantial and for this to work payments must be sent to Ken as soon as possible. On behalf of Ken I would like to apologise for the disappointment at the cancellation of the Walt Cunnuingham event. But please remember, in recent years Ken has brought Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Charlie Duke, Edgar Mitchell, Fred Haise, Dick Gordon and Sy Liebergot to Pontefract. Gene Cernan and Walt Cunningham were cancelled due to circumstances beyond Ken's control, though Jim Lovell is a cautionary tale as that was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Ken has been working on this event for a year or more. I think it safe to say given his well documented reluctance to support such events this will be Harrison Schmitt's first and last public appearance in the UK (apart from a reputed sighting at the boat show in London in the early 80s). Can you afford to pass up this opportunity? I know how frustrating it can be when hotel deposits are lost but there are a number of hotels in and around Pontefract that can offer "deposit safe" options. Even the "luxurious" Premier Inn is currently offering a £0 cancellation fee if required. So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. You know what to do. |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 01-27-2012 02:54 AM
And I have done it already! Cheque is in the post, albeit with the forgotten SAE chasing it all the way to Pontefract!(I didn't realise that Jim Lovell was another poor ticket sale non-event. People must be crazy to miss out on these opportunities. I was really looking forward to Walt Cunningham as he comes across as a real character. Sadly unless people are prepared to 'hop the pond' that was the last chance to meet those two individuals. A very sobering thought.) |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-27-2012 03:20 AM
Cheque book coming out of the desk tonight!Shake the moths out as it doesn't get much use these days. (And no, it's not because I'm a Yorkshireman!)  |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-27-2012 03:45 AM
Yep, cheque on it's way! Keep calm and carry on Ken! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-27-2012 04:06 AM
Up and running. Nice start gentleman. Keep it going.Paul, I share your disappointment about the Jim Lovell cancellation due to poor ticket sales. We are now into the predicted situation where the Apollo guys are getting on and the trip over here is simply too much of an ask. That is why we must take every opportunity that comes our way; it may be our last. I spotted the "wish list" from one guy when discussing Autographica recently; "Any surviving Apollo guys." Says it all. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-27-2012 06:19 AM
Nice one Rick. Brammers and the Burnley Cowboy will be there. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-27-2012 07:05 AM
What day are you thinking of Brammers? |
dog320
Member Posts: 49
From: West Sussex, United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2010
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posted 01-27-2012 12:35 PM
Does anyone know if Dr. Schmitt will be willing to sign autographs at this event? |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-27-2012 01:43 PM
I am led to believe he will only sign his book. This is normally included in the ticket price. Rick, perhaps you can confirm? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-27-2012 02:13 PM
At this time, the indications are that Dr. Schmitt will sign only his book and this signature will be included with the ticket price. I have however made a number of suggestions that would benefit both autograph collectors and Dr. Schmitt alike which Ken has said he will put to him.These have included a photo op with Dr. Schmitt; at similar events with Dick Gordon and Ed Mitchell the astronauts signed the finished photos later the same evening. That said, I am not privy to negotiations so we will just have to wait and see what happens. If I hear anything I'll be sure to post here. |
robert_l
Member Posts: 168
From: Dundee,Scotland
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 01-27-2012 02:43 PM
Hope to confirm getting holidays from observatory to go to this. No dinner event this time?Sorry about Walt, was looking forward to meeting him, perhaps Ken could try again next year for Walt to come? |
calleva atrebatum
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Registered:
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posted 01-27-2012 03:05 PM
Surely it would make sense if Dr. Schmitt were to sign only only item per person, whether it be a book or a litho/photo etc. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-27-2012 05:25 PM
I sincerely doubt that Schmitt is going to want to sign anything other than his book. When a small group of us attended a full day geology field trip with Schmitt last year, we all received a signed book. But beyond that, he wasn't interested in signing anything else. My suggestion is not to get hung up on getting stuff signed. Just attend the event, get your signed book, and enjoy being in the company of a very engaging moonwalker. He seems happy to talk at length about his experiences (especially if you want to talk geology) and this is a rare opportunity to see him in person at a space-related function. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-27-2012 06:25 PM
Personally, I would advocate Dr. Schmitt sign one item, be that his book, a photo or whatever may be placed before him... within reason.Ken will do his best to agree a compromise that would be satisfactory to everybody but at the end of the day we can only accept and respect Dr. Schmitt's preference. When all is said and done, a signature of any kind would be a bonus. |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 01-28-2012 01:55 AM
Personally, the most important thing is that we get to meet him! I was really disappointed at the cancellation of Walt Cunningham, as were lots of others, and a lack of a signature will not stop me supporting this next visit. It would be great if all efforts were directed, first and foremost, at getting Harrison Schmitt this side of the Atlantic. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-28-2012 04:14 AM
An opinion shared by many Paul! I may be preaching to the converted but let's all go for this one big time. It may be our only opportunity to meet and hear Dr. Schmitt's experiences first hand.(The cheque is in the post!) |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-28-2012 07:55 AM
The thing is: we soft, shandy-drinking southerners really need to stay over after a KW event: it's a four+ hour drive from Norfolk: seven from Brighton etc. You can save 60% on Travelodge bookings if it's long enough in advance... Trouble is, it's non-refundable!I'd love to meet Dr. Schmitt, but unless Ken is able to: - Guarantee the event will go ahead
- Guarantee which day your ticket is for
...then many of us who have long journeys would probably not feel they could pay for a ticket before June! |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-28-2012 08:07 AM
Take your point entirely David but even if you don't book your accomodation until June it still leaves almost a 5 month lead-in time to sort something out. Not sure how much demand there is in the Pontefract area for rooms in late October.As to which day if you can get your booking in to Ken early enough I assume he's working on a first come first served basis in most cases. Worth having a word with him? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-28-2012 09:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Procter:
Not sure how much demand there is in the Pontefract area for rooms in late October
You might be surprised Steve. Both the Wentbridge and Rogerthorpe hotels are already fully booked. I booked a room at the Premier Inn for £59 all in, inclusive of brekkie and I can cancel free of charge right up to the day of my stay.Not sure what Travelodge are charging. I think there is a meeting at Pontefract race course on the 22nd so I'm guessing people are booking rooms for that in advance. I can see David's point about wanting some kind of guarantee the event will go ahead but it is something of a catch 22 situation. If everybody holds off until nearer the time before sending Ken a cheque for tickets then the event will definitely not go ahead. If Ken has any chance of pulling this off then payment must be made in days or weeks rather than months. Remember, Buzz, Charlie, Edgar and Co did not come cheap and Ken has brought all of them to Pontefract... and they have been to the UK previously, unlike Dr. Schmitt. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-28-2012 09:15 AM
I'd forgotten about the 'sport of kings' Might also be worth considering staying a little further away then. There is a Holiday Inn Express in Oulton near Leeds only a couple of minutes from Junction 30 of the M62 and from there it's under 10 minutes to the motorway junction for Pontefract.
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moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 01-28-2012 09:38 AM
There's a Days Inn at the Wetherby Services on the A1. Though beyond Pontefract it's only about 15-20 minutes drive from the venue. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-28-2012 03:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by David Bryant:
You can save 60% on Travelodge bookings if it's long enough in advance... Trouble is, it's non-refundable!
You're not seriously going to let a potential discount at Travelodge stop you seeing Schmitt, are you? Besides, nothing is guaranteed and nobody knows what could cause Schmitt to cancel...so purchasing a non-refundable reservation is ill advised either way. |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-28-2012 04:03 PM
There are plenty of us who are unconvinced by the reasons given for the Walt Cunningham cancellation and who are reluctant to speculate financially on the likelihood of Dr. Schmitt making it over in October.Yet again, Ken has scheduled a presentation perilously close to Autographica, an event that costs me, as a trader, four figures to attend: this is, to say the least, unfortunate. For me, personally, there is also the factor that I had to cancel another potentially lucrative show, pay for two nights non-refundable accommodation and deal with the disappointment and frustration of several of my friends and customers that I persuaded to attend. (All of whom have also lost £60+). |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-29-2012 04:34 AM
There are only two certainties in life; death and taxes. Dr. Schmitt has however given Ken a guarantee that he will appear in Pontefract in October IF he receives half of his fee on or about June 1st and the balance sometime before he travels over.He has apparently been burned a few times previously so you can understand his wanting financial assurances. Everything else (hotels, seating, dates, autographs, Autographica etc) are not insurmountable details that would not prevent a serious fan from being there. December of 2010, I drove overnight (at a cost of £60 in gas) in temperatures of -8 degrees then slept in the freezing car for a VERY speculative chance to meet Neil Armstrong at a private event in Bristol. There were no guarantees he would even attend as he was simply passing through the region while on vacation and had said he would see what he could do. My reward was not an autograph, nor sadly a photo with the great man but I did hear him speak for 10 minutes then I got the opportunity to exchange pleasantries in return for a warm smile and a firm handshake. Priceless. And don't mention my trip to see Charlie Duke in 2009. A trip that should have taken 4 hours took 12; much of that time trapped on a closed snowbound motorway. Small sacrfices in the grand scheme of things particularly when I get to spend some time with these heroes. Incidentally, I rang Carlton Community High School in connection with the Jack Schmitt's visit and the school confirmed cable damage as the reason behind the cancellation of Walt Cunningham's visit. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-29-2012 04:34 AM
There is perhaps only one solution? Let's all get our cheques sent now and then ask Ken if he has sufficient funds for a defintite decision on June 1st. If it is looking dodgy again, we'll all have our cheques refunded/cancelled and forget about it! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-29-2012 05:04 AM
Ken tells me there are plenty of accomodation options in the area so nobody needs to reserve anything until Jujly/August. As for which day your tickets will be for I think it safe to say "first up best dressed". Get your tickets in quickly along with a stated preference for which day you would prefer and I am sure Ken will sort it acordingly. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-29-2012 05:05 AM
Good point Chris. I can understand the concerns of those who have lost out due to various circumstances but I feel the thread is already slipping into a 'negative vibe'.We need also to remember that only a handful of prospective attendees have posted here so far on the topic and that even if all the regular cS posters in the UK intend to be there we will be a relatively small proportion of the crowd. The bulk of the audience will be locals, members of various astronomical societies,
BIS members and other groups and interested individuals. I think what I'm trying to say here (if not very well) is that this group shouldn't exert an influence, certainly on a negative side, out of proportion with it's size and relative importance to the event. Here endeth the Sunday morning sermon. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 01-29-2012 08:07 AM
Just one small point about the 'first come first served' policy on selecting dates. There are those who want to attend but can only make it on a specified date. If all places are gone for that date - it's a customer lost.Meantime Rick, get to work on Ken to persuade Schmitt to sign one item regardless of whether it's a book, photo or Granny's liberty bodice. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-29-2012 09:06 AM
Ah, so I am not the only person wanting a signed Granny's liberty bodice...  I think there will be in the region of 350 or so seats each night but don't quote me on that. If a ticket purchase is dependent upon getting a seat for a specific night then the solution is obvious; get your payment to Ken asap. The sooner you send your cheque the sooner you will secure the seat on the night that is right for you. To paraphrase the legendary Fred Pontin... "Book early!" |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-29-2012 12:12 PM
You are quite correct Steve, our input and attendance is not the problem as we make up quite a small proportion of the audience. The great general public are the ones who need convincing and whose support is vital. Can they be convinced to attend? I fear that unless it were Neil Armstrong (who everyone knows!) they may be struggling to appreciate just who this is. One other obvious comment I would like to make is if this one doesn't get off the ground then any credibility for future guests may be lost? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-30-2012 03:05 PM
Ken has reiterated to me people will get the night of their choice when ordering tickets. It is only the late commers who may have to take what is left. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-30-2012 05:08 PM
The Schmitt event will also appear under "Sightings" just as soon as Ken has the event listed on the Carlton Community High School website; one of the criteria needed by Robert before his lists any event on collectSPACE. That should be in a week or two, |
spacemania
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posted 01-31-2012 12:13 PM
Very new to collectSPACE but just had to send Ken a cheque for this event.Really looking forward to hopefully meeting him or just listening to his lecture. I have to say that I really appreciate efforts made by Ken and others to try and get Harrison Schmitt to visit the UK. |
robert_l
Member Posts: 168
From: Dundee,Scotland
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 01-31-2012 01:26 PM
Have now got my holidays booked and sent a email to Ken, looking forward to meeting Dr. Schmitt. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-01-2012 05:13 AM
I have now sent for my tickets. We must try and support this event. I know money is tight, but why not have it as an early Christmas present or birthday treat? I fear if this one fails due to lack of support then we will not be seeing any more astronauts in Pontefract? |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-01-2012 05:35 AM
Doing my bit, trying to get some of Ken's flyers into places where there might be of some interest.If anyone on here works or is a student at any University with a Physics or Astronomy and or Earth Sciences/Geology department, see if you can put up a flyer - just might pick up a few inerested bodies. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-01-2012 06:14 PM
Steve has beaten me to the draw in referring to appropriate university departments. There must be hundreds of geology and astrophysics students around the country who would relish the chance to attend a meeting addressed by the only geologist to have sampled another world. Every university geology and astrophysics department should be targetted. No budding geologist or space scientist should be in the position to say: "If only I had known about this..." Ideally, individuals should be sought out who have a passion for space, who can then spread the word and arrange transport among their fellow students. It's not rocket science.....(if you see what I mean!) |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 02-01-2012 08:00 PM
If Dr. Schmitt will be signing any item, I would be willing to pay the 60 pounds for somebody's ticket if they could bring my Apollo 17 crew litho inscribed by Cernan "to Steven" and signed by him and Ron Evans. I'll admit I wasn't the "Steven" in question - it was a lucky auction buy - but I would love this chance to have an Apollo 17 crew litho inscribed to me (kind of) and signed by all three. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-02-2012 06:39 AM
I am now trying to get hold of a central address/website for all geology centres in the UK to send details. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-02-2012 10:27 AM
A better route would be to ask the The Geological Society of London - "the UK national society for geoscience, and the oldest geological society in the world" - for publicity.I work almost next door so will drop a flyer off there.
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