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Author
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Topic: 10/11-12: Alan Bean dinner and talk (Pontefract)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-19-2013 11:17 AM
   
Space Lectures has announced: We are pleased to announce that our next event in October will see the visit of Apollo 12 LMP and 4th man to walk on the moon Alan Bean.  
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spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-19-2013 02:11 PM
Great news, looking forward to it already, always a great guest. |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 04-19-2013 04:38 PM
Cheque on its way. Nice one! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-19-2013 06:02 PM
Alan Bean has intimated to Ken that this is likely to be his last visit to the UK; unfortunately a common stance from an an increasing number of Apollo astronauts.Tickets are on a first come first served basis; in other words, the sooner you book the nearer the front you will be. Dinner on October 11 will be 7pm at the Wentbridge House Hotel followed by an auction. Tickets £70 each and Alan will sign the professional portrait photos following the meal. The public lecture will be held at the Carleton Community High School the following day (October 12th) at 4pm followed by a Q&A session and raffle. Tickets for the talk are £50 each but that includes one free autograph on any item be that a book, photo, model or leg. £110 package ticket covers both events. There will be a professional photo shoot prior to each event. Photos £20 each. Ken has been doing his best to keep ticket prices as low as possible but as he himself says, "who ever we get these days, they don't come cheap." The event is not for profit. Any monies made above and beyond Al's fee, flights and other costs are recylced in to bringing the next guest to Pontefract. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 04-20-2013 03:18 AM
Are the lecture tickets £50 or £70? Your mail says the former but Ken's emailed poster says the latter. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-20-2013 03:37 AM
The mail I've had from Ken indicates £70 for dinner tickets and £50 for the public talk.Personally, if I were to choose one or the other the dinner would swing it for me. The Wentbridge House Hotel is a top venue and the food excellent. A lot more intimate and a great opportunity to mingle with like minded space nerds. The photo shoot at the Wentbridge is a more relaxed encounter that affords guests an opportunity to chat with Al in a way they can't prior to the talk at Carleton Community High School. |
robert_l
Member Posts: 168
From: Dundee,Scotland
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 04-20-2013 06:33 AM
Looking forward to this event when I will have met all three Apollo 12 astronauts. Pete Conrad was the first astronaut I met back in 1979 at the Scottish International Airshow and Dick Gordon last year.I hope to be wearing my new Apollo 12 kilt, taken them ages to get it made due to the special design which was designed with help from Dick Gordon and Al Bean. |
johnpslater
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Registered:
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posted 04-20-2013 06:46 AM
Looking forward to this and to seeing Robert's new kilt! |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 04-23-2013 07:20 AM
I may struggle to get to this one? And I too was looking forward to the kilt unveiling!  |
Skyguy48
Member Posts: 142
From: Scotland
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 04-23-2013 05:32 PM
Not going to get to the Cape in November. Anyhow, got a real nice couple days with Alan Bean instead. Cheque in Ken's hand tomorrow. |
robert_l
Member Posts: 168
From: Dundee,Scotland
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 04-29-2013 02:27 PM
Cheque is now in the post to Ken. Looking forward to the event. |
johnpslater
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posted 04-30-2013 04:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tykeanaut:
I may struggle to get to this one? And I too was looking forward to the kilt unveiling!
You (and lots of people) could regret not attending this! |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-01-2013 02:56 AM
I agree and have attended all other events in Pontefract since 2005. However on this occasion I have a very valid reason if I cannot make it. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-01-2013 04:24 PM
The latest from Ken is that tickets are selling well. 50 for the talk and 23 for the dinner in the first week and many from new faces. |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 05-04-2013 05:55 PM
Just noticed the title of the talk, this sounds really good! Glad I booked my place early! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-08-2013 12:23 PM
To date 100 tickets sold for the lecture and 50 for the dinner; better I think at this stage than for Charlie Duke... and he was a sell out! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-13-2013 06:07 PM
Tickets for Alan Bean continuing to sell very well. Don't forget guys, £110 will get you the "Golden" ticket for both the dinner AND the lecture, inclusive of a free signature.Add to that a professional portrait photo (also signed) at the dinner for a further £20, and you would still have change compared to his base signature fee at Spacefest V (and quite possibly Autographica in 2014). Good value for money in my opinion. |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 05-14-2013 06:17 PM
Rick, am I right in thinking that if you attend the dinner and talk you will get two free autographs? This would really be excellent value! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-15-2013 10:05 AM
James, apologies if I did not make the point as clear as I should have.The lecture entitles you to one free signature. The dinner does not, however.... if you pay £20 to the professional photographers attending the dinner (with Alan and an appropriate Apollo 12 themed background) Alan will sign your own personal portrait after dinner at no extra charge. To summarise; £50 for the public lecture and one free signature, £70 for dinner alone, £110 for dinner, a lecture and one free signature. £130 for dinner, the lecture with a free signature (on an item of your choice) plus a second signature on a professional photo. So two signatures in total. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-18-2013 12:11 PM
Good news ladies and gentlemen. Ken tells me guests at the dinner will get a free signature in addition to the free signature at the talk.Pay £20 at the dinner for a professional photo with Alan and he will sign that too. Thats dinner, a lecture and three signed photos... all for £130!! Still less than Al's base fee for a single signature at Spacefest. |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 05-18-2013 05:38 PM
Thanks Rick. I thought that was the case. This is incredible value for money! I know Ken keeps costs down to a minimum (and has put is own money in) to enable people to afford to attend these events and they are done so schoolchildren meet Apollo astronauts free with a percentage of profits donated to Unicef! I cannot understand why he hasn't been awarded an MBE at least for everything he has done? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-19-2013 05:55 PM
The highlight for me... of the Al Worden visit to Pontefract in March was the trip to see the Lancaster bomber on the Sunday after the lecture.I have no say in Ken's plans for Alan Bean's visit in October, but 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? |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 05-20-2013 01:17 AM
Nice idea Rick, but within what sort of distance from Pontefract are we limited to?
Can think of several places but most are several hours travel away. The Space Centre at Leicester for example.On edit - the Battle of Britain flight aircraft are open to the public for inspection at RAF Scampton and there is the De Haviland museum at Salisbury Hall where they are restoring a Mosquito. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-20-2013 04:19 AM
Good point Eddie. This is a purely hypothetical question at this time but for the purposes of the exercise might I suggest an attraction or site within an hours drive of Pontefract.As far as The Battle of Britain flight goes, my nephew is an officer in the Royal Air Force and he is confident he could arrange such a visit... though I would imagine numbers may be strictly limited. |
NeilPearson
Member Posts: 147
From: UK
Registered: May 2013
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posted 05-20-2013 06:57 AM
The BBMF are based at Coningsby, not Scampton - still in Lincs but a bit further away. Info here.They usually have tours Monday through Friday but October is a tricky month. It's after the end of their display season and aircraft are often away for maintenance. That said, they've got a lot of aircraft so there should still be something to see! Or how about the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington near York? Several aircraft are kept in ground-running order so you may see some movement. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-20-2013 07:25 AM
Thanks for the correction Neil. You are quite correct about the location of The Battle of Britain Flight.I knew October was out of season so to speak but had presumed any maintenance would have taken place on site. I take it that is not the case? |
NeilPearson
Member Posts: 147
From: UK
Registered: May 2013
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posted 05-20-2013 07:46 AM
It varies depending on the level of servicing required. A lot of it is done at Coningsby but there is a contract with a civilian company at Duxford which deals with the major servicing. I believe that's mostly (or maybe only?) for the fighters (Spitfires/Hurricanes) so the Lancaster/Dakota should be in residence. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 05-20-2013 07:51 AM
quote:
Originally posted by NeilPearson:
The BBMF are based at Coningsby, not Scampton - still in Lincs but a bit further away.
I stand corrected.  Did know, but Scampton is easier to spell than Coningsby.I'm sure that Rick's contact could arrange a visit out of season/hours for such a distinguished guest and that Al Bean would appreciate it. It would be worth the extra travel time. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-20-2013 09:06 AM
As pointed out the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Currently based there are the Lancaster, two Hurricanes, five Spitfires (they have six but one is away on a major service/refit at Duxford) the Dakota and two Chipmunks.Perhaps a message to the OC BBMF Sqn Ldr Duncan Mason? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-20-2013 09:12 AM
I was thinking of something related to Al's specialty; painting. Naturally I thought of Steve Proctor. But then again Alan's specialty is paint on canvas... not a three-bedroom semi!  |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-20-2013 09:47 AM
So your idea is that Alan Bean comes round and watches me paint my house? |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 05-20-2013 03:33 PM
So what price for an Al Bean painted mural on the bedroom wall Steve? |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-21-2013 03:39 AM
Go the whole hog and get him a "flight" (well, a reheat runway run) in the Lightning T.5 at Cranfield. No room for the entourage inside though! |
Skyguy48
Member Posts: 142
From: Scotland
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 05-21-2013 05:17 PM
Surely that would be at least a possibility to get Al Bean on a freebee in a Lightning... The climb rate in that baby is faster than a Saturn V and am positive that would bring a smile to the ol' boy's face. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-21-2013 08:19 PM
Risky... he might draw a lightning strike. (Sorry!) |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 05-22-2013 01:19 AM
There's always RAF Cosford where they used to have the one surviving example of the multi-purpose war plane that Britain never built - TSR2. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-22-2013 05:00 PM
A further update from Ken with regards what Al Bean will and won't sign on the night of the lecture.For those who have their photo professionally taken on the night of the lecture for an additional £20, Al will sign both that photo and another of your choice after the lecture. That may slow the queue down a tad but what the hec. For £70 you will get 2 signed photos and the lecture. I must re-iterate, one of the pictures must be the guests portrait taken with Al. He will not sign two "conventional" WSS photos for instance. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 05-22-2013 05:09 PM
As you say Rick, signing two items is going to make for a slow moving queue. Are there any moves that you're aware of to police the crowd better than last time and enforce ticket numbers? |
james watt
Member Posts: 54
From: england
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 05-22-2013 05:55 PM
Am I understanding this right Rick, at the dinner we will get an autograph and signed photo with Capt. Bean and the same at the talk but by attending both events we will only get one autograph at the talk. This really is fantastic value!What is all this about rubbish about policing? There has never been any 'bun fight' as some people go on about at any of the events in Pontefract I have been to but then again, some people will always find something to moan about instead of being grateful that Ken gives us the opportunity to meet these 'legends' at a reasonable cost! |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 05-23-2013 02:08 AM
It's NOT a 'bun fight' that people have objected to. It's those that push into the queue near the front to short circuit the time spent waiting patiently that have caused the problems. All the criticisms about the general organisation have been about these 'queue jumpers'. |
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