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Author
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Topic: Space Lectures: End of operations
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Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4512
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-27-2023 09:40 AM
  
Apologies in advance for being the bearer of sad news but after a great deal of deliberation Ken Willoughby has decided that it is time to bring down the curtain on Space Lectures.
In common I'm sure with other events; the Covid pandemic has left an indelible mark on Space Lectures. Even now issues remain with Ken's preferred venues and suppliers, that coupled with remaining unknowns and uncertainties make for anxious times when planning such an event. This, plus an exchange rate that does us no favours has sadly left Ken with little option. It remains for me to thank Ken on behalf of his small band of volunteers and loyal following of regular attendees for taking us on this wonderful journey: a journey that has lasted nearly 15 years and has forged many enduring friendships. Not to mention the £10,000+ that Space Lectures has been able to donate to UNICEF over the years. A charity particularly close to Ken’s heart.
Thanks again Ken it’s been a blast, to the space pioneers who have graced our stage: Ad Astra!!  |
18blue78
Member Posts: 152
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 02-27-2023 01:58 PM
This truly is the end of an era and no doubt the end of such events in the UK. Ken, and his amazing team, have created so many memories that I will cherish forever. The opportunity to not only hear our heros talk about their lives and experiences of space exploration but to also meet them face to face was something I never took for granted. But more then meeting space heros was to see so many friendly and familiar face from one event to another. I always appreciated the work the team did to put these weekends together. From chauffeuring guests, to crowd control, to photography and all the many other jobs both in public view and behind the scenes. Even though I was just another face in the crowd I always tried to track Ken down at the end of each lecture to thank him personally.So, for the last time, to the whole Space Lectures team thank you for all your hard and amazing work. And to Ken Willoughby thank you for the years of enjoyment and the lifetime of memories. |
gareth89
Member Posts: 536
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014
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posted 02-27-2023 02:47 PM
I’m truly saddened to read this, so many great memories were made and wonderful times had in Pontefract. I’d just like to say a huge thank you to Ken and the whole team for all the experiences down through the years, hopefully we shall all meet again in the future! |
Buel
Member Posts: 861
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 02-27-2023 06:01 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!The memories I've had at Pontefract, much like the ones at Dave Phillips' Autographica, will stay with me forever. What experiences they were! Thank you!! |
Kite
Member Posts: 1074
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 02-28-2023 04:00 PM
I am so saddened and disappointed to see this news, although not surprised as the site has been very quiet recently. It is difficult to put words to how I feel because the events meant so much to me. Really looked forward to what became two journeys a year to Pontefract to not only attend the fantastic talks but meet our heroes as well. People I never dreamt of meeting all those years ago when the space race started. I am so grateful to Ken and all his team for arranging so many outstanding lectures with true legends of space. It must have been so difficult, and at times seemingly impossible to arrange, but they somehow did. A huge applause for all involved is called for. Thank you Ken for heading such a superb team who I looked forward to seeing each time and I will miss you all. Hopefully will see you all sometime at another event somewhere, if somebody can follow your expertise and be inspired to arrange a similar event. I live in hope. May I wish you all good health and a big thank you once more, and also we will always appreciate those much looked forward to reports on each event that Rick did so brilliantly for us on collectSPACE. Thanks Rick. Farewell my friends and yet again a huge THANK YOU. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4512
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-01-2023 04:20 AM
Thank you Kite and everybody else who has shown their appreciation of Space Lectures here and on social media. I think I can speak on behalf of Ken and the entire team when I say we all share the disappointment and sense of loss at the news. Space Lectures has always been a very sociable and friendly experience and we will all miss engaging with like minded friends and space fans.It has become increasingly evident over recent days that Space Lectures helped nurture a passion for space that many of us already had, but perhaps more importantly ignited a passion for the subject in many, many more… which was Ken’s intention all along. Space Lectures was just one part of a golden era of astronaut encounters in the UK over that last 20 years but with luck the Space Lectures “family” will meet again: don’t know where, don’t know when. Thanks Vera! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4512
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-03-2023 05:39 AM
I felt an obligation to make an addition to the posts about the end of Space Lectures.Right from the outset, Ken Willoughby was keen to introduce astronaut pioneers to a younger generation: to illuminate history and inspire them to "Aim High". In addition to the public lectures, almost every Space Lectures event included one or more lectures to schools across the West Yorkshire area. In the week since the curtain came down on Space Lectures Ken and his team have been touched by the influx of appreciative messages and good wishes from many of the attendees over the years, but yesterday we received one message that brought a lump to the throat and which I felt should be shared with the wider space community. Thank you to all of you involved in Space Lectures, but especially Mr WIlloughby. I only ever came to one of your events, Alan Bean, back in 2013. I think, personally, it was the most inspirational event I have ever attended. But I think you need to know that the real value in what you achieved is how your events inspired the next generation. My ten year old and eight year old attended that event with me (and Ken kindly allowed the youngest to attend for free) — the eldest is now training as an aeronautical engineer and the youngest is doing his A levels, Physics, Maths and More Maths and is hopefully off to uni to take these further. They will not be the only children your events have inspired like this — the ripples will keep spreading out from Pontefract for years to come. Well done, thank you and Godspeed. Ken Willoughby's and Space Lectures' legacy in a nutshell. |
Buel
Member Posts: 861
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 03-03-2023 05:28 PM
And that's just two!Fantastic, Rick. Really wonderful. By the way, we all used to wait in anticipation for your quite brilliant post-lecture reports on here, you know. They never disappointed!! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4512
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-03-2023 05:33 PM
We aimed to please.  |
Matt T
Member Posts: 1372
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001
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posted 03-09-2023 03:29 AM
My mum was thrilled to come and hear Alan Bean, one of the men she saw slow-motion walking across the moon on her television set many years earlier.Thanks to Ken and all who made it happen, plus a side-shout out for Rick, one of the most genial people in UK space collecting  |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2227
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-12-2023 09:20 AM
Thanks for wonderful times and new acquaintances.Best wishes to all. It was a heck of a ride! |
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